Twenty Four Elders

 

Encircling the great throne were twenty-

four thrones with elders

in glistening white garments seated

upon them, each wearing a

golden crown of victory.

REVELATION 4:4

There is more than one throne in the glorious heavenly realm. As John is taken in the spirit, he sees a circle of thrones around the throne of God. These twenty-four thrones were for the elders that gather in worship. Like the tribes of Israel gathered around the Tabernacle, we see these elders gathered around the throne of glory. Who are these twenty-four elders, and what do their twenty-four thrones symbolize? Some scholars surmise that they are angelic beings serving as God's cabinet officers. But this is very unlikely because we see the elders singing in Revelation 5 that they have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and no angel experiences redemption-we do! Others see the twenty-four elders representing the twenty-four books of the prophets included in our Bibles. Still others see the elders as a metaphor of the twenty-four hours of the day, making them an indication that worship is non-stop in the heavenly realm. Although these pictures may have some reality, the clear truth of the twenty-four elders is that they represent men and women from the nations of the earth, both Jew and Gentile, who have been redeemed. The New Testament speaks of us as "one new man" from both Jews (who had twelve tribes) and the church (who had twelve chosen apostles). Look carefully at what this verse says about these elders: The twenty-four elders each sat on a throne and were reigning with Christ. He has made us kings and queens to rule and reign-enthroned with Him. Men and women who believe are enthroned with the Godhead! Mystery of mysteries! God shares His throne room with His people! They are robed in white garments, a picture of Christ's righteousness. These are the robes of a priest and He has made us priests 

And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. Leviticus 6:10

 He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on. Leviticus 16:4

The priestly role includes worshipping, interceding, and communicating God's heart to others. We are God's priests who best represent God forever and who mediate His glory to others in the age to come. God's humility shines brightly in choosing us to represent Him. White is the color of purity or holiness. Bright and clean linen was given to those who persevere or overcome 

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 

Revelation 3:4-5

 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. Revelation 3:18

Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. Revelation 6:11

 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, Revelation 7:9

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Revelation 7:13

And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Revelation 15:6 

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:8

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14

. They have crowns. He has crowned us with glory and honor. The elders wear gold crowns. There are two Greek words describing two different types of crowns in the New Testament. One is the crown of a ruler (diadem), the other was the crown of a victor (stephanos) who won a race in the Greek athletic games.  

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. Revelation 4:4

 The Greek word for crown in is stephanos, which speaks of a victor's crown rather than a king's diadem. It is the golden crown of the overcomer who has fought the "beast life" and has won by the blood of the Lamb. We are enthroned, robed, and crowned-all because of what Jesus has done. The twentyfour elders (a metaphor for the overcomers) were rewarded for gaining significant victories over sin in their life. The angels are not rewarded for victory over sin, but they are judged if they do sin. Crowns in Revelation are given for endurance or perseverance and are only promised to victors or overcomers 

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 3:11

 These crowns of victory imply faithfulness and endurance. When you come before God in prayer, remember what He has done for you. You are enthroned, robed in white, and given a crown.5 The twenty-four elders in their glistening white robes are priests around the throne. They intercede, worship, move God's heart, and share His authority. They are the royal, enthroned priesthood seated before God to be co-rulers in eternity.  

This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the LORD according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him. 

1 Chronicles 24:19

In we learn that king David divided the Levitical priesthood into twenty-four groups who would take turns serving God in His earthly Tabernacle. These twenty-four groups were under the headship of twenty-four elders! The picture we see in the throne room is the realm of priests who reign with Christ seated upon thrones. Reigning priests! "And pulsing from the throne were blinding flashes of lightning, crashes of thunder, and voices. And burning before the throne are seven blazing torches, which represent the seven Spirits of God" 

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 4:5

Amazing! When you enter the throne zone, you will see lightning flashes bringing greater glory and the sounds of thunder crashing over the worshippers. And you will hear voices like a waterfall speaking their praises to Almighty God. What do all these sights and sounds represent? These manifestations are meant to reveal more of Christ within us!

· Flashes of lightning represent the destructive power of God to destroy the enemy. After Jesus sent out the Seventy, they returned, and Jesus told them, "I watched Satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning" 

And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Luke 10:18

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:27

, And in we see Christ's appearing as lightning from the east-the door of the Temple! The rumble of thunder is the deep yearnings within God's heart to reveal Christ and thunder out His glory through us, the ones who share this throne! The voices are the voices of God's lovers, the worshippers in heaven, the corporate appearing of the sons of God in manifestation. Those with Christ formed in them become a voice to the world. In Exodus 20:18-19, the same manifestations of lightning and thunder appear from Mount Sinai, but the people would not endure it and told Moses, "Let not God speak with us, lest we die." But in Revelation 4, God's people have heard with ears opened and now become voices at the throne.

THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

And burning before the throne were seven blazing torches, which represent the seven Spirits of God. 

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 4:5

Seven burning torches before the throne! This points us to the lampstand with its seven branches 

“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. ³² And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. ³³ Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower—and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. ³⁴ On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. ³⁵ And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. ³⁶ Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. ³⁷ You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. Exodus 25:31-37

 It was one golden lampstand, yet it had seven lamps with burning oil 

And he said to me, “What do you see?”
So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Zechariah 4:2

Each branch of the lampstand represents one of the seven Spirits of God. The seven-fold Spirit of God is burning with light, glory, and revelation in the throne zone! This is what you encounter as you join with Jesus to pray with Him on the Sea of Glass! The lamps of burning fire were igniting the people of God for more revelation. These are the seven manifestations of the Spirit of God. Seven, in the Scriptures, is the most sacred number of the Hebrews. It is the number denoting spiritual perfection and completeness. The seven spirits of God, seven denoting spiritual perfection and completeness, are a picture of the fullness of the Spirit of God. These seven lamps of fire represent the seven spirits of sonship 

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
² The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
³ His delight is in the fear of the LORD,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
⁴ But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,
And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,
And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:1-5

This is the sevenfold sonship anointing that rested and continues to rest upon the firstborn Son of God! This mighty and glorious anointing shall come also upon all the unveiled sons of God in these last days. We will fully rise to become God's kings and priests on earth as it is in heaven!

A SEA OF GLASS

And in front of the throne there was pavement like a sea of glass. Around the throne and on each side stood four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind.

 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. Revelation 4:6

The assembly hall of heaven has a transparent, crystal floor-a sapphire pavement that stretches as far as the eye can see. All the glory of the rainbow and its colors is mirrored in that crystal sea. We find in that the sea is mingled with flaming fire.

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Revelation 15:2

 This is where the billions of the saints and angels come. It's the big conference center before the throne. It is a Sea of Glass, not a lake or pond. It is a vast sea of peace and glory. This is where you come when you intercede before the Father of Love. The wicked are like the raging sea that never rests 

But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
When it cannot rest,
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
²¹ ”There is no peace,”
Says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20-21

but the righteous are gathered on a peaceful sea that is beautiful and calm, still and serene 

 You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. Psalms 89:9 

God parted the Red Sea to let the redeemed pass through in peace. Jesus stilled the waves of the troubled sea when He walked the earth. The peaceful Sea of Glass is in contrast to the turbulent "sea of humanity."

Jude also described the natural man when he said, "They are wild waves of the sea, flinging out the foam of their shame and disgrace" raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.      Jude 1:13

Heaven has no turmoil, no surging sea-only peace. The Lamb rules from His throne and gathers His lovers on the crystal sea. The Lamb rules over the inner raging of the sea and He stills all its storms! All are quieted by the Lord, the Spirit, who arises from within us giving us peace, confidence, and truth. And then follows the calm. This Sea of Glass represents the transformed believers who have been forever changed, filled with peace, and ruled by the Lamb. There is a beast that comes out of the sea of humanity, but in heaven, there is a peace that is produced by the life-nature of the Lamb. Reading further in the book of Revelation, we find the overcomers standing on the Sea of Glass mingled with fire 

And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. Revelation 15:2

They have harps and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb the song of deliverance, the song of the overcomer! They are no longer going through the sea, nor being tossed about by it, but they are standing on top of it. The message is clear-the crystal sea speaks of the nature in which they stand, and their walk has become stable and transparent! The fact that what is underneath their feet is solid, brilliant, and clear reveals to us the great truth that they are rooted and grounded in the pure, perfect, and holy nature of Christ within. John actually gazed upon this Sea of Glass twice. Both of these descriptions provide symbolical views of both a people and a state of being. Glass is formed from melted sand. Individual grains of sand (people) are melted into one. John beheld this Sea of Glass mingled with fire-having come through the furnace of afflictions. As the Lord says, "See, I have purified you in the furnace of affliction ... I have refined you in the fire" 

 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

In the image and likeness of Christ, they are bonded together in a divine union of life. John sees the whole redeemed company not as millions of individual grains of sand, but as one body, even as a crystal Sea of Glass! The Sea of Glass also points to the laver, which stood between the bronze altar and the Tabernacle, a place of washing for the priests before they approached God.

You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, ¹⁹ for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.              Exodus 30:18-19

The laver was formed out of the melted bronze mirrors of the people of Israel 

He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Exodus 38:8

The mirror aspect of the laver represents the way that Christ, through His face-to-face relationship with us, shows us our imperfections and then washes them away. This is the laver, the washing place where you prepare to be in the Holy of Holies! The Sea of Glass, the mirror of sapphire, points out what is still lacking and what we need to surrender. As the elders bowed down, they saw themselves in the reflection of the mirror pavement and quickly cast their crowns to the Lamb who is worthy. They saw themselves in the light of the lampstand and gave up the glory to Christ.

 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

When you come before God, you also stand in this glory, washed in love, made ready to present your requests to Him.

Pray this today: Glorious Father, I come before you now in the heavenly realm. You have opened a portal for me to pass through so that I might commune with you. I enter into my calling as an enthroned intercessor, seated at your right hand. I am thankful for the white garment of righteousness and the golden crown of victory on my head. I take my place humbly before you and lay my requests before your throne. Amen.

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