THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS

Five times in the Book of Revelation, John refers to "the four and twenty elders" worshipping the Lord (4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; and 19:4).  The identity of the twenty-four elders is not specifically stated, which has led to much speculation as to who they are.  Some (very few) have suggested that they are angels who represent either Israel, the Church, or both.  Because they are dressed in white garments and are wearing crowns (4:4 - a description which is never said of angels), most commentators hold to their identity as being glorified saints from either Israel, or the Church, or again, both. 

First let me say, that if their identity was important, the Lord would have identified them.  That being said, I do not want to get caught up in a debate over it.  I prefer instead to present what can be gleaned from the context surrounding each of the five times they are mentioned.  In 4:4-11, they are clothed in white, they are seated around God's throne, they are in the presence of four "beasts," which seem to represent the four Gospels (see the footnote in Ryrie's Study Bible:  a lion - Matthew; a calf - Mark; a man - Luke; and a flying eagle - John) and because they each have six wings, it is likely they are seraphim, angels of God (Isa. 6:1-3).  Again, in 5:14, the four "beasts" are worshipping with the elders.  In 7:9-17, the four "beasts," the elders, and the angels of God, are joined by a great multitude who, we are told in v. 14, are the martyrs from the Tribulation. 

In 11:16-17, the elders, who had been seated, fall before the Lord God, and they worship Him.  And finally, in 19:1-5, the elders join the multitudes of heaven in praising the Lord.  We are also told that a "voice came out of the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great" (v. 5)!  I wouldn't want to be dogmatic about this, but I believe that only Jesus is seated with His Father on the throne of heaven; it is totally consistent for Christ to focus men's praise on His Father (see John 17:1, 4, 6, 26; etc. for just a few examples).

There is one possible clue as to the four and twenty elders' identity; it is found in the Lord's description of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, in 21:12-14, which says:

"And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:  on the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."   

The praise and worship of the four and twenty didn't get them saved;

they, like us, worship Him out of gratitude for saving them!