The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"And circling the throne were twenty-four thrones; and on the thrones twenty-four elders
sitting, having been clothed with white garments, and on their heads golden crowns. And
in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, four living ones, being full of eyes
before and behind."--Rev. 4:4,6.
As we now inquire what are symbolized by the elders and living ones, we note that there
have been in the past and in recent years four -principal views held by eminent expositors
of the Revelation concerning who are represented by the twenty-four elders. These are as
follows:
1. That they represent the Church in the glorified state, after this Age has ended. The
Protestant Futurist interpreters naturally hold to this view, because it is the belief of many
of them that the Church is glorified before any of the visions of the Revelation from
chapter 4 and on have their fulfillment. These expositors believe that the witnessing,
suffering saints pictured in the several visions of the Revelation, instead of representing
the Church, describe a Jewish remnant in the time of Jacob's trouble, which, if this
interpretation were correct, would be after the Church is glorified. This view is disproved
by every symbolic reference to these witnessing saints throughout the Book. As a noted
expositor has said concerning this matter:
"We observe these saints who are thirteen times mentioned in the Apocalypse doing and
bearing exactly what we know from other Scriptures the saints of the Christian Church
must do and bear in this dispensation [Gospel Age]. We find them watching, waiting,
praying, enduring tribulation (chap. 13:10), and resisting unto blood, resting in heaven
(14:12,13), and at last manifested as the Bride of Christ, and 'the armies which were in
heaven,' clad under both emblems with the 'fine linen clean and white,' which is the
righteousness of the saints; we find them associated with the martyrs of Jesus (17:6), a clear
proof that they cannot be Jewish saints. In short, instead of the Church being actually in
heaven at the commencement of the prophetic drama of this book, she is seen on earth
during its entire course. She is seen collectively under various symbols, such as the one
hundred and forty-four thousand (Rev. 7:4), and the sun-clad woman (12:1), the armies of
heaven (19:14), the New Jerusalem (21:2); and her members are seen severally as the
'saints.' They are seen first in their suffering and then in their glory; first slain for Jesus'
sake, then enthroned beside Him. Can it be questioned that the saints who pray and wait
and suffer and die as martyrs of Jesus are the same saints, the 'called and chosen and
faithful,' who are seen with the Lamb afterwards as His Bride and as His white-robed
followers? If they are not, then the unity of the book is gone. It becomes an
incomprehensible mystery."
2. Another view is that the twenty-four elders represent angels. This interpretation,
however, cannot be the correct one, because angels are represented in the vision as in the
outer circle, outside of the elders.--Rev. 5:11.
3. Still another view--one presented by W. I. Mann--is thus stated: