In this segment Chuck Missler discusses the 24 elders. This segment comes from the “Chronicles” commentary published by Koinonia House.

The 24 Elders – Who Are They?

Chuck Missler discusses the mystery of the 24 Elders, as revealed in the Book of Revelation, focusing on their identity, symbolism, and significance. He discusses how these elders are depicted in the throne room of heaven and explores various interpretations, drawing from both the Old and New Testaments.

Missler argues that the 24 Elders represent a significant group within Christian eschatology, likely symbolizing the redeemed believers. Through detailed scriptural analysis, he highlights the importance of understanding these figures in the context of the end times and encourages personal study of the Book of Revelation.

Key Points:

• Throne Room Vision: The 24 Elders are introduced in Revelation 4 as seated around God’s throne, clothed in white with crowns of gold, symbolizing authority and righteousness.
• Old Testament Connections: Missler emphasizes that understanding Revelation requires familiarity with the Old Testament, noting that the 24 Elders resemble the 24 divisions of the priesthood found in 1 Chronicles 24.
• Not Levitical Priests: While the 24 divisions of priests might seem related, the 24 Elders are not Levitical priests. Instead, they symbolize a different, more significant group.
• Melchizedek’s Priesthood: Missler draws parallels between the 24 Elders and Melchizedek, who was both a king and a priest, unlike the Levitical priests.
• Ruling Authority: The 24 Elders are not passive observers; they are depicted as rulers or judges with authority, further aligning them with the idea of kingship.
• Not Tribulation Saints: The 24 Elders are not the tribulation saints mentioned later in Revelation, as one of the Elders explains the identity of these saints to John.
• Not Angels: The 24 Elders are distinct from angels, as they are portrayed separately in the heavenly scene described in Revelation.
• Not the Nation of Israel: Missler argues that the 24 Elders cannot represent Israel since other passages in Revelation focus specifically on the nation.
• Kings and Priests: The 24 Elders are referred to as kings and priests, a title also given to Melchizedek, Jesus, and redeemed believers, reinforcing their symbolic connection to the redeemed.
• Representation of the Redeemed: Ultimately, Missler suggests that the 24 Elders likely represent the redeemed believers who are in heaven before the tribulation begins, emphasizing the timing and significance of their presence in the heavenly throne room.

From Revelation Chapter 4

⁴ Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.

The Throne and Worship of the Creator by the 24 Elders

⁵ Out from the throne *came flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are ^[a]the seven spirits of God; ⁶ and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the ^[b]center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night ^[c]they do not cease to say,

⁹ And when the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,