Revelation 4:4; The Twenty-Four Elders

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

Spurgeon observed well, “These represent the church glorified in heaven. Royal robes, for they are crowned; priestly ones, and therefore clothed in white. “He hath made us unto our God kings and priests“.”

Exodus 28:40 And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. 

They had kingly crowns of gold on their heads showing their kingly power and that it belongs to them to judge matters in the church (1 Corinthians 5:12). They were “round about the throne” – the meanest saint is near and dear to God as the greatest. [Goodwin]

Symbolic of the church in glory. The 24 elders seated on their seats round about the throne represent the believers. Here are Christians who are crowned and on thrones – suitable to after the judgment seat of Christ. 

The number 24 is symbolic of the idea of representation. The priesthood was represented by twenty-four orders of priests (1 Chronicles 24, 25) set up by David in the temple of porters and singers.

1 Chronicles 24:5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 

1 Chronicles 24:7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 

1 Chronicles 24:18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. 

1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: 

1 Chronicles 25:9 Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons weretwelve: 

1 Chronicles 25:31 The four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve. 

Goodwin observed well, “It is the representation of a church of men, not angels; for these elders sing that they “are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb,” which the angels are not.”

Revelation 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

Amen.