Posted By: Will
The 4 living creatures, 24 Elders and seven Spirits of God - 03/06/05 02:53 AM
Hello,
I have been trying to figure out who the 24 elders are and why they are mentioned in Revelation along with the 4 living creatures (beasts). They seem to be mentioned together along with the seven Spirits of God. Are we missing something here?
quote:
Revelation 4:4,5
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.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
quote:
Revelation 4:6-8
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
God Bless,
Will
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The 4 living creatures, 24 Elders and seven Spirits of God - 03/07/05 12:49 AM
The 24 elders are wearing white robes with gold crowns on their heads, therefore, they must represent redeemed men.
How is this for starters?
Posted By: Will
Re: The 4 living creatures, 24 Elders and seven Spirits of God - 03/07/05 01:14 AM
Could they be the ones that were resurrected when Christ rose on the 3rd day?
God Bless,
Will
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The 4 living creatures, 24 Elders and seven Spirits of God - 03/09/05 12:58 AM
I wouldn't be surprised if some of them came from that first fruits resurrection as well as those who were either resurrected or translated prior to that such as Moses, Enoch, and Elijah.
Posted By: Kevin H
Re: The 4 living creatures, 24 Elders and seven Spirits of God - 03/11/05 05:13 AM
Why should we speculate when looking at the words of scripture and the historical context of the world that those worlds were witten in we can learn what this text is about.
The 4 living creatures are Old Testament symbols of the four sides of the warcamp of Israel, from how they marched during the exodus. Thus becomes a symbol of God's people. You can study this out with concordances and good Bible commentries and dictionaries on the Old Testament.
The 24 Elders are between the throne of God and the 4 creatures, or how God communicates to his people. Kings (and in ancient mythology the most high god) would make their wills known by courts of 70, which needed a quarum of a minimum of 23 plus the high priest for 24 Elders, who would carry out the will of the god or king.
Moses' inlaws suggested that he follow the pattern which comes out to the same consept.
The Sanhedren was composed of two groups of 23 Pharicees and one group of 23 Saducees.The Hebrew word for Sanhedren was "Elders" Often the 23 Saducees would get together with none of the Pharicees to hold a kangeroo court for would be messiahs. Jesus was probably tied before the 24 Saduceen elders, 23 saducees and the hight priest (also a saducee)
If we have the same John in Revelation as who wrote the gospel and saw the 24 earthly elders give false testimony about Jesus, he now sees the record of the 24 true elders who tell the truth about Jesus. These 24 are two groups of 12, the 12 tribes and the 12 apostels, or the Old and New Testaments.
The 7 Spirits = the perfect Spirit, or the Holy Spirit. You find in Revelation 4 and 5 symbols for all three members of the trinity and how God communicates to his people through the Bible.