Considerations For Interpreting the Elders of Rev. 4.4

I.                   2 Broad Categories

a.       Attempts to identify the elders have fallen into two broad categories, one saying that they are men and the other saying that they are angels.

b.      Each category has three variations.

                                                              i.      Those who interpret the elders as men say that they could be:

1.      Representatives of Israel

2.      Representatives of the Church

3.      Representatives of both Israel and the Church

                                                            ii.      Those who believe the elders are angels say that they could be:

1.      Representatives of the Old Testament Priestly Order

2.      The Faithful of All the Ages

3.      A Special College of Angels

II.                The evidence for interpreting the Elders as men –

a.       The word “elder” – This group finds its strongest support in observing that presbyteroi “elders” is more easily applied to men than angels (cf. Hebrews 11.2).

                                                              i.      However, the strength of this argument is minimized by the observation that the LXX (Lexicon) reading of Isaiah 24.23 refers to a heavenly assembly, presumably angels, whose members are heavenly beings called ton presbyteron “the elders” (Hebrew: זקן zâqên zaw-kane’).

                                                            ii.      The word presbuteros is used in the KJV, but this word is different than the word originally used in the Greek Lexicon. The original word in the Greek Lexicon was presbyteros.

1.      presbuteros – The word which is used in the KJV is used to refer to an “old human man”. This word is specifically used to describe human beings, and even more specifically it was used to describe members of the Sanhedrin. It was used to describe the “elders of the Jewish faith”.

2.      presbyteros – However the word that was originally used in the Greek presbyteros, which also means “elder”, can serve as an unofficial title without regard to which order of created being one belongs.

a.       Meaning the original word used was not limited to human beings. It was a word which referred to a title and not a specific type of created being (human or angel) as the word that the newer translations use. The word the majority of English translations use refers only to old men. The original word however does not refer to an old man but to a title that is given.

3.      So we can’t be persuaded to identify the elders as men on the basis of the word used, as its use is not limited to men.

b.      The White Clothing –

                                                              i.      Another argument is that white clothing is generally the clothing of the saints

1.      Though the saints are given white clothes to wear (cf. Rev. 3.5, 18) no where in the text does it say that only saints where white clothing and no one else. Nothing in the text requires that we set a guideline saying that only the saints can wear white. In fact in the NT alone, at least 4 other times, the angels are recorded wearing white also (Matt 28.3; Mark 16.5; John 20.12; Acts 1.10).

2.      We can see from the records in the New Testament that redeemed saints, angels, and Jesus Himself wears white garments. It seems that all who reside in heaven are clothed in white. This means that we can’t use the white garments to nail down the identity of the elders either.

a.       Men – Rev. 3.4-5; 6.11; 7.9, 13, 14; 16.15; 19.8

b.      Angels – Matt. 28.3; Mark 16.5; John 20.12; Acts 1.10; Rev. 15.6

c.       Jesus – Matthew 17.2; Mark 9.3; Rev. 1.13

d.      This is not a comprehensive list.

c.       Crowns of Gold -

                                                              i.      Another argument is that crowns of gold are associated with redeemed men and not angels.

1.      Nothing in Scripture prohibits angels from wearing these crowns.

2.      Certainly gold crowns do not denote redemption in Rev 9.7, nor in Rev. 14.14.

                                                            ii.      These crowns could denote the royal dignity of those associated with the throne of God (1 Kings 22.19, Ps. 89.7)  

d.      You have redeemed “us” to God by Your blood…

                                                              i.      Many use Revelation 5.8 to also backup there reasons for identifying the elders as humans. They say that the elders declare that Christ has redeemed them by His blood, because the word “us” is used.

1.      Others object to this because they say that it is an assumption based on an acceptance of an incorrect textual variant that includes the first person pronoun “us” in the song of redemption.

a.       The actual translation from the Greek Lexicon to the English language reads: (hoti esphages kai egorasas to theq en t4 haimati sou ek pases phyles kai glosses kai laou kai ethnous,) –  “‘because You were slain and have redeemed for God with Your blood [some] from every tribe and tongue and people and nation’”

2.      Another point that is made is that the 4 living creatures also sing in this song, and yet no one will attempt to identify them with humanity.

e.       Representatives of Israel/Church/Both

                                                              i.      It is true that the description of the elders includes items that were also promised to overcomers in the churches: white robes (Rev. 3.5), crowns (Rev3.11) and thrones (Rev. 3.21).

                                                            ii.      It is also true that elders were sometimes a representative group,

1.      whether in the local church (Acts 14.23; 15.6; 20.17; 21.18)

2.      or the 24 that represented the thousands of priests in Israel (1 Chron. 24.7-19).  

                                                          iii.      This does not dictate that this is always true though. So we cannot say that every elder must be a representative group or representatives of a group just because some have been. Just because some have been does not mean that all are.

1.      There simply is no compelling evidence here that they represent a larger body. Nowhere in the context is it suggested.

2.      Also, throughout the rest of the book the elders are distinguished separately from the saints (7.13-14; 14.3; 19.4-8).

f.       The Thrones They Occupy

                                                              i.      Identifying these elders based on the thrones that they occupy fails to recognize an important distinction: they are seated on the thrones already, but men will not be until some point in the future (Rev. 20.4; 1 Cor. 6.2).

1.      So does Revelation 20.4 come before Revelation 4.4? No, after it.

g.      The Number 24

                                                              i.      Some who interpret the elders as people (humans) say that this number 24 comes from the combination of the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles (Ex. 4.29; 12.21; 19.7; 24.1; Heb. 11.2) and the churches in the NT (Acts 14.23; 20.17; 21.18).                                                  

                                                            ii.      The description of the New Jerusalem also has 12 gates and the names of the children from each of the twelve tribes of Israel written on the gates, and we also see 12 fountains with the names of the apostles on them.

1.      But if the elders are a combination of OT Patriarchs and NT Apostles then why aren’t there 24 gates and 24 fountains?

                                                          iii.      Also, for support they point out that Jesus told the 12 apostles that they would judge the 12 tribes of Israel (Matt. 19.28; Luke 22.30). There is also a reference to the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb which gives some support for this in Rev. 15.3.

1.      However, this still cannot override the distinctions between the elders and the saints throughout the Book.
 

III.             Elders interpreted as angels evidence –

a.       Always Grouping the Elders with Angels –

                                                              i.      The book of revelation groups the elders with angles in other places which adds a credence to the possibility of the term’s referring to angels (7.11; 19.1-4).

b.      Representing The Faithful of all the Ages –

                                                              i.      Some believe that the elders represent the faithful of all the ages, because believers share the throne with the Lord and reign with Him there (Rev. 1.6; 3.21; 21.4, 6; 22.5; 2 Tim. 2.12), wearing their crowns (Rev. 3.11).

1.      But the fact remains that it is nowhere hinted in the context that the elders are symbols of a larger group. There is no compulsion that they stand for something else.

2.      In either case an argument for the elders being man or angel based on them being representatives of a group simply is not found in the text or context and is speculation and opinion.

c.       24 Elders Represent OT Priestly orders -

                                                              i.      The number 24 (1 Chron. 23.3-4; 24.4; 25.9-31).

                                                            ii.      The elders function in a quasipriestly fashion in offering prayers of the saints (Rev. 5.8) in the heavenly archetype of the earthly Temple with its accessories (Heb. 8.5).

1.      Rather than priests their responsibility is leading in worship for all creation.

2.      Their attire of white robes and gold crowns and functions are royal rather than judicial or sacerdotal.

d.      The 24 Elders are a Special College of Angels

                                                              i.      This view is that the 24 elders are a special class or college of angels, beings of high authority that belong to the court of God in heaven.

1.      In Revelation they are always grouped with angels rather than men, yet distinguished for the other subordinate angels (7.9-11; 19.1-4).

2.      One of the elders performs the same function of offering bowls of incense that is later performed by an angel (5.8; 8.3).

3.      In 7.14 this elder acts as an agent of revelation in much the same manner as the angels function in the book (1.1; 17.3; 22.6).

a.       These duties belong only to angels (Dan. 9.21-27).

b.      This particular group of angels assists in execution of the divine rule of the universe.