What do the 24 elders symbolize? (Revelation 4:4)

 

 

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. Revelation 4:4 - King James

 

⚪ Personifications of the testimonies of twenty-four Prophets

Rev. 4:4 [...] And upon the seats [I saw four and twenty] elders altting.— Personifications of the testimonies of twenty-four Prophets (Heb. 11:2), who foretold things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Not the Prophets themselves are here referred to. They are not in Heaven. "David is not ascended into the Heavens." (Acts 2:34.) Daniel still "sleeps in the dust of the earth." (Dan. 12:2, 13.) None of the Prophets are in Heaven: "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:40.) But from the time that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:21), the utterances of Enoch, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Job, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezeklel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadlah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi and John the Baptist, have been witnesses before God that there shall be "Times of Refreshing"—"Times of Restitution."—Acts 3:19-21. Source : 🇺🇸 1917- Studies in the Scriptures, Vol 7, The finished mystery, page 76 + Cover

 

⚫ All the faithful who were made members of the body of Christ

Rev. 4:4 [...] The vision discloses twenty-four seats or thrones round about The Throne. Upon these twenty-four lesser thrones were seated a like number of elders who were clothed in white raiment, and they had crowns of gold upon their heads. The number being twice that of the "apostles of the Lamb" suggests that these not only represented the twelve apostles but pictured all the faithful who were made members of the body of Christ. These are heavenly elders, and if not so in age they are elders of all heavenly creatures because being members of the body of Christ. The number mentioned would represent those who died faithful and who have been resurrected to glory and also those on the earth who continue faithful, who are under the robe of righteousness and in the secret place of the Most High, and who are spoken of as being "joyful in glory" when the Lord is at his temple. (Ps. 149: 5) It is those that are faithful at the appearing of the Chief Shepherd that "receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away". Source : 🇺🇸 1930 - Light, vol 1, page 55, page 56 + Cover