When I was a new believer, I attended an Evangelical church in South Minneapolis. One Sunday a missionary spoke. This man was a live wire. He always said that when he was a drunk he was a complete drunk, and when he got saved every part of him got saved, including his emotions. So, at the end of his message – and throughout it, as well, he started crying and then fell on the altar, crying and praising God. Now, I was a teenager and laughed at almost everything in those days, but I had never seen a grown man cry. I’ve seen them make others cry, and instead of it tickling my funny bone, it actually made me pause and give him greater respect. He wasn’t afraid to be real. So today, I find it wonderful when mature believers can worship, pray, and express their realness in front of the younger ones.
In this portion of scripture, which occurs after the two witnesses, we see that the last two oracles of truth have been expressed on this earth and now movement in heaven occurs. So in this scene, we see the 24 elders. The word “elder” is the Greek word “prebuteros” and means, “elder, leader, council”. Since revelation has many symbolic features to it, I believe that the 24 stands for the completion of the Old and New Testament order: 12 Tribes of Israel in the Old, and the 12 disciples in the New. They are joined by the four living creatures (4:4-7), which I believe to be the expression of the gospel message, as the face of each creature aligns with one of the gospel narratives – the lion symbolizes the Book of Matthew, where the Messiah is King; the calf (original word “umoscho” in the Greek adds ox), speaks of Mark, where Christ is the servant; the face of the man is Luke, where the Son of man is highlighted, and the flying eagle is the narrative of John, where the deity, Divinity of Christ is the theme.
The elders are in a seating position, which is the pose of the teacher, as well as the one who is finished. The prophecy of God throughout Old and New Testament, including the gospel message, has been completed, and so the elders are seated round about the Throne of God. We see that there is a rainbow surrounding the throne, as well, so this reminds us of God’s hope and promise and that every promise and purpose of God is complete at the throne. The elders will cast their golden crowns at the feet of Jesus, for everything we have comes from Him in the first place. The fact that the elders were surrounding the throne is also a good reminder for us that Christian life and certainly heaven, are about God. It’s not like our life here, where we think internally and often selfishly. Our focus will be solely on the Lamb, for the circle will be complete.
The elders are a great example of the fact that we finish our work and rejoice in His presence (Hebrews 4:10).
Another thing to keep in mind is that the elders glorified the name of God. “Lord” is the Greek word “kyrie” and means “master”. The name “God” is “theos”, and almighty is “pantokrator”, meaning “ruler of the universe; one who holds sway.” It comes from the Greek “pas”, meaning “all or every”, and kratos”, meaning “strength, might”, which is from the root meaning “to perfect, complete”. It means that God, surrounded by the entire rainbow and fullness of the elders, is the completeness of all of our lives. “pantokrator” is the Greek corresponding to the Old Testament “el shaddai”. “El” is the god of war – that male part, while “shad” is “the breasted one”. Together, this means God is the fullness of man and woman and that is why the marriage amendment and keeping marriage defined biblically, is of utter importance. This portion also exclaims that He is the great I Am – He is, was, is to come, meaning “Yahweh”, the personal, covenant name for God, which is Jesus Christ (“the same yesterday, today, and forever”). He is our completeness – our all in all.
It is from the elders that thanks come forth. “Thanks” is the Greek word “eucharistoumen”, and that word has many smaller words in it: “eu” means “well”; “charis” means gifts, graces”, while “char” means “joy”. We see the Eucharist in here, as well as eulogy. In the final saying, the elders are telling God that He’s done well – His gifts, graces, joy, communion are the fuller picture of the individual thanks we give here.
To have a heart of thankfulness is necessary or we cannot see the heavens opened for us. Here in Revelation 11:19, the temple is opened and the Ark of the Covenant is seen. The last time there were earthquakes and the creation grumbled, was at the crucifixion of Christ, when the veil was rent and it exposed that the Ark of the Covenant was not there. Their religion was empty. God safely put His ark back into His presence, so it wouldn’t end up on eBay. Psalm 100 tells us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts” ……. Ungratefulness and thanklessness close that gate.
It is our prayer that the elders, those who have walked in the way for many years, do model the worship and respect of the Lord God Almighty, focusing their attention solely on the Lamb, which is to be praised forevermore.