Words and Phrases
The Twenty Four Elders continued.
We continue with our examination of the texts in support of the 3rd view that the 24 elders represent the Church in its glorified condition.
Rev. 5:5
“One of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David…”
The Apostle Paul representing one course of the priesthood steps forward to identify Jesus as the Worthy one who fulfills these two roles: “It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda…” (Heb. 7:14.) “Concerning his Son Jesus made of the seed of David according to the flesh…” (Rom. 1:1-3). Before the Apostle Paul, no one specifically identified Jesus as fulfilling these roles.
Rev. 5:6
“In the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes…” How appropriate for Jesus to be standing in the midst of his Church giving strength (“horns”) and watching over (“eyes”) each successive stage of the Church! “In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…” (Rev. 1:13).
Rev. 5:8
“Every one of them having harps”
“The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments constitute what the Lord himself designates ‘the harp of God.’ And the various testimonies of the law and the prophets are the several chords of that harp, which, when tuned by the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts and swept by the fingers of the devoted servants and searchers after divine truth, yields the most enchanting strains that ever fell on mortal ears. Praise the Lord for the exquisite melody of the blessed ‘son of Moses and the Lamb,’ which we learn through the testimony of his holy apostles and prophets, of whom the Lord Jesus is chief!” (F233.)
The Church was predestined to make harmonious melody from the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The over-comers of the Church who get the victory over the beast do so by having the “harps of God” (Rev. 15:2).
“And golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints” -The office of the Church is predestined to include the precious sweet-smelling fragrance of the prayers of individual saints.
Rev. 5:9
“And they sung a new song, saying…and has redeemed to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue...”
The 24 courses of the predestined Church is melodically attesting to the fact that the incumbents will be redeemed from every kindred of the earth.
Rev. 5:11, 14
“The voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders…and the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives for ever and ever.” In this grand and sublime Throne Scene of Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 how strange it would seem if the Church class was not somehow specifically represented in the eternal purpose of God when everyone else is pictured!
Rev. 7:13-17
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes?”
A rhetorical question is asked in order to explain the existence of this class for which there was no call and which is a by-product of the Church. “One of the elders” refers to Paul again who identified and explained in some detail the Great Company class (1 Cor. 3:15; 5:5; Heb. 2:15).
Rev. 11:16
“And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats (thrones), fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,” —The church is predestined to recognize and acclaim the reign of Christ and to praise God for it.
Rev. 14:1-3
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads…the voice of many waters, …voice of harpers…And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”
Here are the faithful 144,000 who know the Truth and play on the harp of the Scriptures who will merge to fill the predestined office of the 24 elders.” (New Albany Notes of Revelation, Appendix C #79c)
In our next post we would like to present our evidence in favor of the fifth view that the 24 elders represent the 24 divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures.
The Twenty Four Elders continued.
We continue with our examination of the texts in support of the 3rd view that the 24 elders represent the Church in its glorified condition.
Rev. 5:5
“One of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David…”
The Apostle Paul representing one course of the priesthood steps forward to identify Jesus as the Worthy one who fulfills these two roles: “It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda…” (Heb. 7:14.) “Concerning his Son Jesus made of the seed of David according to the flesh…” (Rom. 1:1-3). Before the Apostle Paul, no one specifically identified Jesus as fulfilling these roles.
Rev. 5:6
“In the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes…” How appropriate for Jesus to be standing in the midst of his Church giving strength (“horns”) and watching over (“eyes”) each successive stage of the Church! “In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…” (Rev. 1:13).
Rev. 5:8
“Every one of them having harps”
“The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments constitute what the Lord himself designates ‘the harp of God.’ And the various testimonies of the law and the prophets are the several chords of that harp, which, when tuned by the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts and swept by the fingers of the devoted servants and searchers after divine truth, yields the most enchanting strains that ever fell on mortal ears. Praise the Lord for the exquisite melody of the blessed ‘son of Moses and the Lamb,’ which we learn through the testimony of his holy apostles and prophets, of whom the Lord Jesus is chief!” (F233.)
The Church was predestined to make harmonious melody from the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The over-comers of the Church who get the victory over the beast do so by having the “harps of God” (Rev. 15:2).
“And golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints” -The office of the Church is predestined to include the precious sweet-smelling fragrance of the prayers of individual saints.
Rev. 5:9
“And they sung a new song, saying…and has redeemed to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue...”
The 24 courses of the predestined Church is melodically attesting to the fact that the incumbents will be redeemed from every kindred of the earth.
Rev. 5:11, 14
“The voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders…and the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives for ever and ever.” In this grand and sublime Throne Scene of Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 how strange it would seem if the Church class was not somehow specifically represented in the eternal purpose of God when everyone else is pictured!
Rev. 7:13-17
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes?”
A rhetorical question is asked in order to explain the existence of this class for which there was no call and which is a by-product of the Church. “One of the elders” refers to Paul again who identified and explained in some detail the Great Company class (1 Cor. 3:15; 5:5; Heb. 2:15).
Rev. 11:16
“And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats (thrones), fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,” —The church is predestined to recognize and acclaim the reign of Christ and to praise God for it.
Rev. 14:1-3
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads…the voice of many waters, …voice of harpers…And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”
Here are the faithful 144,000 who know the Truth and play on the harp of the Scriptures who will merge to fill the predestined office of the 24 elders.” (New Albany Notes of Revelation, Appendix C #79c)
In our next post we would like to present our evidence in favor of the fifth view that the 24 elders represent the 24 divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures.
