Number Two:
I believe the number twenty-four refers us back to the number designated as the Priests of Israel, as assigned under inspiration of God by Aaron.
1st Chronicles 24:18-19
- "The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
- These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him."
Twenty-four was the number of the Priestly orders inspired by God (
1st Chronicles) as representative of the whole collective priesthood. I believe that these 24 Priestly courses or orders are a token pointing to the culmination of the whole redemptive and sealed Priesthood of the whole house of Israel. This is also why God says that all believers are now Kings and Priests unto God, signifying their rule as elders, and their Priesthood to minister to God's people.
Revelation 20:5
- "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
The first resurrection, or [
protos anastasis], was when we were first resurrected from the dead to new life with Christ Jesus. That "undeniably" was our first and only resurrection/regeneration from the dead wherein we shall never die again. Which makes it very literally impossible to be resurrected from the dead a second time. Which means of necessity, we live and reign with Christ right now.
Acts 26:23
- "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."
Those words translated "first that should rise from the dead" are [
protos anastasis], the exact same words translated First Resurrection in Revelation chapter twenty. This reveals that "this" is the first resurrection, and it was at that time that we were made his kings (
rulers) and Priests. When we are saved we are regenerated and that is when we are translated into heavenly places, seated on thrones, and forever reign with Him. But don't take my word for it, because Scripture makes it plain that there is no mistaking the chronology of our first resurrection.
Revelation 1:5-6
- "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
- And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
Revelation twenty speaks of "this" resurrection, which is the foundation of our regeneration in Him, wherein we were given both rule/judgment (
Revelation 20:4) and priesthood. The twenty-four elders reigning/ruling as kings and priests on thrones around God are revelatory characterizations of us.
The twenty-four elders of Revelation are
representative characters of both the Old and New Testament and are characterized as elders because they have been given judgment, and they have rule, and they sit as kings upon twenty-four thrones signifying their appointment as Priests of Israel!!! I believe that the very language of them clothed in white robes also points to their having been cleansed by Christ for that very purpose.
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."
The word translated "seats" in this passage is the exact same word that is translated "throne" in the same context. So here we have these twenty-four rulers who are living and reigning as kings on thrones before the throne of God, and they are clothed in white raiment. The very same white raiment or [
leukos himation] that God uses to symbolize those who have been redeemed from bondage to sin. e.g.:
Revelation 3:18
- "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
This is the white raiment or robe (
John 19:2 and
19:5) that is to
signifies the righteousness of Christ. It is only because of that
garment that they reign as kings and priests before the throne of God. This is the confirmation of the declaration that we are already given our resurrection, stewardship, and reign as kings and Priests unto God. They are dressed in white garments to signify that Christ has washed them clean from their sins in His work on the cross. We saw this illustrated in the very first chapter of this revelatory book.
Revelation 1:5-6
- "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
- And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
This verse for all intents and purposes already explained who these are that were seated on thrones, crowned with gold because they are Kings, numbered as twenty-four because they are the Priests of Israel, and dressed in white raiment because they are clothed in the robe of Christ's righteousness (
Isaiah 61:10). They represent the redeemed of the earth in Christ. Indeed, the explanation in chapter five tells us as plainly as can be told as it says that the twenty-four elders sing the new song, which is a very particular, exclusive, and distinctive song. Listen carefully to what the twenty-four elders sing:
Revelation 5:9-10
- "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
- And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The Twenty-four elders sing that Christ was slain and had redeemed "them by His blood" from out of every people (
Revelation 7:9) and nation,
making them unto God "Kings and Priests." This is why
they are all dressed in white as a token that they have all been washed clean in Christ's blood. This is the song of the believer's redemption in Zion (
Psalms 137:3) and made an integral part of the Holy City New Jerusalem. The only place of true peace and safety for the children of Israel. The song the twenty-four elders sing reveals not only their origin from out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, but their need to be redeemed by God. Those are God's words, meaning that these words are "His" interpretation of these twenty-four elders, from whence they came, and how they are counted righteous. He says that the song they sing no one could learn "except" the hundred forty and four thousand (
Revelation 14:3), which were those redeemed from the earth. When we allow God's word to interpret God's word, Revelation chapter seven tells us these were "all" the families or tribes of the House of Israel that were sealed (
Revelation 7:4).
These are "all" the children of the families of God that are secured/sealed. There is no "other" Israel to be sealed, all that are to be sealed are among this symbolic 144,000. All of us who were regenerated and made part of the house of Israel (
Ephesians 2:11-13), had to first be sealed (
Ephesians 4:30)) as a member of God's family by the Spirit of Christ before the Lord would loose His judgment on earth.
All of us who were redeemed from the earth have eternal security "because" of that sealing.
Let them with ears, let him hear!