The 24 Elders and
the Four Living Creatures
Screen
1
Welcome to the second part of our study guide! Let's pray together:
Our Father,
We are now ready to discover what the future holds for us.
First, we must identify the characters who will play an important part in the last moments
of the world's history, beginning with Your servants.
Today, we will study the 24 elders and the four living creatures.
Please guide us during this lesson, through the power of Your Holy Spirit working within
us. In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Screen
2
Revelation 4:2,4,6
And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the
throne. (...)
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders
sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (...)
And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of
eyes in front and in back.
In our lesson «Introduction to the Seven
Seals», we have seen the heavenly throne and the characters who worship God in that
place.
Among them are 24 elders and four living creatures, which we did not identify then. Let's
now try to discover who they are.
Screen
3
Leviticus 19:32
You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the
presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.
Revelation 1:13,14
[I saw] One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment
down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow.
Let's begin with the 24 elders.
The picture of an old man calls to mind wisdom and respect.
The white hair of an old man also reminds us of the description of Jesus in the first
chapter of Revelation.
Screen
4
An elder personifies wisdom, experience, sound advice:
«Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days,
understanding.» (JOB 12:12)
«Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and
he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.» (DEUTERONOMY 32:7)
«Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he
still lived, saying, "How do you advise me to answer these people?" And they
spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak
good words to them, they will be your servants forever." But he rejected the counsel
which the elders had given him.» (2 CHRONICLES 10:6-8)
Screen
5
Revelation 4:4
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the
thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads.
The description of the 24 elders contains three elements which will help us to
identify them:
- They are sitting on thrones, around God's throne.
- They are clothed in white robes.
- They have crowns of gold on their heads.
Screen
6
Revelation 3:21
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne.
Revelation 3:5
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments.
Revelation 2:10
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life.
The three elements describing the 24 elders (sitting on a throne, clothed in
white clothes, and wearing a crown) also appear in the letters to the seven churches: all
these are things Jesus promised to him who overcomes.
Screen
7
Matthew 27:51-53
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from
top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened;
and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
And coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and
appeared to many.
Who are the victors represented by the 24 elders?
The Bible says that, at Jesus' death, many saints rose from the dead. What happened to
these saints afterwards?
Screen
8
Ephesians 4:8 (NIV)
This is why it says:
«When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men.»
Isaiah 24:23
The Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in
Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously.
When He ascended to heaven, Jesus took these saints with Him, as the first
fruits of His risen people.
This group thus makes up the first part of the 24 elders, representing God's people under
the Old Covenant.
Screen
9
Luke 22:28-30
But you are those who have continued with Me in My
trials.
And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat
and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel.
Matthew 19:28
You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The second part of the 24 elders is made up of the twelve apostles, judging
Israel, and representing God's people under the New Covenant.
Screen
10
Daniel 7:9-11,13,14
I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient
of Days was seated. (...) The court was seated, and the books were opened.
I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I
watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
(...)
And behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the
Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and
glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
The 24 elders are judges taking part in the first work of judgment, which began
in 1844, and which goes on until the return of Jesus.
Screen
11
Matthew 19:28
You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
1 Peter 4:17
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house
of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the
gospel of God?
So judgment begins «at the house of God», that
is, with Israel of the Old Covenant, and the Church of the New Covenant.
The 24 elders, representing these two covenants, assist Jesus in His work of judgment.
Screen
12
1 John 5:7
For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
Revelation 7:1
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four
corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth.
The number of the elders, that is, 24, or 2 x 12, also carries a symbolic
meaning.
In fact, the number 12, or 3 x 4, symbolizes the alliance between God (associated with
number 3) and the earth (associated with number 4).
Screen
13
Revelation 12:1
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with
the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
Revelation 21:12
Also [the New Jerusalem] had a great and high wall with
twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the
names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
The book of Revelation, symbolizing the alliance
between God and men, uses the number 12 to represent the pure Church and the kingdom of
God.
Screen
14
Revelation 4:3,4
There was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like
an emerald.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders.
Genesis 9:12,13
And God said: «This is the sign of the covenant which I
make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual
generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant
between Me and the earth.»
Besides the number 12, the rainbow near the 24 elders is another sign, dating
back to Noah, of this alliance between God and men.
Screen
15
1 Chronicles 24:3,5,7,18,19
Then David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and
Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the schedule of their service.
(...)
Thus they were divided by lot. (...) Now the first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to
Jedaiah, (...) the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
This was the schedule of their service for coming into the house of the Lord according to
their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded
him.
The number 24 also calls to mind the service of the sanctuary, which was
performed by 24 groups of priests who assisted the High Priest.
Screen
16
Revelation 5:8-10
The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each
having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying:
«You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have
redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and
have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.»
Likewise, the 24 elders assist Jesus, our High Priest, in His work of
intercession in the heavenly sanctuary.
Screen
17
1 Chronicles 25:6-9,31
All these were under the direction of their father for
the music in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the
service of the house of God. (...)
So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord,
all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the
student.
Now the first lot for Asaph came out for Joseph; the second for Gedaliah, him with his
brethren and sons, twelve; (...) the twenty-fourth for Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his
brethren, twelve.
Finally, the number 24 calls to mind the worship service in the sanctuary,
performed by 24 groups of 12 Levites (288 Levites) singing and playing harps.
Screen
18
Revelation 4:10
The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on
the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 5:8,9
The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each
having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying: «You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its
seals.»
Likewise, the 24 elders participate, by singing and playing harps, in the
worship service taking place in the heavenly sanctuary.
Screen
19
Revelation 4:6,9
In the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were
four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. (...)
The living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who
lives forever and ever.
Now, let's move on to the four living creatures.
Like the 24 elders, they participate in the worship service which takes place in the
heavenly sanctuary.
Who are these four living creatures?
Screen
20
Screen
21
The four living creatures look like the four angels in Ezekiel:
«In the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were
four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was
like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face
like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.» (REVELATION 4:6,7)
«Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. (...). As for the likeness of
their faces, each had the face of a man, each of the four had the face of a lion on the
right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four
had the face of an eagle.» (EZEKIEL 1:6,10)
«Their whole body, with their back, their hands, their wings, and the wheels that the
four had, were full of eyes all around. (...) Each one had four faces: the first face was
the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and
the fourth the face of an eagle.» (EZEKIEL 10:12,14)
Screen
22
Revelation 5:6
I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of
the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had
been slain.
The four living creatures, like the 24 elders, are closely linked with Jesus
Christ.
The appearance of the four living creatures even displays many traits of character
belonging to Jesus, as we will see in the following verses...
Screen
23
Revelation 4:7
The first living creature was like a lion.
Revelation 5:5
One of the elders said to me, «Do not weep. Behold, the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to
loose its seven seals.»
Hosea 11:10
They shall walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion.
Similar to a lion, the first living creature calls to mind Jesus Christ's
majesty, power, and dominion.
Screen
24
Revelation 4:7
The second living creature [was] like a calf.
Isaiah 53:3,4
He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we
did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
Similar to a calf, the second living creature calls to mind the patience of
Jesus, who silently bore the sufferings which give us salvation.
Screen
25
Proverbs 14:4
Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase
comes by the strength of an ox.
Deuteronomy 8:17,18
Then you say in your heart, «My power and the might of
my hand have gained me this wealth.»
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.
The calf, or the ox, also reminds us that Jesus is the great Supplier: He is
the One to whom we owe everything, both on the earth and in eternal life.
Screen
26
Revelation 4:7
The third living creature had a face like a man.
Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of
wisdom (...).
Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is
able to aid those who are tempted.
Similar to a man, the third living creature calls to mind Jesus' wisdom, but
also His humanity, which enables Him to understand our weaknesses.
Screen
27
Revelation 4:7
The fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
Job 34:21
For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his
steps.
Jeremiah 32:19
Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to
give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.
Similar to an eagle, the fourth living creature calls to mind Jesus' insight,
which enables Him to judge each one of us with righteousness.
Screen
28
Screen
29
Revelation 15:7
Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven
angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 11:16-18
And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their
thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:
«(...) Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged.»
So, the 24 elders and the four living creatures take part in the first part of
the judgment, which ends with the pouring-out of God's wrath, and the return of Jesus.
Now, who will assist Jesus in the second part of the judgment?
Screen
30
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was
committed to them.
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the
word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark
on their foreheads or on their hands.
And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
All God's people, risen at Jesus' return, will take over and assist Jesus in
the second part of the judgment that will take place during the Millennium.
This second part of the judgment will concern all those who rejected God and His offer of
salvation in Jesus Christ.
Screen
31
Revelation 19:1,4,6
After these things I heard a loud voice of a great
multitude in heaven, saying, «Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to the
Lord our God!» (...)
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who
sat on the throne, saying, «Amen! Alleluia!» (...)
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and
as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, «Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent
reigns!»
Let's always remain faithful to Jesus and soon our voices will join those of
the 24 elders and the four creatures proclaiming God's eternal kingdom.
Screen
32
Let's thank God for His presence among us:
Lord,
Your Word says that «the twenty-four elders (...) cast their crowns
before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and
power."» (Revelation 4:10,11)
We are eagerly waiting for the day when we also cast our crowns at Your feet, praising You
for having given us the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
In His precious name we pray.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: In: «Photo Gallery 5,000 volume 1» by Media
Graphics International, 83_166.JPG. Screen 2: LIMBOURG BROTHERS. «Saint
John on Patmos contemplating the vision of the lamb enthroned, the four beings, and the 24
elders» from «Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry» (c. 1413), Musée Condé,
Chantilly, France. In: «Revelations - Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville
Press Publishers, 1997, p.6. Screen 3: PROVONSHA, Clyde. In: «God Cares,
volume 2» (MAXWELL, C. Mervyn), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1985, p.88.
Screen 4: In: «Egermeier's Bible Story Book» (EGERMEIER, Elsie E.), The Warner
Press, 1963, p.183. Screen 5: RUDEEN, Herbert. In: «The Bible Story,
volume 10» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1957, p.180.
Screen 6: REMMEY, Paul. In: «The Bible Story, volume 9» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1957, p.181. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry.
Screen 7: COLEMAN, Ralph Pallen. In: «The Way, the Truth, and the Life»,
Philadelphia, The John C. Winston Company, 1958, p.83. Screen 8: Painting
from: BLOCH, Carl. Frederiksborg Slotkirke, Hillerod, Denmark. Screen 9: GIOTTO.
«The Last Judgment» (1306). Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy. In: «Revelations - Art of the
Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.79. Screen 10: GIOVANNI,
Nicollò E. «The Last Judgment» (c.1070). Pinacoteca, Vatican Museum. In: «Revelations
- Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.82.
Screen 11: In: «The Bible Story, volume 8» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press
Publishing Association, 1956, p.148. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen
12: MEMLING, Hans. «The Last Judgment» (1466-73), Pomorskie Museum, Gdansk,
Poland. In: «Revelations - Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press
Publishers, 1997, p.87. Screen 13: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the
Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM244.BMP. Screen 14: In:
«The Watchtower» magazine (March 15, 1991), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract
Society, p.8. Screen 15: RUDEEN, Herbert. In: «The Bible Story, volume
5» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1955, p.130.
Screen 16: ALBEREGNO, Jacobello (d. 1397). «Vision of Saint John the evangelist
on Patmos», Galleria dell' Accademia, Venice. In: «Revelations - Art of the Apocalypse»
(GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.16. Screen 17: BOWER,
Maurice. In: «The Living Bible Encyclopedia in Story and Pictures, volume 15», New York,
H.S. Stuttman Co. Inc., 1968, p.1952-b. Screen 18: MEMLING, Hans. «Saint
John the Evangelist on Patmos» (1474-79), Memling Museum, Belgium. In: «Revelations -
Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.9.
Screen 19: RAPHAEL. «The Vision of Ezekiel», Pitti Palace, Florence. In:
«Great Bible Stories and Master Paintings» (RACHLEFF, Owen S.), New York, Abradale Press
Publishers, p.221. Screen 20: ALBEREGNO, Jacobello (d. 1397). «Vision of
Saint John the evangelist on Patmos», Galleria dell' Accademia, Venice. In: «Revelations
- Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.16.
Table of Screen 20: In: «La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche»,
New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.78. Screen 21: «Seraphim».
8th Century, Spain. In: «Angels: An Endangered Species» (GODWIN, Malcolm), Simon and
Schuster, New York, 1990, p.26. Screen 22: EYCK, Jan van (1390-1441). «Adoration
of the Lamb». St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium. In: «Bonne Nouvelle» magazine, Number
12 - «L'Apocalypse», Concordia Mission Society, p.31. Screen 23: First
picture: «Lions do their best hunting on the plateaus of eastern Africa.» In: «Deluxe
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 2000 Edition», Compton's Home Library, 1999.
Second picture: JUSTINEN, Lars. In: «Questionnaire Adulte de l'Ecole du Sabbat», Pacific
Press Publishing Association, Fourth Quarter, 1998, front cover. Screen 24: First
picture: In: «Premiers pas» (PADDOCK, Charles L.), Pacific Press Publishing Association,
1964, p.151. Second picture: MASSYS, Quentin (1466-1530), «Ecce Homo», Prado Museum,
Madrid. In: «The Illustrated Guide to the Bible» (PORTER, J.R.), Oxford University
Press, 1995, p.201. Screen 25: CORNEILLE. Jean-Baptiste. «The
Resurrection of Lazarus». Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen, France. In: «Bonne Nouvelle»
magazine, Number 9 - «La Foi», Concordia Mission Society, p.10. Screen 26: First
picture: RENI, Guido. In: «The Living Bible Encyclopedia in Story and Pictures, volume
7», New York, H.S. Stuttman Co. Inc., 1968, p.824-c. Second picture: RUIZ, Eduardo. In:
«La Sentinelle» magazine (April 1995), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.5.
Screen 27: First picture: Photo from «CorelDraw». In: «Sacred Symbols»
(GIBSON, Clare), Prospero Books, 1998, p.17. Second picture: In: «Revelation Seminars»,
Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #2 («L'Etoile du drame de l'Apocalypse»), p.1.
Screen 28: DORÉ, Gustave. «The Ascension». Bob Jones University. In: «Bonne
Nouvelle» magazine, Number 6 - «La Sainte Cène», Concordia Mission Society, p.8.
Table of Screen 28: First picture: «Lions do their best hunting». In: «Deluxe
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton's Home Library, 1997.
Second picture: In: «ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund, CD #4, ANMFA009.JPG. Third picture:
RODIN, Auguste. «Le Penseur» (1880-1882). Photo by BOUDINET, D. In: «Le Musée Rodin»,
Paris, Beaux Arts Magazine, p.4. Fourth picture: «The golden eagle». In: «Deluxe
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton's Home Library, 1997.
Screen 29: In: «La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York,
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.219. Screen 30: FRA
ANGELICO. «The Last Judgment» (c. 1450), Museo di San Marco, Florence. In: «Revelations
- Art of the Apocalypse» (GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.86.
Screen 31: In: «La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York,
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.121. Screen 32: In: «Photo
Gallery 5,000 volume 1» by Media Graphics International, 027_145.JPG.
Any copyrighted images not bearing a statement of permission, are used
for the purpose of non-commercial scholarly commentary or criticism in accordance with section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law, and with article 29 of Canada Copyright Act (Chapter C-42), which by
law can be without the consent or endorsement of the copyright holder. Images lacking
attribution are either known or assumed to be in the public domain, or have an as yet
undetermined status. Anyone having knowledge of proper attribution for an image is
requested to contact us via email below so that it can be correctly noted. It is our
intent to comply fully with applicable laws regarding intellectual property rights.
The test of Lesson 56 is waiting for you!