As found in Revelation 4:4 & 4:10 & 5:5-6 & 5:8-9 & 5:11 & 5:14 & 7:11 & 11:16 & 19:4 & 22:9:  “four and twenty elders” = The “four and twenty elders” must be risen saints (possibly the ones at Christ’s resurrection, see Mat. 27:52-53 and Eph. 4:8), for they are not angels or Heavenly beings.  Here is my reasoning:

 

1) The 24 elders are/could only be “redeemed,” saints according to Revelation 5:8-9.

 

2) Although this is not all conclusive, the fact that neither Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, nor any other Prophet who was taken to, or saw the sights of Heaven, when they were there, they never mention the 24 elders.  Therefore, this is a good indication that the 24 elders were taken to Heaven after their visions.  In other words, most likely at the resurrection of Christ.

 

3) Angels are never referred to or called “elders” in either the Bible or Jewish literature.  Nor are they referred to as being “redeemed,” Revelation 5:8-9.

 

4) Angels are also never described as having “seats,” Revelation 4:4, while around God’s throne (see Rev. 4:6 & especially Rev. 5:11 & 7:11), but rather, standing in His presence, “round about the throne,” Revelation 5:11.  What is interesting to note is that these “seats” are actually “thrones,” the Greek word being “thron-os,” because it is the same Greek word used to describe the “throne” of God (See Rev. 1:4; 3:21; etcetera).  Since, understandably, the “KJV” translators were not able to give the 24 elders the same elevation as that of our God, they therefore translated this Greek word as “seats” instead of “thrones.”

 

5) This may or may not be true, but it is the redeemed only who are said to “cast their crowns,” Revelation 4:10; 2SAT:49; 7BC:988; DA:131; HP:216; PUR, November 20, 1902; RH, August 5, 1890; RH, November 11, 1902; RH, October 28, 1909; while never angles or other beings are said to perform this act.

 

6) Another consideration is that men are in Heaven because they were in a position to open the “Book” of seven seals, but could not.  If we go to Revelation 5:3-5; noticing in particular verse 5, that it is an “elder” that approaches John; not any other type of Heavenly being.

 

7) Another reason that these 24 elders are redeemed men and not Heavenly beings, is found in an interesting observation in Revelation 5:14, in that the “four beasts said, Amen,” while “the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped,” Jesus; even though I note that they all fall down before the Lamb in Revelation 5:8.

 

8) That these are raised saints -- human beings and not Heavenly beings -- is because they are symbolic in reality, in that they represent those saints who (futuristic) will be raised because of the redeeming sacrifice of our Lord (His “first fruits” if you will).

 

9) Referring to the Old Testament, where king David set up the division of 24 priests to perform services dutiful for the Sanctuary services throughout the year (see 1Ch. 23:24-Chapter 24), since the “four and twenty elders” are in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Rev. 4:5; etcetera), why couldn’t they be the twenty-four divisions of service that the Temple priests performed throughout the year in the earthly Sanctuary, raised with Christ for this purpose in the Heavenly Sanctuary?

 

10) Since the 24 elders are taken “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation,” Revelation 5:9, they are positively identified as not being from any Heavenly being source.  Therefore, it is worthy of note, that they are not all Jewish, but definitely “redeemed” from all divisions of mankind.

 

11) In looking at Revelation 22:9, we can see that this personage also identifies as being from the same personage as John, i.e., not a Heavenly being.

 

12) According to Revelation 19:10, this “fellowservant,” i.e., same as John, has also “the spirit of prophecy,” as does John.  Meaning, the 24 elders may all be prophets.