Twenty-Four Seats and Elders Revelation 4:4

John the apostle “was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” In chapter four and verse four of Revelation John saw “four and twenty seats: and upon the seats … four and twenty elders sitting” where we read:

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 verse reads, “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:” John began with the words, “and round about the throne” which means “and from all sides and all around the chair of state having a footstool which was assigned to kings and therefore showing kingly power or royalty” “were four and twenty seats” or “twenty four lesser chairs of state having a footstool which was assigned to kings and therefore showing kingly power and royalty”. John saw “twenty-four” smaller stately seats for ruling.

The verse continues, “and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” John added the words, ““and upon the seats” which means “and on top of the lesser chairs of state having a footstool which was assigned to kings and therefore showing kingly power and royalty” “I saw four and twenty elders” which means “John perceived with his eyes, noticed, discerned and discovered twenty-four presbyters, judges or rulers” “sitting” or “seated, occupied, fixed their abode and dwelt”, “clothed” or “surrounded and arrayed” “in white raiment” which means “in brilliant and dazzling garments, cloaks or mantles”; “and they had on their heads” which means “and the twenty-four elders wore on the tops of their heads” “crowns” or “symbols of honor like a prize in the public games” “of gold” which refers to “made of pure gold”. John also saw “twenty-four lesser rulers” with “bright and dazzling” garments and “crowns of gold” upon them.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we discover more about the heavenly scene. Not only was there the brilliant “throne” of God, but also “twenty-four” lesser thrones with “twenty-four” “lesser rulers” sitting upon them. Each of these “lesser rulers” were “arrayed” in “white dazzling garments” with “golden crowns” on their heads. God desires to have a relationship with every person who will receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who accept Him shall not only know what John saw but also have an opportunity to participate in the heavenly scene.

Next time we see how John saw, “out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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