Who are the 24 Elders of Revelation 4 and 5?

Revelation 4:9-11 [KJV]
"And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Revelation 5:8-10 [KJV]
" And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 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. 

Many people are of the opinion that these twenty-four elders are Christians. I do not hold this position. I believe that these twenty-four elders are in fact angels that are currently ruling over the earth. They are 2/3 of the full compliment that originally ruled under Satan before his rebellion.The remaining 1/3 followed Satan in his rebellion and their crowns are to be taken from them by Christ. I hold this position for several reasons.

1.) The first reason that I reject the view that these are Christians can best be explained by a quote from The Time of the End by Arlen Chitwood:

     "Thus, with the introduction of crowns cast before God's throne in Rev. 4:10,11, only one group of individuals could possibly be in view (if one remains within context and keeps in mind the earth's government in both history and prophecy). These twenty-four elders can only represent angelic rulers (cf. Heb. 2:5). Angels alone will possess crowns in relation to the government of the earth at this time (as they do during the present time).

    (Some bible students, on the basis of the pronouns used in Rev. 5:9, 10 - "us" and "we" [KJV] - have understood the twenty-four elders to represent redeemed men, not angels. However, the majority of the better Greek manuscripts render the pronouns in v. 10 as "them" and "they" [ref. ASV, NASB, NIV, Wuest, Weymouth], giving rise to the thought that the pronoun "us" in v. 9 is probably a scribal insertion, being spurious [ref. Alford, Lenski].
     But the matter is really not left to manuscript evidence alone. That the pronouns "them" and "they" are correct is evident from the context. Not that the song in vv. 9, 10 is apparently sung not only by the "twenty-four elders" but also by the "four beasts ['living creatures']" as well. Then, other angels join them in vv. 11ff, with all the angels together voicing additional, related statements." p. 79 - 80.

Chitwood makes some really good points. He places emphasis on the context of the passage and its original language. These are very important in determining interpretation. I am convinced that all doctrinal
inconsistencies in Christianity could be alleviated with more faithful attention to these two pillars. Chitwood also brings to the attention of the reader the fact that in at least three popular versions of the Bible, the words are indeed translated "them" and "they".

Rev. 5: 8-10 [ASV]
" And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth."

Rev. 5:8-10 [NASB]
"When He had taken the [fn]book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the [fn]saints. And they [!] sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the [fn]book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

Rev. 5: 8-10 [RSV]
"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth."

Rev. 5: 8-10 [ESV]
"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

Rev. 5: 8-10 [NIV]
"And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Rev. 5: 8-10 [Darby Translation]
"And when it took the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, having each a harp and golden bowls full of incenses, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; because thou hast been slain, and hast redeemed to God, by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and made them to our God kings and priests; and they shall reign over the earth."

2.) The second reason I reject the view that these twenty-four elders are Christians has to do with Chitwood's other major point,... context. When the scripture in Revelation is taken into context with the rest of scripture, it becomes clear that these can't be Christians. They can't be because that would mean Christians would be giving up the instrument given to them with which to rule. Kings bear crowns. In addition it is clearly stated angels are not to be the rulers of the world to come, but men are to be.

The final point I want to take up first.

Hebrews 2:1-11
"Therefore we (Christians) ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him" 

It is important to note the words "recompence of reward."

Recompence of Reward - G3405 -  misthapodosia - 1) payment of wages due, recompence.

It is found in only two other places in the Bible, both of which are found in Hebrews. In Hebrews 2, the wages are implied to be negative because of disobedience, while the other two indicate a positive reward for obedience.

Hebrews 10: 35-39
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

Patient endurance brings about glory, and honor. These are the things that kings receive.

Romans 2:6 - 7
"Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:" 

The third place where misthapodosia is used is Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11: 24 -27
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." 

By faithful works we are to be rewarded, just as Moses will be. This will only come through forsaking the world and its treasures and choosing to suffer with Christ. This kind of service is rewarded with crowns of rulership. That brings me to the other point, crowns. Kings bear crowns. Christians are offered various crowns to win through faithful service. The places that refer to this are found in the following verses:

1 Corinthians 9: 24 -27
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

2 Timothy 4: 6 -8
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing"

James 1:9 -12
"Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

1 Peter 5: 1 - 4
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" 

Revelation 2: 8 - 11
"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."

Revelation3:7 - 13
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."


An honest reading of the verses in their context will lead to no other conclusion but that the twenty-four elders are not men, but they are angels. It will lead also to the conclusion that men are to be the rulers of the world to come, along with their Lord Jesus Christ.