the 24 elders are types (foreshadowings) of the 144000 people who will be witnessing "two & two" (Luke 10:1) during the Trib (hence, the #24, which equals half of 12, & the 144000 are said to be 12x12K). One of many places in the Bible where God makes this clear is Ruth 4, where Boaz of Bethlehem (a type of Christ) "buys" the Gentile Ruth (symbol of all the Gentiles) in the presence of the "elders" who are "witnesses" (people who behold & testify to) to the purchase. The 24 elders in all probability include some/all of the 12 Apostles (excluding Judas) & the 12 minor prophets; the Apostle Peter calls himself a "fellow ELDER & WITNESS of Christ's sufferings" in 1 Peter 5:1 when giving instructions to church elders in that chapter.
One of the reasons the 24 elders are included in Revelation is to show what an amazing reward the 144K WITNESSES and the rest of the people martyred during the Tribulation will get: they will be "elders" for eternity or at least for the Millenium Kingdom! Thus, to find out what it means for these martyrs to "reign" with Christ for 1000 years (Rev. 20), you simply have to see where "elders" are mentioned in the Bible!
Elder duties in the Kingdom:
-teach God's commandments! (Titus)
-issue God's orders (Acts 15)
-deliberate about what to order (Acts 15)
-judge & punish people (Deut. 22, 25)
-"priests" (Exodus 12)
-pray over people (James 5:14)
-governors (1 Chronicles 24: notice there are 24 governors appointed in this 24th chapter appointed by King David a type of Christ!!!)
Revelation 5:
8And 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.9And they sung a new song [LIKE THE 144000 IN REV. 12 WHO WILL ALSO BE "ELDERS"], 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.
According to Rev. 20, all the martyrs of the Trib. including the 144K will "reign for 1000 years as KINGS & PRIESTS," just like the elders, for the martyrs will be elders too.
Therefore, strive hard to be accepted by God as one of the 144K or at least a martyr during the Tribulation! This means you have to be as undefiled by sin as is human possible (Rev. 14:4)
One of the reasons the 24 elders are included in Revelation is to show what an amazing reward the 144K WITNESSES and the rest of the people martyred during the Tribulation will get: they will be "elders" for eternity or at least for the Millenium Kingdom! Thus, to find out what it means for these martyrs to "reign" with Christ for 1000 years (Rev. 20), you simply have to see where "elders" are mentioned in the Bible!
Elder duties in the Kingdom:
-teach God's commandments! (Titus)
-issue God's orders (Acts 15)
-deliberate about what to order (Acts 15)
-judge & punish people (Deut. 22, 25)
-"priests" (Exodus 12)
-pray over people (James 5:14)
-governors (1 Chronicles 24: notice there are 24 governors appointed in this 24th chapter appointed by King David a type of Christ!!!)
Revelation 5:
8And 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.9And they sung a new song [LIKE THE 144000 IN REV. 12 WHO WILL ALSO BE "ELDERS"], 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.
According to Rev. 20, all the martyrs of the Trib. including the 144K will "reign for 1000 years as KINGS & PRIESTS," just like the elders, for the martyrs will be elders too.
Therefore, strive hard to be accepted by God as one of the 144K or at least a martyr during the Tribulation! This means you have to be as undefiled by sin as is human possible (Rev. 14:4)
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