John Dake's Annotate Analysis

Around the throne of God John describes twenty-four other thrones. Seated upon those thrones John describes four and twenty elders who are clothed in white raiment wearing crowns of gold. Nowhere in the book of Revelation are these twenty-four elders identified which causes a difference of opinion as the bible student speculates as to who they are and who they represent. There is much discussion as to who the four and twenty elders are. Some believe they are angels while others believe they represent the saints of God. Among those who believe they represent the saints of God there is discussion as to whether it is just the New Testament saints or all redeemed men, including Old Testament saints. According to Dake, in his Dake’s
Stephens pg 2 There are several proofs for the twenty and four being redeemed, ransomed, raptured saints and not angels. First, they sit on thrones. Nowhere in scripture do you find angels sitting on thrones. Second they are reigning with Christ and scriptures clearly teach that we, the church, will rule and reign with Him. A third reason would be they are wearing white raiment and a golden crown, two things God has promised to His children, not angels. If they are not angels then perhaps they are the nation Israel. When one studies the timeline they realize that Israel as a nation has not yet been redeemed therefore the twenty and four elders cannot represent the nation of Israel or what some refer to as Old Testament Saints. What about the tribulation saints or the 144,000? Again, by the time of John’s writings and his vision they had not been converted therefore they cannot be represented. This brings us to the only true answer that the four and twenty elders represent the redeemed, raptured Church. It is to them God promises a spotless white garment and a victor’s