There’s a High Doxology in The Song of the Twenty Four Elders. As we’ve noted in a previous article, Doxology is an expression of praise to God, especially in the form of singing hymns and uttering praises. Revelation is a book of High Doxology, not just eschatology and symbols.
Consider these verses:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! Rev 4:8 (The Four Living Creatures)
Compare this to Isaiah 6:3: And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory!” (The Seraphim)
Then there are the Twenty Four Elders: You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. Rev 4:11
And they – the Four Living Creatures and the Twenty Four elders – sang a new song…
You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. Rev 5:9-10 NKJ (Emphasis mine)
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing! Rev 5:12 (Angels, Living Creatures and Elders)
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. Rev 5:13-14
That’s High Doxology!
There is, of course, a perennial debate regarding the identity of the Twenty Four Elders. The debate centers on manuscript (Textual Criticism) issues and overflows onto rapture timing speculations. I deliberately cited the New King James version which follows the King James (Rev 5:9-10). These two translations employ the words “us” and “we”. However, translations such as the NASB and ESV use the words “them” instead of “us” and “we”.
Most posttribulationists favor the NASB-ESV and submit that the Elders are angels singing about “them” the redeemed. Most pretribulationists favor the KJV-NKV rendering here. If the Elders are angels, they cannot represent crowned Christians following the Bema Seat Judgment. If the Elders represent the church then this may lend support for pretribulationism.
Note: Pretribulationist Robert L Thomas takes the NASB view and argues for an angelic identity in his commentary on Revelation. I’m more inclined to agree with Tony Garland’s position that these Elders are the church. See also HERE for a quick summary (white robes & crowns, Rev 3:5, 11 etc).
How established is the KJV versus the NASB “us” versus “them” debate? Proponents of the latter view believe the matter is settled – end of discussion. I don’t think it is. Tony Garland gives us some reasons for subscribing to the TR “redeemed us” view HERE.
John Niemelä has also done a lot of good work on this complex and controversial subject. Those who are interested can watch his in-depth video presentation, and/or read his article: Rev 5, the Twenty Four Elders and the Rapture.
Niemelä raises another interesting point…
The Song of the Twenty Four Elders and the Living Creatures may be seen as antiphonal. In other words, the Living Creatures and the Elders sing different verses. I’ve noticed this format in the Psalms and Niemelä provides other examples. Hence, the Elders’ use of “us” and “we” is viable regardless of preferred translation.
You would be forgiven in assuming that if the twenty four elders represent the church, it then raises the happy prospect of a pre-Seal imminent coming of Christ for His church. You’d think it would be a joyful thing for everyone! And you’d be wrong!
Instead, I get the impression that some posttribulationists take a certain relish in asserting that the church will be on earth for most or the entire period of Daniel’s 70th Week. Sure, they’ll insist that they’re simply following the evidence; that they’d love to believe pretribulationism etc.
I don’t buy it. In my experience, no argument will satisfy or impact those determined to champion posttribulationism. Jack Kinsella once wrote a column discussing evidence for the pretrib rapture. In it he noted (and I agree):
It is fascinating to me how those who hold to a different view of the Rapture are so hateful toward those who anticipate the Rapture first and the Tribulation to follow. It is as if they have a holy mission to change my view to match theirs. (Emphasis mine)
While I believe there’s strong evidence for the Twenty Four Elders representing the church, I wouldn’t use it as a primary proof of pretribulationism. There are other matters to consider and John Niemelä alludes to some of these in the video linked above. Even so, I think the circumstantial evidence is promising.
Finally, whatever the identity of the Twenty Four Elders or the timing of the rapture, we ought to follow their example of High Doxology. May we live our lives in a state of praise to the Lord, and may we pray for each other that we all do so. I know I need the prayers.
Maranatha!
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