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Fulfilling the Mystery
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Notice that in John’s vision, the elders were not nervously pacing and fearful concerning the future; they were peacefully sitting around God’s throne. The fact that they were clothed in white robes and had crowns of gold on their heads probably indicates both their redemption and their success at ruling and reigning with Christ.
But why does heaven picture for us 24 elders? Numbers appear to have great significance in the Book of Revelation. For example, we find the number 7 over fifty times. We read of 7 horns and eyes on the Lamb, 7 thunders, 7 churches in Asia, 7 seals, 7 bowls of wrath, 7 trumpets, etc. Seven seems to speak of the perfection and completeness of God’s person and purpose.
Then there is the number 12. What comes to mind when you think of this number? For one thing, we think of the 12 tribes of Israel. God chose 12 men who became patriarchs. The sons they fathered became over time the tribes comprising the Jewish nation. The 12 fathers were obviously authority figures to their children. Thus, the number 12 seems to indicate nationhood, government and authority. Then when Jesus came and established His “New Testament holy nation”, He chose 12 men to be apostles. Again, we see government and authority. As a result, when Judas Iscariot fell away, it simply was not appropriate to have only 11 apostles of the Lamb. So the eleven prayed and trusted God to add to them the correct one to bear with them apostolic witness to Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21 - 26). God was faithful and added Matthias to their number. Then to confirm God’s choice, Luke records for us in Scripture that the twelve were in leadership when division came to the Jerusalem church.
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.”
(Acts 6:2)
When John describes the wall around God’s city, he informs us that the foundation stones are exactly 12 in number and that each stone has one of the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). Matthias’ name was on one of those stones.
If the number 12 indicates government, authority, and nationhood, then what would the number 24 reveal? I suggest that twenty-four elders signify God’s authority among His people in both the Old and New Testaments. God has always had His men of authority and government on the earth – men who stood before His throne to intercede for the people and who then came out to speak His word to them. God’s government has always been revealed on earth for those with eyes to see. Even in our present generation, God is raising up men of authority to give oversight in His house – to shepherd, to intercede, and to feed God’s flock. To be successful, they will not fear the future, but will express God’s peace as they gather before His throne.
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Clearly, God does not have seven Holy Spirits. Again, the number 7 seems to indicate perfection and completeness. One verse to consider about the seven-fold perfection of the Holy Spirit’s ministry would be Isaiah 11:2. Concerning the coming Messiah, Isaiah prophesied:
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
According to this prophecy, upon Jesus would rest:
The Spirit of YHWH (the LORD)
The Spirit of wisdom
The Spirit of understanding
The Spirit of counsel
The Spirit of might
The Spirit of knowledge and
The Spirit of the fear of YHWH
These seven aspects of God’s nature are also poured into our lives when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of YHWH indicates that God himself comes to His people. His presence with us is what makes us unique among the peoples of the earth. He himself is wisdom, understanding, etc. When God gave himself to mankind, this was the best gift possible. He does not have anything better to offer! Is it not good news that He gave us himself and did not simply send an angel to represent Him? The outpouring of God’s Spirit does not release to us only a part of His person. The Holy Spirit is not 1/3 of God. He is wholly God and He is in our lives. In coming to us, He has brought into our hearts His presence, His wisdom, His power, His counsel, and even the fear of the Lord. Such truth can revolutionize our lives when we understand it.
John tells us that the Spirit of God appeared to him as seven lamps of fire burning before God’s throne (Revelation 4:5). But later he described the Spirit this way:
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out (Greek, APOSTELLO) into all the earth.
The Holy Spirit is defined as the 7 horns and 7 eyes of the Lamb sent out into all the earth. Clearly, the Holy Spirit has been poured out among the nations to bring the horns and the eyes of the Lamb everywhere He goes. Herein lies the apostolic vision.
While many ministers promote movements, sects, and theological doctrines, the Holy Spirit has been sent to reveal the Lamb. Obviously, there is not a physical little lamb running around in heaven with 7 literal horns and eyes. John is seeing a symbolic picture of Christ in a vision. What do the Lamb’s horns indicate? Animals in both attacking and defending themselves put their heads down and use their horns against their adversaries. Horns seem to speak of an animal’s power and strength. To the psalmist, God was both the horn of his salvation (Psalm 18:2) and the strength of his heart (Psalm 73:26). In other words, when he was under spiritual attack, he would bow his head and find God as his strength to withstand his foes. Since the Holy Spirit is sent to reveal the 7 horns of the Lamb, His ministry is to exalt the perfect power of Christ.
Then the Lamb has 7 eyes. This probably signifies the perfection of His insight and wisdom. So the Holy Spirit is sent into all the earth revealing both the perfect power (horns) and perception (eyes) of Christ. Paul understood God’s apostolic strategy.
…we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The apostolic vision is not about propagating the ideas, plans, and agendas of men; it concerns the revelation of Christ. In the Great Commission, He told us to go into all the world, make disciples of all the nations, and that He would be with us. Therefore, our task is to make Him known as we go to the nations. His presence with us is the point.
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.
In the prophets, the sea seems to indicate the nations in turbulence out of which arise mighty kings and empires to oppose God’s people (Isaiah 57:20, Daniel 7:3, 17). Revelation Chapter 13 reveals for us a seven - headed beast that comes up out of the sea for just this purpose.[5] When the nations are in turbulence the enemy arises to attack God’s people. At the same time, when you consider God’s throne, you do not see turbulence but a sea of glass. In the midst of the turmoil of nations, with terrorism on the rise, Christians are those with access to God’s throne. There we find a sea of glass – an environment of total peace, serenity, and security. We have discovered the mighty sovereign One ruling at the center of the universe.
In the next chapter, we will consider God’s plan to reveal in the ends of the earth through men what He has revealed on paper (i.e., the gospels) for the last 2000 years. To do so, we will look at the four creatures standing with the elders in God’s presence.
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