God’s Abundant or Doubled Organizational Arrangement. Twenty-four (24) is a ‘doubling’ of twelve (12). This represents a mathematical doubling of His divine organization, in both Heaven AND Earth.

Seven-fold Worship of God by the Twenty-four (24) Elders:

1. “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” (Rev. 4:4).
2. “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, Though 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.” (Rev. 4:10-11).
3. “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders felldown before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev. 5:8)
4. “And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (Rev. 5:14).
5. “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God.” (Rev. 7:11-13).
6. “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God.” (Rev. 11:16).
7. “And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.” (Rev. 19:4).

Commentary: The number twelve (12) denotes a divinely constituted organization either in heaven or on earth. The number twenty-four (24) denotes God’s abundant (doubled) organizational arrangement (12 x 2). Many Eschatologists believe that 12 elders are from the Old Testament and 12 are from the New Testament. However, I believe the Bible is silent on this. The 7 passages of worship describe what the 24 elders look like, where they are, what they are doing and why they are doing it. They are clothed in white raiment and have golden crowns on their heads. This suggests that they are a very special, select group of redeemed people from throughout the ages who received their righteousness through Christ and were each awarded any number of five (5) crowns that were promised to all believers (Crown of Righteousness – 2 Tim.4:8, Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Imperishable Crown – 1 Cor. 9:24-25, Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:4, Crown of Life – Rev. 2:10). Rev. 4:4 also states that these crowns were gold. These gold crowns are promised to men/women, and not angels. Using an analogy from the sports world that most of us are familiar with, I liken these twenty-four (24) elders to Christ’s ‘MVPs’ (most valuable players) on his team throughout the ages. This doesn’t mean that he loves these people more than you or me. He loves everyone equally, both sinner and saint. MVPs in sports are rewarded and acknowledged for their exemplary accomplishments for the benefit of the team. Rather, I believe the descriptions of the twenty-four (24) elders suggests that at some point in history, they played a very special role and had a very special outcome for the benefit of Christ’s Kingdom. All the verses surrounding the Bema Seat judgement indicate that every Christian believer will receive awards (or have some of their potential rewards withheld), based on what they did (good works, fruit of the spirit) during their brief time on earth for the benefit of Christ.

The acts of worship then continue indicating that these elders fall down and worship God/Christ. Prostrating oneself before God is showing divine worship by physically acknowledging God’s rule on his throne. They acknowledge and testify to the entire heavenly host (angels and saints) that God and Christ are worthy to be worshipped because He lives forever. These twenty-four (24) elders also publicly recognize and acknowledge God’s glory, honour and power (holy attributes). Next, they cast their crowns before Him. No, they are not giving their crowns back to Christ or casting them aside. They remove their crowns to publicly acknowledge and admit that they were nothing, without Christ. They only have these crowns because of what Christ did for them and what the Holy Spirit did through them. I believe there is a two-fold intent for the casting of crowns at God’s throne. First, this is a heavenly public display and reminder that everyone, who has been saved, is in heaven because of God’s gift of mercy and salvation through Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether or not all of us receive one crown or another (or none), we are only in heaven because of what Christ did for all of us. Even these greatest, ‘MVP’ saints of Christ humbly acknowledge their redeemed status by casting their crowns at the throne of God, acknowledging from where these crowns originated. Secondly, the act of physically removing crowns and placing them around the throne of God serves as a unique form of worship to God and Christ. A golden crown(s) would be brilliant and shimmering greatly in heaven’s light, giving off blinding glory. The act of placing golden, shimmering crowns around the throne of God has the effect of figuratively and literally giving Him glory!

Next in the series of worship, the twenty-four (24) elders are described as having harps (musical instruments) and vials full of the prayers of saints. This suggests that now, the elders are presenting and giving to God two things that are very pleasing to Him. First, music is a form of worship that pleases God. Secondly, the prayers of saints please God because they are evidence that his children are communicating with him and acknowledging who HE is (our Father). We don’t know if the vials are literal or symbolic. However, the point is that these elders somehow possess supernaturally the prayers of Christians and then present these to God as worship. Obviously, God/Jesus already knows who pray to him. However, the public display of presenting these prayers to God, also acknowledges his glory and worthiness to receive the prayers. Prayers are a form of worship and should only be directed at God and Christ. The last several verses that describe the twenty-four (24) elders worshipping God/Christ indicate that they fell on their faces.This is one of the common themes or acts of worship in the sevenfold throne room acts worship of God. “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isaiah 45:23).Now, the twenty-four (24) elders appear to be worshipping God/Christ at a higher, more intense level by actually falling onto their faces. Knees bowing and faces falling are physical acts of worship.

Last, but not least, tucked away in these verses are strange references to four beasts (or creatures). Other verses attempt to describe what these beasts look like. Their role, like those of the twenty-four (24) elders, appears to be that of worshipping God. These creatures are clearly not redeemed saints or angels, but a unique creation of God, which live in heaven. In the sevenfold worship of God/Christ, these beasts serve a specific role and place in worshipping. They were created to have the ability to worship God since he created them as well as us (and they perhaps have the ability for other forms of heavenly service, as well). Why would heavenly beasts be included in the sevenfold worship of God? Not only is it right for men to worship God, but the rest of his creation will acknowledge and worship him, both heavenly and earthly created beings.

But how can they call on him (Jesus Christ) to save them unless they believe in him (Jesus Christ)? And how can they believe in him (Jesus Christ) if they have never heard about him (Jesus Christ)? And how can they hear about him (Jesus Christ) unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14

In His Service,

Night Watchman

Paul Rolland

Night Watchman Ministries

Make Your Decision for Christ NOW!!!!!!! Time is Up!!!!!!!

Jesus Christ’s Offer of Salvation:

The ABCs of Salvation through Jesus Christ (the Lamb)

A. Admit/Acknowledge/Accept that you are sinner. Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.

. . . “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

. . . “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10).

. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8).

B. Believe Jesus is Lord. Believe that Jesus Christ is who He claimed to be; that He was both fully God and fully man and that we are saved through His death, burial, and resurrection. Put your trust in Him as your only hope of salvation. Become a son or daughter of God by receiving Christ.

. . . “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:15-17). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

C. Call upon His name, Confess with your heart and with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

. . . “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).

. . . “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (John 1:8-10).

. . . “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (John 2:2).

. . . “In this was manifested the love of god toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:9, 14-15).

. . . “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10).

. . . “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

. . . “Jesus saith unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).

. . . “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1:16).

. . . “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts: 4:12).

. . . “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4-6).

. . . “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

. . . “But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12).

True Church / Bride of Christ Spared from God’s Wrath:

 Romans 5:8-10. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Romans 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 8:35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Jeremiah 30:7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Revelation 3:10 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.