FOR FAIR USE AND EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES



For anyone wondering about the interpretation of the "24 Elders with crowns" sitting around the Throne of God in Revelation 4:4, the article by J. Preston Eby in the link below is very revealing.

Since Eby has said it all, I will introduce the article from a piece within it:


One of the most d*mning errors ever taught God's people is the senseless notion that simply by virtue of the new birth ALL BELIEVERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD and automatically rule and reign with Christ. This error is believed and taught by countless millions, but it is nevertheless an untruth. The Bible nowhere teaches that. To the contrary, the burning and challenging word of Christ to the Churches is: "To him that OVERCOMETH will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also OVERCAME, and am set down with My Father in His throne" (Rev. 3:21).

The twenty-four Elders in Rev. 4:4 are beheld seated upon priestly thrones and they have on their heads CROWNS of gold. The most common term rendered "crown" in the New Testament is the Greek word STEPHANOS. The popular name "Stephen" is derived from this word, and this crown was usually a laurel wreath woven of fragrant branches, or the like. It was granted to winners in the Panhellenic games and also as a token of public honor for distinguished service - especially of military leaders who had been victorious over their enemies on the battlefield. It was also given at marriage feasts, especially in royal families, to celebrate the joy of the bridegroom in having "won" the maiden for his bride. This crown always denotes a VICTOR'S CROWN - the crown of an OVERCOMER!

How appropriate that we should read of the Royal Priesthood: "And round about the throne were...four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads CROWNS (stephanos) OF GOLD" (Rev. 4:4). Golden Stephanos! Golden Victor's Crowns! Gold is a symbol for the divine nature. And how true that we are only able to fully overcome by being made partakers of HIS DIVINE NATURE! To be "crowned" means to be given kingly authority. As the kingly authority and dominion of God's divine nature ascends the throne of our lives to rule within us - we are CROWNED, RULED OVER by God, but more than this, MADE RULERS, not after the carnal concepts of the flesh, but in the love, justice, and glory of God's own character!


http://sigler.org/eby/priest7.html


Another piece of the link article"


The children of Israel pictured the dealings of God with mankind in a very striking way. In the wilderness the whole camp of Israel lay totally OUTSIDE of the Tabernacle, OUTSIDE of the place of sacrifice, OUTSIDE of the ministry of the priesthood, OUTSIDE of the presence and glory of God, separated by the white curtain of Christ's righteousness from all that lay within. Thus "the camp" was separated from all holy things by the curtain of white linen surrounding the Tabernacle, representing to those within a wall of righteousness by faith, but to those without a wall of unbelief which hindered their view of and access to the holy things within. Israel, in its relationship to the Tabernacle, represents the WHOLE WORLD OF LOST MEN who are outside of Christ, excluded from His promises, separated from His presence, barred from His glory, having no hope, and without God in the world.

As Israel typified the world, so the Levites typified the "'household of faith," or all believers who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. All Christians today, irrespective of denominational affiliation or the lack thereof, who truly know Christ in the forgiveness of sins and the washing of regeneration, are prefigured by the Levites who were the ministers of the Lord, His inheritance.

But the house of Aaron, the priesthood, one body under one Chief or High Priest, was typical of the "little flock" which follows on to know the Lord in all His glorious and eternal reality, the overcomers, gathered out of all ages, who through faith, patience, and obedience qualify to sit with Christ upon His throne as a Kingdom of Priests unto God. This company with its Head, or High Priest, is a Royal Priesthood, the members of which, after the present time of processing and preparation, shall be kings and priests unto God reigning over the earth. These constitute the government of God for the ages to come, destined to bless all the families of the earth and restore creation back into union with God again.

How obvious it should be to every thinking saint that all Christians, while spiritual Levites, are not part of the elect company of the Royal Priesthood. That is because the vast majority of believers live in the Outer Court of spiritual experience in their relationship to God.

In spite of all their noisy profession, and constant flurry of religious activities, they inhabit that realm where the natural man understandeth not the things of the Spirit of God. Deep spiritual things are foolishness unto them; neither can they know them, for they are spiritually discerned. These are comfortably at home with the lifeless forms, static doctrines, empty ceremonies and repetitious activities of Outer Court religion, and have not the foggiest notion of what the Royal Priesthood is about.

The harlot system has sapped and sucked away their spiritual life and left them in spiritual poverty, void of understanding of the high and holy purposes of God, and like little children they wait expectantly for the thrills that await them in that far-away Disney World in the sky with its mansions and harps and wings!

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Arlene