Intimacy with God: Enthroned, Robed and Crowned Elders
I. OUTLINE OF REVELATION 4 (REVIEW)
A. Revelation 4 and 5 give us the highest revelation of God’s beauty in Scripture. They describe the Holy of Holies of the
Eternal City. What our beautiful God put around Himself expresses His beauty to creation. I refer to Rev. 4-5 as the “beauty
realm of God.” All the saints and angelic beings in this Governmental Prayer Center of the universe are empowered by
God’s beauty.
B. Revelation 4:1-7, describes the 15 “doorways” into understanding God’s beauty as seen in His governmental center
. The door standing open declares God’s desire to unveil some of the mystery and beauty around His Throne. Here are
15 main aspects that point to God’s beauty.
1. The ultimate reality: God’s life, Throne, and Person (Revelation 4:2)
2. The beauty of God: what He looks like, feels like, and acts like (Revelation 4:3)
3. The beauty of God’s partners: the Church enthroned, robed, and crowned (Revelation 4:4)
4. The beauty of God’s power: manifestations of power (lightning, thunder, sounds (Revelation 4:5a)
5. The beauty of the Spirit’s fire: on the Throne, the seraphim and the saints (Revelation 4:5b-7; 15:2)
1 Behold, a door standing open in heaven….the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet…saying, "Come
up here, and I will show you things which must take place." 2 I was in the Spirit and…Throne set in heaven,
and One sat on the Throne. 3 He…was like a jasper and a sardius stone…there was a rainbow around the
Throne…4 Around the Throne were 24 thrones…I saw 24 elders...in white robes; they had crowns…5 From
the Throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning... 6 Before
the Throne there was a sea of glass…around the Throne, were four living creatures… (Revelation 4:1-6)
II. BEAUTY OF GOD: WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE, FEELS LIKE AND ACTS LIKE (REVELATION 4:3)
3 He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around
the throne, in appearance like an emerald. (Revelation 4:3)
A. Like a jasper stone (crystal) – God radiates a beautiful diamond like light (translucent splendor). When God’s Word
gives specific insight into what God looks like, then we treasure it.
11 Her (New Jerusalem) light was like…a jasper stone, clear as crystal. (Revelation 21:11)
B. Like a sardius stone (deep red gem) – He has fiery desire and burning passion as seen in redemption and
judgment. God gave us insight into what He feels like.
24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous (passionate) God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)
C. An emerald rainbow – God’s covenant mercies cover all the activity of His Throne. Green is the color of life (plant
life). The rainbow speaks of how God acts in tender mercy.
13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth…
16 I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant… (Genesis 9:13-16)
D. The jasper points to His beauty, sardius to His fiery desires, and the rainbow to His mercy.
III. BEAUTY OF GOD’S PARTNERS: ENTHRONED, ROBED AND CROWNED (REVELATION 4:4)
4 Around the Throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes;
and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (Revelation 4:4)
A. John sees 24 elders ruling with God. The elders are faithful believers from this redemptive history. Here, we see
God’s desire to share His authority in partnership with His people. The very fact that God desires partnership is an
expression of His beautiful mind and heart. God’s Royal Court is beautified by these who were once His enemies but are
now highly exalted on thrones by His glorious grace (Ephesians 2:4-7).
1. Enthroned – the elders sit on thrones as they express Jesus’ very authority. The elders were sitting not standing.
To sit speaks of governmental rule. To sit in God’s presence speaks of unspeakable honor and dignity.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne… (Revelation 3:21)
2. Robed – the elders wear white robes referring to their priestly role and holiness of heart.
3. Crowned – the elders wear gold crowns, which speaks of God remembering, esteeming and rewarding their deeds
from their life earth. This gives our life great significance.
B. The elders are described in terms that overcomers were just promised: white garments (Revelation 3:5), crowns
(Revelation 3:11), and thrones (Revelation 3:21).
C. The three significant dimensions of our eternal salvation that John sees are that God has planned to enthrone,
robe and crown the faithful from this age. This plan has been burning in the heart of our beautiful God from before the
world was created. This reveals what kind of God we serve. We stand in amazement as we ponder why our life is so
important to God.
D. After the Spirit revealed His jasper and sardius like glory to John (Revelation 4:3) then He showed him the glory of
the redeemed (Revelation 4:4). What happens with the 24 elders reveals God’s ideal for each redeemed person. This
verse shows us how far God will go in expressing His jasper beauty and sardius passion to us and in us in making us a
new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
E. The honor, dignity and function of the 24 elders gives us insight into God’s beauty. We see how far God is willing to
go in studying the exaltation of the elders in the grace of God. God’s beauty is expressed in His desire for partnership with
us. Intimate partnership with God includes being enthroned, robed and crowned. God’s beauty is seen in His kindness in
exalting His former enemies to such heights so as to reign as His Bride. He raises the poor beggar from the ash heap.
10 When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through…His Son. (Romans 5:10)
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and
make them inherit the Throne of glory. (1 Samuel 2:8)
F. The beauty God possesses is the very beauty that He imparts to His people. Rev. 4:4 describes the high points in
God’s plan for our life. Here, we see our inheritance and spiritual identity.
3 To give them beauty for ashes… (Isaiah 61:3)
G. Jesus longs that we be with Him to share His inheritance as King over all creation. God's plan is that we would be
perfectly unified with His heart (intimacy) and with one another (community).
22 The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one…23 I in them, and You in Me; that
they may be made perfect in one…24 Father, I desire that they…may be with Me where I am, that they may
behold (experience) My glory. (John 17:22-24)
H. The God of glory has planned “so great a salvation” that includes crowning the saints with glory.
3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation… 7 You have crowned him (the redeemed) with
glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under
his feet…10 For it was fitting for Him (the Father)…in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of
their salvation (Jesus) perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He (Jesus) who sanctifies and those (saints)
who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren…
(Hebrews 2:3, 7-11)
I. The greatness of God’s salvation for weak and broken people is indescribable in its glory.
9 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has
prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:19)
J. God has raised up a bride who is excellent, who shows forth the glory of Jesus.
4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband... (Proverbs 12:4)
3 You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4…You shall be called Hephzibah…for the LORD delights in you. (Isaiah 62:3-4)
K. As we consider God's passion and wisdom in planning such a great salvation for us, we wonder, “Who else would
have even thought of enthroning, robing and crowning a people like us?” Why does God loves us this much? Because He
is a God of burning desire with infinite kindness. What would life be like in eternity if God did not want to share His glory
with His people?
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were
dead in trespasses…6 raised us up together, and made us sit (enthroned) together in the heavenly places…
7 that in the ages to come He might show (openly manifest to all) the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)
L. There are significant emotional implications to knowing that we are to be enthroned, robed and crowned in our
destiny before God. We feel great security, dignity and beauty. When we “feel these truths” then we view God and ourselves
differently and worship with all of our heart.
IV. THE 24 ELDERS – FAITHFUL BELIEVERS FROM REDEMPTIVE HISTORY
A. The two main views of the elders are that they are either angels or humans. The majority see the elders as saints
from earth who represent the redeemed. In Scripture, angels are not described as elders, wearing crowns, or being
enthroned, nor do they sing the songs of redemption (Revelation 5:9)
8 When He (Jesus) had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb… 9 and they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll…for You were
slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…10 and have made us kings and priests to our God;
and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:8-10)
B. The 24 elders are the faithful through all redemptive history who walked in victory on the earth.
C. The significance of the number 24 is in representing the priestly ministry. We see the heavenly Temple in
Revelation. The tabernacle on earth was a "prophetic picture" of the heavenly reality. It was prophetically seen through
the earthly types and shadows in the tabernacle of Moses, the tabernacle of David and the Temple of Solomon
(Hebrews 8:1-5; 9:23).
11 David gave his son Solomon 12…the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the House of
the LORD…13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house
of the LORD…19 All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me,
all the works of these plans." (1 Chronicles 28:11-19)
D. The 24 elders is a literal number that represents all the redeemed. The OT priestly order had 24 priests serving in
24 divisions representing the 12 tribes of Israel before God. The numbers 12 and 24 and their multiplies were used often
in them. For example, the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and captains were arranged according to 12 or 24.
E. David organized the priests into 24 priestly orders or divisions according to the schedule of their service in the
Temple (1 Chronicles 24:1-17, note: there were 16 divisions of the sons of Eleazar, and 8 divisions of the son of Ithamar
making a total of 24 divisions). He established 24,000 Levites to serve in the Temple (1 Chronicles 23:3-6). David's
organization of the priests into 24 divisions (1Chronicles 24:3-19), 24 Levitical gatekeepers (26:17-19), and 24 orders of
Levitical musicians called to “prophesy in praising the Lord” by singing to the accompaniment of “lyres, harps and cymbals”
(25:6-31). David established 288 singers in his Tabernacle (1 Chronicles 25:7) which could be divided into 24 divisions of
12 each (24 x 12 = 288) or 2 large choirs of 144 each (2 x 144 = 288). He also established 24 gatekeepers at the gates,
storehouse and highway (1 Chronicles 26:17-18).
V. GOD SETS HIS PEOPLE ON THRONES
A. The Lord desires that we be enthroned at the highest authority in the created order (Revelation 3:21). Jesus has
planned an indescribable exaltation of His former enemies. He will thoroughly cleanse them and empower sinful humans
so they will be able to participate in His eternal government. God’s great kindness is seen in qualifying His people to reign
with Him.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne... (Revelation 3:21)
B. The 24 elders play a significant role in the administration of God’s government and therefore, are prototypes of
other saints on thrones who have a judicial function (Revelation 20:4). This fulfills Jesus’ promise to the apostles that they
would sit on thrones (Matthew 19:18). The saints with resurrected bodies who are counted worthy (considered faithful)
during their life on earth will be made kings in the age-to-come (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5; Matthew
19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Luke 19:17-19; 22:29-30; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:12; Romans 8:17). We are destined to
live for billions and billions of years in the wealthy ruling class or the aristocracy of the New Jerusalem.
4 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. I saw the souls of those…
beheaded for their witness to Jesus...they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1,000 years. 6 They shall be
priests of God…and shall reign with Him a 1,000 years. (Revelation 20:4, 6)
26 He who overcomes…I will give power over nations, 27 he shall rule them… (Revelation 2:26-27)
10 Have made us kings and priests to our God…we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
C. The two functions most emphasized for the saints: priests and kings (Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). As kings, the
saints will reign (rule) with judicial responsibility and authority. This role involves authority to evaluate the past (judging)
and to determine action plans for the future for the people and areas that they are over. The ruling saints will appoint
people into positions in the infrastructure that are within their sphere of Kingdom responsibility. This will include training
and managing the people who are appointed. The saints will judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:2).
VI. GOD PUTS PRIESTLY ROBES ON HIS PEOPLE
A. Robed – the elders wear white robes, which speak of their priestly role and holiness of heart. The priestly role
includes worshipping and interceding and communicating God’s heart to others.
B. We are God’s priests who represent God forever to all creation and communicate His glory to the rest of creation.
We are those who will be mediators of His glory to others in the age-to-come. God’s kindness and humility shines so
brightly in the fact that He chose us for this role.
C. The priests wore white garments of linen (Leviticus 6:10; 16:4). White is the color of purity or holiness (Rev. 19:8,
14). The overcomer walks in white (Revelation 3:4-5, 18; 6:11; 7:9, 13; 15:6). White clothing is given to those who
persevere. The elders wore dazzling white garments that manifest their reward for faithfulness. The long journey and
constant struggle are over and they now sit in indescribable glory.
D. Sinful people are made so clean and free that they will be able to be brought near to God in intimate worship. We
will receive a purity that will hold up as true when in the very presence of God’s purity and presence. The boldness to
wear white in God’s presence and holiness is remarkable. We will be totally transformed so that we have a radiant that is
heart set free from every defilement. Our heart will be exhilarated in perfect righteousness forever. We will be white robed
lovers of God with no consciousness of sin and with assurance of God’s delight in us.
VII. GOD SETS GOLDEN CROWNS ON HIS PEOPLE
A. The elders wear gold crowns. There are two Greek words describing two different types of crowns in the New
Testament. One is the crown of a ruler (Gr., diadem), the other was the crown of a victor (Gr., stephanos) who won a race
in the Greek athletic games. The Greek word for crowns in Revelation 4:4 is stephanos which speaks of "victory” rather
than diadema which speaks of "kingly or political authority." Here we see the victor's crown and not the ruler's diadem.
The word used denotes a victorious athlete not a political ruler. The 24 elders were rewarded for gaining significant
victories over sin in their life. The angels are not rewarded for victory over sin, but are judged if they sin.
B. Crowns in Revelation are given for endurance or perseverance and are only promised to victors or overcomers
(Revelation 2:10; 3:11). These crowns of victory imply faithfulness and endurance in the midst of conflict. Crowns speak
of the beauty of holiness being imparted into the faithful.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown
of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)
12 His eyes were like…fire, and on His head were many crowns (stephanos) (Revelation 19:12)
C. In the ancient world, a victor’s crown (stephanos) that was given to the Olympic champions was made of olive
branches. Heavenly crowns of gold are eternal and incorruptible (1 Corinthians 9:25; Philippians 4:1;
1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12; Revelation 2:10; 3:11, 21; 4:4).
D. One way in which the saints are rewarded for their faithfulness on earth is in being crowned. Our rewards are not
at all the same as receiving the free gift of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). The crowns speak of one’s
accomplishments or acts done by the grace of God as we voluntarily respond to Jesus in faith and obedience.
E. The elders cast their crowns before God because their crown expresses their reward in eternity.
10 The 24 elders fall down…and cast their crowns before the Throne… (Revelation 4:10)
F. Our lives are dignified because God esteems, remembers and rewards our works. The crowns speak of the dignity
and relevance of our earthly life. Our obedience is forever remembered. Receiving eternal rewards speak of the dignity of
one’s labors and efforts in this life. The things we do on the earth now have significance forever.
G. God repays all our obedience so well. In this, He dignifies every righteous act in our life. We cannot out give God.
Even in offering our crowns to Him, He will multiply and return the blessing back to us then we will cast them again. We will
cast our crowns before God many times throughout history.
H. Being crowned in the presence of a God of jasper splendor gives a context for being crowned. The God of jasper-like splendor is
the one crowning us.