Who are the 24 Elders and the First Beast?

The twenty-four elders are a specific group of redeemed human beings who have already finished their earthly course and are currently serving as kings and priests in the heavenly sanctuaryARSH November 26, 1861, page 204.10+2.

Identity and Origin

• Redeemed from Earth: These elders are literal, personal beings who were redeemed from the earth by the blood of the LambARSH November 26, 1861, page 204.10+1. They are distinct from angels, as they sing a new song of redemption, stating they were taken from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation Revelation 5:8-10ARSH November 26, 1861, page 204.10+1.

• The First Fruits: They were part of the multitude of captives raised from their graves at the time of Christ’s resurrection and taken to heaven during His ascension Matthew 27:52-53+1SSP 96.1+2.

• Composition: Historically, they are understood to be the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles, representing the foundation of the faithMWV2 162.1.

Their Position in Heaven

• Thrones and Crowns: John saw them sitting on twenty-four thrones (often translated as "seats") surrounding the throne of God Revelation 4:4DAR1909 416.2+1. They are clothed in white raiment—representing the righteousness of Christ—and wear golden crowns of victory, indicating a completed conflict Revelation 4:4SSP 96.1+1.

• Antitype of the Priesthood: In the heavenly sanctuary, they serve as the antitype of the twenty-four courses of the Levitical priesthood 1 Chronicles 24:1-19MWV2 162.1+1. They are the chiefs or governors of these heavenly coursesCIS 80.1.

Their Sacred Work

• Assistants to Christ: The elders act as assistants to Jesus Christ in His mediatorial work within the heavenly sanctuaryDAR1909 416.2+1.

• Offering Prayers: They fall down before the Lamb, holding harps and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints Revelation 5:8SSP 105.1+1. They offer these prayers, combined with the incense of Christ’s merits, before the throne of GodSSP 105.1+1.

• Worship and Intercession: They are constant participants in the worship of the universe, casting their crowns before the throne and acknowledging God's worthiness as the Creator and Redeemer Revelation 4:10-11HSFD 510.3+2.

Role in Prophetic Events

• The Seven Seals: The elders are present in heaven before the opening of the seven seals, encouraging John by pointing to the Lion of the tribe of Judah as the only one worthy to open the book Revelation 5:5ARSH November 26, 1861, page 204.10+1.

• The Judgment Scene: When the judgment commences, as described in the prophecy of Daniel, their thrones are placed or established in the most holy place for the proceedings Daniel 7:9DAR1909 416.2.

• The Seventh Trumpet: At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the elders fall on their faces to give thanks because Christ has taken His great power to reign and the time has come to reward the prophets and saints Revelation 11:15-18BP2 78.3+2.

Revelation 13

1 And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six.

The first beast of Revelation 13 is a symbol of the Roman Empire in its papal form, which exercised both civil and ecclesiastical power for a prophetic period of 1,260 yearsDAR1909 561.3+2. This identity is established through clear parallels with the "little horn" of Daniel 7 and the specific fulfillment of historical markers between A.D. 538 and 1798APEC 68.2+2.

Identity Through Daniel’s Prophecies

The first beast of Revelation 13 is identical to the little horn described in Daniel 7+2. Both powers are characterized by several specific identifying marks:

• Blasphemous Character: Both the little horn and the beast speak "great things" and "blasphemies" against the Most High Daniel 7:25+1DAR 523.3.

• Persecution of Saints: Both powers make war with the saints and overcome them for a specified duration Daniel 7:21+1APEC 68.2.

• Composite Nature: The beast possesses the characteristics of the lion, bear, and leopard, which represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Grecia—the kingdoms that Rome incorporated into its own territory Daniel 7:4-7+1BEST April 26, 1897, par. 9.

• Succession of Power: Just as the little horn rose after the ten horns of the fourth beast, the leopard beast succeeds the dragon (Pagan Rome), receiving its "power, and his seat, and great authority" from it Daniel 7:24+1RDAC 40.2+1.

The Prophetic Time Period

The supremacy of this beast is limited to a specific timeframe of 42 months, which is equal to 1,260 prophetic days or yearsARSH May 29, 1860, page 4.22+2.

• Beginning (A.D. 538): The period began when the decree of Justinian went into effect, establishing the Bishop of Rome as the head of all churches and providing civil authority to correct hereticsSR 330.3+2.

• End (1798): Exactly 1,260 years later, in 1798, the French General Berthier entered Rome, took the Pope prisoner into exile, and abolished the papal governmentDAR1909 562.7+2. This event fulfilled the prophecy that he who "leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity" Revelation 13:10APEC 68.2+1.

The Deadly Wound and Its Healing

The "deadly wound" mentioned in prophecy refers to the temporary overthrow of the papacy in 1798TBUS 11.1+2.

• The Wound: This was the removal of the head (the Pope) and the subversion of the civil power that supported the ecclesiastical system Revelation 13:3USLP 42.1+1.

• The Healing: The prophecy declares the wound would be healed, a process that began with the restoration of the papacy in the early 19th century and continues as the world increasingly "wonders after the beast" Revelation 13:3BEST April 26, 1897, par. 11+1. This restoration signifies a return to global influence and the eventual reenactment of its previous tyrannical works through an "image" made by a later powerAMCR 16.1+2.

The Mark and Universal Worship

The beast is distinguished by its attempt to change the law of God, specifically the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath Daniel 7:257BC 984.8+1.

• The Rival Sabbath: The papacy presented a spurious sabbath to the world as a sign of its authority, which the Christian world has largely accepted7BC 984.8+2.

• The Final Conflict: In the closing scenes of earth's history, the world will be divided between those who keep the commandments of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark Revelation 14:9-122SM 55.1+1. Worship of the beast is a specific act of deference to his requirements in opposition to the requirements of the CreatorDAR1909 606.2+1.

Here are the key identifying points and Scriptures regarding the first beast of Revelation 13 🛡️:

• Blasphemous Words: It speaks great things and blasphemies against God Daniel 7:25+1APEC 68.2+1.
• Warfare Against Saints: It makes war with the saints and overcomes them Daniel 7:21+1ARSH May 29, 1860, page 4.22+1.
• Prophetic Duration: It exercises power for forty-two months, which is 1,260 prophetic years Daniel 7:25+1GNT 163.3+2.
• Inherited Authority: The dragon gives the beast his power, his seat, and great authority Revelation 13:2ChSa 179.2+2.
• Composite Form: It is composed of features from the lion, the bear, and the leopard Daniel 7:4-7+1ChSa 179.2+2.
• Deadly Wound: One of its heads is wounded to death and led into captivity Revelation 13:3+1DAR1909 562.7+2.
• Healing of the Wound: The deadly wound is healed, causing the world to wonder after the beast Revelation 13:3ChSa 179.2+2.
• Attempted Law Change: It thinks to change times and laws, specifically the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath Daniel 7:257BC 984.8+2.
• Universal Worship: All who dwell on the earth shall worship the beast, except those whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life Revelation 13:82SM 55.1+1.

I hope these points help your study! 🙏 Let me know if you need anything else ✨.