Distinguishing the Twenty-Four Elders from the Redeemed Multitude

Revelation 4

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look on like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and on the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the middle of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 5

1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders says to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, see, in the middle of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the middle of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives for ever and ever.

Revelation 7

1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

9 After this I beheld, and, see, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and from where came they?

14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the middle of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

La distinción entre los grupos celestiales es clara al observar el orden de los eventos en el santuario celestial, donde los veinticuatro ancianos y los cuatro seres vivientes actúan como el séquito de bienvenida que ya reside en el cielo antes de la llegada triunfal de Cristo con Su multitud de cautivosDAR 387.1+2. Los veinticuatro ancianos son seres literales y tangibles que ocupan tronos de autoridad, actuando como asistentes de Cristo en Su obra mediadora, y se distinguen de la gran multitud de redimidos que aparecerá en etapas posteriores de la historia de la salvaciónEVRR158+2.

A continuación, se detalla la relación y distinción entre estos grupos según las visiones de Apocalipsis 4, 5 y 7:

El Escenario de Bienvenida en Apocalipsis 4 🏛️

• Asamblea Previa: En Apocalipsis 4, la puerta abierta en el cielo revela al Padre en Su trono y al Espíritu Santo representado por las siete lámparas de fuego, junto a los cuatro seres vivientes y los veinticuatro ancianos, quienes ya están presentes y postrados en adoración antes de que el Cordero entre en escena Revelation 4:2-5DAR 398.2.

• Identidad de los Ancianos: Estos ancianos, sentados en veinticuatro tronos y vestidos de ropas blancas, son jefes o gobernadores del santuario que representan el antitipo de los turnos del sacerdocio terrenalDAR 387.1+1.

• Representantes Celestiales: Al estar presentes en el capítulo 4 antes de la ascensión gloriosa descrita en el capítulo 5, se confirma que no son el grupo de santos que asciende en ese momento, sino seres que ya ocupaban sus puestos de honor en el consejo divinoEVRR158+1.

La Entrada del Héroe Victorioso en Apocalipsis 5 🦁

• La Llegada de Cristo: El capítulo 5 describe el momento en que Cristo, el León de la tribu de Judá, entra en el cielo tras Su victoria en la tierra y toma el libro de la mano del Padre Revelation 5:5-7DAR 394.2.

• La Multitud de Cautivos: Jesús no entró solo; ascendió llevando consigo una multitud de cautivos que resucitaron con Él, los cuales son las primicias de la redención entregadas al Padre como señal de Su triunfo sobre la muerte Matthew 27:52-53+1AA 38.3+1.

• El Cántico Nuevo: Al ver a estos redimidos y la obra consumada de Cristo, los ancianos y los seres vivientes entonan un cántico nuevo que celebra cómo la sangre del Cordero compró para Dios a personas de toda raza, lengua y nación, refiriéndose a los méritos de Cristo aplicados a la humanidad Revelation 5:9EVRR158.

• Los Ángeles y el Pentecostés: Es en este punto donde Juan ve a los "millones de millones" de ángeles rodeando el trono, uniéndose a la aclamación universal del Cordero Revelation 5:11DAR 398.2. Además, el envío de los siete espíritus a toda la tierra representa la efusión del Espíritu Santo en el Pentecostés, señal de que el Redentor ya fue entronizado Revelation 5:6AA 38.3.

Distinciones Claras en Apocalipsis 7 📜

• Grupos Separados: En la visión del sellamiento y la gran multitud, Juan observa grupos claramente diferenciados: los ángeles, los ancianos y los cuatro seres vivientes están de pie alrededor del trono, mientras que la gran multitud de redimidos está delante del trono con palmas en sus manos Revelation 7:9-11DAR1909 471.3+1.

• El Anciano como Instructor: Uno de los veinticuatro ancianos es quien pregunta a Juan sobre la identidad de la gran multitud: "¿Quiénes son estos que están vestidos de ropas blancas, y de dónde han venido?" Revelation 7:13YI June 27, 1895, par. 4. Esta interacción demuestra que el anciano no forma parte de ese grupo innumerable de redimidos, sino que actúa como un conocedor de los misterios divinos que instruye al profetaEVRR158+1.

• Diferencia de Origen: Mientras que la gran multitud ha salido de la "gran tribulación" final de la historia terrestre, los ancianos ya estaban en sus puestos celestiales mucho antes, asistiendo en el ministerio del santuario Revelation 7:14EVRR492.

Esta estructura revela la armonía del gobierno de Dios, donde seres que ya han vencido o que pertenecen a las huestes celestiales colaboran con Cristo en la recepción y cuidado de aquellos que son rescatados de la tierra a través de Su sangreRH November 9, 1905, par. 11+2.