TSW ~ E.W. King: "The Mystery of 24 Elders & Four Living Creatures." ~ TSW

Ancient Antiochene

Mysteries

Part Fifty-one

“The Mystery of 24 Elders & Four Living Creatures.”

By presbyter Eric William King (November 12^th 2024)

The Twenty-Four elders which are seated before the throne of the Lord are representatives of the government of God in the Old Testament and under the New Testament. The original Twelve Sons of Jacob are the first 12. The Twelve Apostles (Judas replaced) represent the new “spiritual government”, the second 12. Apostle John was “taken up” in vision after receiving the counsel to the Seven Churches (Revelation 4:1). John represents what happens after the Church Dispensation ends. After the Church Dispensation ends the Church will be “caught up” into Paradise, afterwards all hell breaks out on planet Earth.

We remember that God assigned 24 priests under King David (1^st Chronicles 24:18). So, we understand that these 24 elders are also New Covenant priests. John sees them holding censers and offering incense – their prayers. They also represent what is happening to the Christian Church on Earth currently. Jesus appears to them and begins to open the title deed of planet Earth; He opens this in front of them.

The “Seven Sealed” title deed is the Bible itself. In the prophet Jeremiah we read how title-deeds were handled (Jeremiah 32:6-15). There were two copies made, one was sealed with seven wax seals and the other was left open for reference with the rule; “nobody should add or subtract from the copy of this will.” The person who bought the title-deed was called the “Kinsman Redeemer” (Ruth 4:1-12).

To the world even the “open copy” is sealed because without the Holy Spirit and regeneration a person cannot understand the “scroll” (1^st Corinthians 2:14). Through Isaiah the prophet God informs us that the “vision of all” is like a “scroll that is sealed”. God goes on to state that the educated and uneducated cannot open it. God says in the last verse of Isaiah 29 that a day was coming that it would be open to some and that they would “gain understanding” – proper doctrine. (Isaiah 29:9-24).

Jesus begins to open the understanding of the Scriptures to us. Jesus says that “those who have eyes (gain spiritual discernment) shall see” and that “those who have ears (spiritual intuitiveness) will hear”. We know that “faith comes by hearing” – hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). One must get on the “mind channel of Christ” through hearing and studying the Word of God. So, the 24 Elders before the throne begin to receive the true contents of God’s word as the scroll unfolds. Right now, Jesus Christ is opening our understanding of His word through the power of the Holy Spirit in the company of His church. He is “sealing” (saving and owning) us with every portion of His word.

So, when apostle John wrote the last Book of the Christian Bible it was “left open”, it was not “sealed”. Thus, we have our open copy of “Creations Title-Deed”. Jesus repurchased back His creation that was contaminated by sin. We have been “redeemed”. Our names are listed in this “Lamb’s Book of Life” as God’s property. This title deed contains the entire history of our planet and points to its rightful ownership.

The angel of the Lord told John: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” (Revelation 22:10). What are you doing with your “open copy”? This precious gift given to all mankind.

The Four Living Creatures before the throne are surrounded by the 24 Elders. These Four Living Creatures are the guardians. The four written gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John] are also represented by the “four faces” on each of these living beings. Ancient church iconography depicts the four faces as the four evangelists - each gospel capturing an attribute represented by the four faces. Their unity in the spirit represents the spread of the Gospel. Some ancient Patristic Fathers with connections to Ancient Antioch have understood the symbology as such;

1-Face of a Man: Represents Matthew’s gospel which introduced the “son of man” and begins with Christ’s human genealogy.

2-Face of a Lion: Represents Mark’s gospel full of speed and strength and starts out with John the Baptist “roaring” – crying out in the wilderness.

3-Face of an OX (calf): Represents Luke’s gospel because he starts out with sacrifice and goes into “willingness to serve” (story of Zacharias).

4-Face of an Eagle: Represents John’s gospel which produced some of the “highest” spiritual concepts for contemplation. It is said that John “stretched toward the very substance of Divinity”.

A summation of the four faces on the Four Living Creatures goes like this: The Human face can represent intelligence, the lion strength, the ox or calf service, and the eagle swiftness and perceptiveness. It was Jesus who became man in the incarnation, while here He was the ox in service and slain as a calf, He became the triumphant lion at the resurrection, and finally the eagle at His ascension.

How do these attributes affect us, God’s elect? Understand: May all of God’s children gain reason, self-sacrifice, fortitude, and the contemplation of heavenly things.

We are learning some beautiful mysteries of God.

This is most certainly true.

Eric William King (November 12^th 2024)

NOTE: There are some interesting studies in our ancient Antiochene records which suggest that the Four Living Creatures are very real - created beings - which are powerful “shape-shifters”. Apparently they are special guardian messengers of God and also travel in God’s mobile throne as depicted in the prophet Ezekiel’s vision.

Is the Bible the "Seven Sealed Scroll"?

Above: Just what is the Seven Sealed Scroll? Not many Christians know...This information is from the Ancient Antiochene Church and is knowledge that all Christians need to have!