Why are no women mentioned among the "four and twenty elders"?

When viewing the Revelation, we must be mindful that we are viewing a writing that employs symbolic language to convey its truths. Revelation 1:1 tells us that the nature of the language of this book is that it is "signified." The word in the original Greek is semaino, which means "revealed by signs." Webster's New World Dictionary defines a sign as "a symbol." So, the expressions in the Book of Revelation are symbolic.

The Apostle John (the Revelator) was a Hebrew. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus always spoke in a language the people could easily relate to; so it is in the Revelation. Since John was a Hebrew, much of the imagery in Revelation is drawn from the Old Testament writings and practices. So it is with these "elders."

The "elders" in the Revelation symbolize the ministry. First Peter 5:1-2 tells us "the elders" are those who are called to "feed the flock of God" and have "the oversight," essentially speaking of pastors. The expression "four and twenty" (Revelation 4:4, 10; 11:16) conveys at least two truths. First, the number "four and twenty" (or twenty-four) is a multiple of twelve. Twelve was considered amongst the Hebrews as completeness or perfection. This portrays, as Colossians 2:10 proclaims, "Ye are complete in him" (speaking of "Christ"; verse 8). 

Christ has provided mankind completeness for men's souls through the salvation provided in this new covenant. He also has a perfect and complete ministry to bring mankind to an understanding of where all may "be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
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The second aspect of these "four and twenty elders" is what is drawn from the Hebrew imagery. Under the old Jewish economy, there were "four and twenty" courses of Levitical priests. First Chronicles 24:1-19 speaks of these courses, and the passage is specific that these are "the sons of Aaron" (verse 1), and from there it proceeds to "the sons of ... Eleazar," and "the sons of Ithamar" (verse 3). The text goes on to speak of "chief men found of the sons of Eleazar" and "the sons of Ithamar" (verse 4). 

Verses 7-18 list the twenty-four divisions that comprised the Levitical priesthood. All the Jewish priesthood were men. Under the old economy, it was not a role filled by women. Thus, when drawing from the Old Testament, and using Hebrew imagery with which John was familiar, the vision portrayed men in the role of "elders" as that was all who filled the role of priests in the Old Testament.

Earl R. Borders

From the August 2024 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter