May 21: “ALREADY” AND “NOT YET”
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. Revelation 4:4
There are many details of God’s transparency to be detected in His word. Though the accuser would have us think otherwise, our loving Lord has nothing to hide. And unlike human governments, God’s government is laid out for all to see. God the Father shares His throne with His Son, who extends the offer directly to His people (3:21).
The open door (4:1) that allowed John to see into the heavenly throne room revealed twenty-four thrones with twenty-four elders. God’s open invitation for redeemed humanity to be partakers of His pure and righteous government is a further revelation of divine transparency. Twelve is a prominent number symbolizing godly leadership, and here it is obviously doubled. A “sneak peek” ahead in Revelation provides a clue to their identity: “You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (5:9). When the resurrected Jesus ascended on high, there were captives in His train (Psalm 68:18, Ephesians 4:8) who now serve as representatives of the redeemed human race. This would include representatives from Gentile nations alongside the ones from the chosen nation of Israel (see Isaiah 56:6 & 60:5). It is important to note that these captives have willingly and joyfully relinquished their former sinful ways. No one will ever be forced to go to heaven! Martin Luther expressed the idea very well: “My conscience is captive to the Word of God!”
Notice that God’s method of revealing His way (see Psalm 77:13) of salvation in the Old Testament had a prevailing factor of “not yet”. In the New Testament, there is a marked tension between the remaining factors of “not yet” and “already”. Both are in play, and our faith in the “not yet” is bolstered by those things which are “already” fulfilled.
The phrase clothed in white robes is in grammar’s passive voice. They are clothed, not by themselves, but by Christ because of their willingness to relinquish sin by abiding in Him (see John 15:4-5); in a word, sanctification. Christ actively marks His true followers. Even now, His followers yet on the earth have a mark of distinction visible to the angels (Ezekiel 9:4). This mark should be outwardly visible to fellow humans as character traits for the purpose of drawing others toward Christ. Remember that His plan is to make kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10) of all His followers. They will be witnesses to Satan’s total demise (Ezekiel 28:17). The crowns of gold on [the elders’] heads are also provided by the Lord, representing the purified “gold” of thinking (Revelation 3:18) that is fully aligned with His law. These elders are firstfruits of the soon-to-gather countless multitudes of law-abiding citizens of heaven.
Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. Psalm 119:165
For further study: Revelation 12:17; 14:12; 22:14