Revelation 5:8 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints.

 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

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

 

Are they possibly representative?

The four and twenty elders claim in line 6 that the Lamb had redeemed them by his blood.

That would make them descendants of Adam, that had been saved.

Also, they are not only from Israel, which many say, from 12 tribes + 12 apostles = 24.

Because, they claim in line 6 to be out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

Are they therefore representative of Christians who will be in heaven when Jesus opens the seals?

 

Does line 8 say that not only the four and twenty elders, but also the four beasts sing lines 9 and 10?

That would mean they also were redeemed by Jesus’ blood, so they must be descended from Adam, too?

I have not met any people who look the way that the four beasts are described to look.

So, is it that they are somehow symbolically representative, as well?

 

            I know that many say that things in chapter 5 need to be taken literally, as to their appearance.

However, when we see Jesus, will he look like what is described in chapter 5?

Will we not see a resurrected man, who had been crucified, but rather an actual woolen lamb, with seven eyes and seven horns?

Yet, is not what John sees in chapters 4 and 5, a vision, with types and symbols, of what is really happening in heaven?

 

            So are the four and twenty elders, and maybe even the four beasts, representative?

Or have I gone way off the deep end on this one?

                        Thank you,

                                    Gino