5  Q. What are we to understand by the four and twenty elders, spoken of by John?

A. We are to understand that these elders whom John saw, were elders who had been faithful in the work of the ministry and were dead; who belonged to the ^cseven churches, and were then in the paradise of God.

  1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven ^cSpirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

  5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven ^bSpirits of God.

  6  Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I ^cwas, that I am, and that I am to come.