Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain on earth and over the years has challenged many climbers to reach the summit. In fact so many are tackling the climb today there can be human traffic jams as they ascend the narrow routes.

You may well ask, what has this got to do with 24 Elders? The Bible does talk about them as real persons surrounding the throne of God. Bible scholars all have different interpretations as to who they represent. In the world of Biblical numerology we find that 24 was the number of divisions for the order of priests ministering in the temple of the Lord. There were also 24 divisions of singers.

There is a general consenses that the 24 elders are refering to the Church, that vast number of believers who make up the total body of Christ. We are a royal people making up a priethood who offer up praise and prayers to God.

A little more investigation of that number 24 indicates that it is 2 times 12. The number 12 echoes through the Bible and two examples are the Twelve Apostles and the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The many mentions of 12 in the Bible are said to total 187. They are a symbol of God’s perfect government and divine order.

Let’s return then to that mountain and the intrepid climbers. Spiritually, Mount Zion is that high place where God dwells. As believers we are encouraged to keep our eyes focused on the King of Kings who dwells in the throne of heaven. Let us then be part of that number singing praises to God and the Lamb.

Ref. Ps.2:6, Heb. 12:2, 22-24, Rev. Chapters 4&5. NIV.