QUES. 9.-Who are the twenty-four elders in Rev. 4 :4, 10, and in 5:8, 11, 14? Whom do they represent?

ANS.-They are the company of glorified saints seen in the place which God, in His amazing grace, has given them :on thrones round about the central throne on which sits His blessed Son. Their song in chapter 1:5, 6 tells this grace:"Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God aud His Father," etc.

It immediately follows the event of 1 Thess. 4:15-17-the resurrection and rapture of the saints.

Twenty-four is no doubt a symbolic number speaking both of priesthood and of rule. The priestly family of Aaron was divided by David (1 Chron. 24) into twenty-four courses, by which an unceasing worship was maintained. The whole people of God are "a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ " (1 Peter 2:5). Their priestly character is doubtless told in this number twenty-four.

Twelve is the symbolic number of rule. Twenty-four being twice twelve probably presents as one whole the two great companies of God's people-before the cross, and since the cross. They are thus seen together, reigning jointly in the kingdom of our Lord.

If you are in possession of William Kelly's Lectures on the Revelation, or of the Numerical Bible, you will find much more on this most cheering subject than we can give here.

Several answers, for lack of space, have to be carried to next number.