orrowing family circle, all who have had the touch of heart with God,
are gathered in the presence of Him who sits on the throne. That is one
simple thing that stands out clear and sure.

These are represented as _sitting_. The slave or servant never sat in
his master's presence. Friends sit together. Angels are never spoken of
as sitting in the presence of God. When our Lord Jesus was received up
He sat down at the Father's right hand. We are spoken of as seated in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Sitting together means being on
terms of intimacy and fellowship. Through the precious blood of our
Lord Jesus we are all accepted in the Beloved and received and trusted
as He is.

These elders are clad in white garments. That is one of the familiar
things spoken of much in this end-book. Part of the promise to those of
overcoming faith is that they shall be arrayed in white garments, and
walk with Christ in white.[84] Those who are faulty in the Church are
urged to get white garments.[85] The martyrs waiting their
vindication,[86] and the great multitudes who come up out of the
tribulation are given white raiment.[87] The bride at the joyous
marriage supper, and the armies following the conquering Christ, are
clad in fine linen, bright and pure.[88]

We are told that this white linen means a pure life.[89] These garments
have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.[90] These multitudes have
been cleansed in the blood of Christ and purified by the Holy Spirit and
made perfect in purity and holiness as they came up into the presence of
the Father on the throne.

These elders are wearing golden crowns. This language, too, is familiar.
The acknowledgment and reward of faithfulness and of service is spoken
of commonly under this bit of picture talk.[91] The angels are never
spoken of as being crowned. Christ was crowned, that is received into
the presence of the Father, as the full recognition of His worthiness
and of what He had done, and in vindication after the shameful rejection
by men.

These men and women and children in the Father's presence have been
rewarded and are being rewarded for their faithfulness in obedience and
in life. All the struggles and difficulties, the hard road, the
endurance, the patient suffering for His name's sake, the faithfulness
in doing the allotted tasks, all these have been noted and acknowledged.
There is the sweet peace of the Father's approval in all of these before
the throne.