Around God’s throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. Revelation 4: 4

In vision, having entered the throne room of God, John’s attention went first to the throne. Impressive were the visual and aural effects that surrounded it: a rainbow, lightening flashes, thunder, seven lampstands of fire, a sea of glass. And most impressively was the One sitting on the throne. Of course, it was only God’s composure that John saw, clothed in terms of the light of God’s majesty and glory.

Taking in more of the scene, John observed twenty-four other thrones, each positioned before God’s throne. On each of the twenty-four thrones, sat a heavenly being that John described as an elder. John doesn’t give us the identities of these elders. However there are three clues: One, they’re wearing white robes. Two, they’re sporting crowns. Three, they’re sitting on thrones.

Throughout Revelation, those wearing white robes or garments are consistently referred to as the faithful and/or saved people of God. Also consistent is that heavenly crowns are reserved and given as a reward to those who are victorious overcomers. Then there is Jesus’ promise in Rev. 3: 21 that only the overcomer will get to sit with Him upon a throne. The fact that the twenty-four elders wear white robes and crowns of victory, and are sitting on thrones next to the throne of God, is a pretty strong indication that they represent redeemed, glorified, human saints.

The number twelve is symbolic of God’s kingdom. We see that verified by New Jerusalem’s gates that are named after the twelve tribes of Israel, and New Jerusalem’s twelve foundations, named after the twelve apostles. Since that’s the case, I believe the twenty-four elders – based on two sets of twelve – symbolize the totality of God’s kingdom: twelve representatives from the Old Testament church; twelve from the New Testament church.

Since there isn’t any mention of elders in any Old Testament throne visions, it seems more than likely that this redeemed group arrived in heaven around the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. Matthew 27: 50-53 says that upon Jesus’ death, the tombs opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and went into Jerusalem where they were seen by many. Then  Ephesians 4: 8 says that after Christ’s resurrection and He ascended to heaven, He took with Him a host of captives. These were likely the ones raised from the graves who had gone into Jerusalem.