In the vision, John witnessed the majesty of God in heaven. He saw the faithful people of God standing in the presence of God. He observed God’s creation giving continual, perfect praise. The 24 elders represent a class of redeemed persons redeemed from this earth, but are now overcomers. Twelve is a spiritual number which has to do with representation. The number twenty-four could be two twelves or a complete set of Saints from both the Old and New testaments.
"Wherefore He said, When He [Christ] ascended up on high, He led (a multitude) captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Ephesians 4: 8.
"The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Matthew 27: 52, 53.
Thus, Matthew records their resurrection, Paul their ascension, and John beholds them in heaven, performing the sacred duties which they were raised up to accomplish. They are “clothed in white raiment.” This and their golden crowns show that they had already finished their course and have taken their places among the citizens of heaven. They are never termed souls, and hence it is probable that they had glorified bodies already.
The phrases “after this” and “things which must be hereafter” move to the future, beyond the age of the church. The “door” signifies entrance by way of revelation into heaven. Chapters 4 and 5 picture a heavenly scene. The “trumpet” signifies an authoritative voice.
All the elect are gathered and assembled before Christ. This is the culmination of world history, ushering in the millennial reign of Christ.
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (After this refers to the time of the “renewal of all things.”):
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it:
(In the Spirit- a unique empowerment by the Spirit to receive special revelatory communication from God)
3 And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne:
4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads:
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass (vast array of saints), clear as crystal:
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle:
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings:
Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come:"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
10 The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
(Why do they "cast their crowns before the throne"? These crowns are the victorious crowns that Jesus has placed on their head. They, or we, have done nothing to earn the crowns. These crowns belong to Jesus, not us. He won the victory. He placed them on our head. Everyone benefits from the victory, but Jesus won it. This is another act of humility on their part. When they throw the crowns at Jesus' feet, they are telling Him that they are His because He won them).
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being:”