Question:

65.4—Who are the “24 Elders” mentioned in Revelation 4:4?

Answer:

65.4—I believe the twenty-four elders symbolize believers from all ages (the Church as well as all those who were saved before Christ died on the cross).  [Ed. – Old Testament saints are represented by the 12 tribes of Israel and the New Testament saints by the 12 apostles of the Lamb.] I think this is true because Revelation 5:8, 9 show us that the 24 elders are redeemed.  Who are redeemed? Certainly Old Testament and New Testament believers have both been redeemed.  Hebrews 11 gives many examples of Old Testament believers and 1 Peter 1:18, 19 tells us that we have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ.”  Although I do not know of any verse that directly says that the 24 elders are representative of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles, this may be true and would symbolize those that were saved before Christ died as well as those saved after He died, until the rapture of the Church.