Revelation: 24 Elders

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

24 Elders

Revelation 4:4 (ESV)
"Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads."

Revelation 5:8 (ESV)
"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

In the heavenly temple, we find 24 elders. They held harps and golden bowls filled with incense, which represent the prayers of the saints.
In David’s earthly temple, we also find 24 chief priests and singers:

1 Chronicles 24:3–6 (ESV)
3. "With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.
4. Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers' houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.
5. They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
6. And the scribe Shemaiah the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers' houses of the priests and of the Levites—one father's house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar."

Then 24 names are listed.

The same goes for the singers:

1 Chronicles 25:1–7 (ESV)

1. "David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:

2. Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.

3. Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the LORD.

4. Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.

5. All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

6. They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king.

7. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was 288."

Then 24 singers are listed.

So in the heavenly temple we see something similar, where elders are involved in the temple service and the singing in a special way.
What exactly they do is not directly stated in the Bible.
What we do know is that these are people who have already overcome.
They are portrayed wearing golden crowns, sitting on thrones, and clothed in white garments. These are all elements promised to the seven churches, if they overcome:

Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Revelation 3:4 (ESV)
"Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy."

Revelation 3:21 (ESV)
"The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne."

So we already have overcomers here.
Most people are described as "asleep," waiting for Jesus to come. However, there are a few exceptions in the Bible.
Enoch, Elijah, and Abraham are a few examples. Then there were others who rose from the dead when Jesus died:

Matthew 27:52–53 (ESV)
52. "The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
53. and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many."

So we have examples of people who certainly have already overcome and received eternal life. They have already won the fight of faith. They are proof of God’s power in the resurrection. And in the same way, we also have 24 elders who serve as a witness to that reality in heaven right now. They perform a task there.

But even these elders, who have received such a special position, are still people who accepted the redemption of Jesus. They do not attribute the victory to themselves, but to God.
As it also says:

Revelation 4:9–11 (ESV)
9. "And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10. the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11. ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’"