Regarding the 24 Elders

The rewards to the Saints follow the Seventh Trumpet. Therefore, the 24 Elders crowns in Revelation chapter 4 are not from the Bema Seat. This indicates they are not part of the Church, and eliminates them as proof of a Pre-Trib Revelation 4:1 Rapture. The Apostle John was the only one who went through the open door in Rev 4:1.

Rev 11:15-18 KJV "And the seventh angel sounded (Seventh Trumpet); and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth."

When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross many graves were opened, and after He was resurrected these Old Testament Saints rose and appeared to many. I believe they ascended with Him to Heaven and the 24 Elders are probably from this group. If not, then the 24 Elders are a priestly class of Angels.

Matt 27:50-53 KJV "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the (Old Testament) Saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

YBIC,

Bill Griese