Rev., the culmination of Gods work for this era, among his created people.  Why, what is the great work that is accomplished.  Well, salvation right?  And yet we seem to be complacent about the magnitude of that work, for everything God has created is in a position to receive salvation- a right standing with God.  The earth groans awaiting the fullness of this event.  The rocks would call out and the trees would clap their hands....  And the final process begins in heaven as depicted in Rev. 1 forward.  Prior to this was all preparation, mans history falls into this category.
 
We are blessed to be born during the age of Grace, this N.T. time where  those who accept Christ, thereby receiving the right to be in perfect standing with God, have been given gifts.  One of the first gifts is that of the Holy Spirit.  It is a heavenly gift, given to an earthly man, linking Him to the spiritual side whereby they can fellowship with the  Father.  (Those that worship the Father are to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth...) All those who have become spiritually quickened, accepting this new life in Christ, have this sealing of the Holy Spirit.  This sealing is like that which those in the O.T. received to set them apart as God's chosen, i.e. Saul, David, Samson, Samuel,... While their anointing could be forfeited, it never negated the fact that they had been chosen to do a specific work. ( This N.T. anointing is displayed in the parable of the 10 virgins.  All have been given a measure of oil for their lamps are burning.) What is our specific work....to act like a daughter to son of the creator of the Universe.  He is our dad: he rebirthed our spirit so that we could have not only have conversation with him, and help when we struggle or have needs, but to represent Him (who is spirit) to a physical world that has no ability to comprehend or see the spiritual....  But more importantly, he created us for the  relationship we have yet to have with him in the eons yet to come. (Eph. 2;7 That in the  ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.) Our anointing, signifying our family ties to the Father, puts us in a position to gain something very valuable from the Lord and I am referring to what in scripture is called as our inheritance.  It has to do with the rights of the first born, the double portion of goods, the priestly rights as well as governing role for the family.   God has displayed facets of this inheritance through the scriptures of Rev. 2 ,3.  Each church is given to represent a precious inheritance we can receive if....  These giftings all have to do future rulership or positions of authority.
 
But there is something that must happen first, it involves a transfer of power from that which does exist, into the  hands of the those that have been shown to be qualified.  It is stated in 1 John 3:8 (..For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the
devil.)   Are these puny works? What are Satan and his angels doing.  They are ruling as counterparts in the Heavens, to that which is here on earth.  (see Daniel 10) In other words, there are governing angels that influence or manipulate the human counterpart into following Satans plans.  God is still in control, so that good will work out of chaos, but there will be chaos!   This is an angelic realm that has governing power with Satan.  But there are also angels that chose not to follow Satan and have also chosen not to exercise their authority for they would have to function under this rouge ruler.
 We see a third of these angels being thrown from Heaven, with Satan, during the tribulation period.  Where are the other 2/3rds? 12 represents the number of rulership and the 24 elders around the throne in Heaven are 2 sets of 12.  They are around the throne wearing (Stephanos) crowns.  Crowns that depict a position but worn by someone who is not exercising the power or authority.   They are seen in Rev. 4 to be giving their crowns to Christ, the one who has qualified to sit on the throne, the one they will worship forever.  The transfer of the heavenly power has begun, and it will be completed when Satan and the other 1/3rd of the angels have their positions forcefully taken.  BUT, those positions cannot be given until there are those that have qualified to take over those positions.  When the qualification process is complete, Rev. 2,3, these angels will be done with their role and give their positions to Christ as an act of worship and the rulership spoken of in 1 Cor. 6:3,4, will start to take place.  That the apostles will be one segment of 12 to fill the roles vacated is a given.
 
So, I do not have a problem with the represented 24 elders being shown to be the apostles and the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel.  But the time frame in which that happens is what I question.