The Twenty Four Elders 

One of the clearest biblical evidences for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is found in Revelation chapters 4 and 5. Before the judgments of the seals are unleashed upon the earth, John is caught up into heaven and beholds a breathtaking scene: twenty-four elders worshipping the Lamb of God. These elders are not angelic beings; they are symbolic of the raptured and rewarded Church already gathered before the throne. The Church is not mentioned in the book of Revelation after chapter 3, except as seen as the 24 Elders in chapters 4 and 5, then the Church returns with Jesus at His Second Coming in chapter 19.

The Greek term used for “elders” (presbyteroi) is never applied to angels, but consistently refers to leaders within the New Testament Church. Moreover, the description of the elders leaves no doubt: they are clothed in white robes, crowned, and seated on thrones. Each of these blessings—white garments, crowns, and thrones—are promises given uniquely to the overcoming and victorious Churches in the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation 3:4–5, 3:11, 3:21, 2:26-28. They are given in Revelation chapter 3 to a living Church before the Throne Room scene of Revelation chapter 4, with the 24 Elders (the Church), who have received these rewards in eternity. This means that by the time the first seal is opened in Revelation 6, the Church has already experienced both the Rapture and the rewarding (seated on thrones with white robes and crowns), at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The song sung by the elders in Revelation 5:9–10 confirms their identity:

“Thou art worthy… for thou wast slain (Jesus), and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

No angel could sing this song. Only the redeemed Bride of Christ can declare such truths. The Church is uniquely described as a “royal priesthood” by the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:9 also in Revelation 1:5-6. The twenty-four elders, then, are not just worshipers—they are the elders of the royal priesthood of the New Covenant, already in heaven, awaiting the reign of Christ on earth.

By placing the twenty-four elders before the throne of God at the very start of Revelation’s vision, Scripture shows us that the royal priesthood—the Church—has already been caught up to the heavenly temple before the tribulation begins and judgment falls on the earth.

This picture is not meant to alarm but to encourage. The same Jesus who promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself” (John 14:3), has prepared a place for His Bride. The scene in Revelation 4 and 5 is a preview of our glorious future.  From article by Bjorn Korf

Jesus' Promises to the Seven Churches in Revelation Chapter 3.

 

Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. 

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 

Revelation 3:21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  

Revelation 2:25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 
26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations...

Revelation 1:4 Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood (the Church), 6 and has made us to be kings and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 

In the Throne Room, The Fulfilled Promises to the Church (the Elders) in the Next Chapter, Revelation 4

Revelation 4:1 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."  

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling 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. (Don't miss what "seated" implies.)

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... 9 And they sang a new song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased us for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 You have made us to be kings and priests to serve our God, and we will reign on the earth."

The Church is not Appointed to Wrath or the Judgement Which Will Come Upon those of the Earth

Revelation 3:10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you FROM the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. (If you are kept FROM a train wreck, you are not kept through it.)

1 Thessalonians 4:15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep (Christians who had died). 

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 

18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 
5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  (This is the promise every Jewish Groom gave to his future Bride. Jesus is coming back for His spotless Bride, the Church, for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Then return with Her at His Second Coming in Revelation 19:11-21)

Matthew 24:15 Jesus said, "The time will come when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about (Daniel 9:27): the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place" — reader, pay attention! 16 "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.  

21 For that will be a time of greater horror than anything the world has ever seen or will ever see again.  22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, the entire human race will be destroyed. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones."  

Isaiah 24:1 Look! The LORD is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. See how he is scattering the people over the face of the earth. 3 The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The LORD has spoken! 

5 The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore, a curse consumes the earth and its people. They are left desolate, destroyed by fire. Few will be left alive. 

18 Destruction falls on you from the heavens. The world is shaken beneath you. 19 The earth has broken down and has utterly collapsed. Everything is lost, abandoned, and confused. 20 The earth staggers like a drunkard. It trembles like a tent in a storm. It falls and will not rise again, for its sins are very great. 

21 In that day the LORD will punish the fallen angels in the heavens and the proud rulers of the nations on earth. 22 They will be rounded up and put in prison until they are tried and condemned. 23 Then the LORD Almighty will mount his throne on Mount Zion. He will rule gloriously in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people. There will be such glory that the brightness of the sun and moon will seem to fade away.