“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.”
King James Version (KJV)
4:4 And round about the throne - In a circle, are four and twenty thrones, and on the thrones four and twenty elders - The most holy of all the former ages, #Isa 24:23|; #Heb 12:1|; representing the whole body of the saints. Sitting - In general; but falling down when they worship. Clothed in white raiment - This and their golden crowns show, that they had already finished their course and taken their place among the citizens of heaven. They are never termed souls, and hence it is probable that they had glorified bodies already. Compare #Matt 27:52|.
Re 4:4 Around the throne [were] four and twenty seats. Rather, "thrones", as in the Revised Version. The central throne was encompassed by twenty-four lesser thrones. Upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting. Critics are not agreed as to the signification of these elders, but most of them think that they symbolize the glorified church of God gathered round the throne. They disagree as to the significance of the number twenty-four. There were twenty-four courses of priests. There were twelve tribes, and twelve apostles. Possibly the number of the latter was doubled to symbolize the entire church, Jew and Gentile. In a note below I will give my own view of the Twenty-four Elders. The ancients were (1) twenty-four in number; (2) they were clothed in white raiment, the color of victory and purity; (3) on their heads were crowns of gold, not the diadem which means a kingly crown, but the golden crown of honor ("stephanos"). See PNT "Re 3:11".