And around God’s throne there were twenty-four [other] thrones, with twenty-four elders sitting on them. [Note: These “elders” are generally considered to represent all the saved of both covenants. The number twenty-four is thought to be derived from the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles]. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads.
[then] the twenty-four elders fall down in front of Him who sits on His throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns in front of the throne and say,
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the [twenty-four] elders and the four living beings. And they fell down on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God,
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, [since] you have become my followers, in the time of new beginnings [i.e., the church age], when the Son of man sits on His glorious throne, you apostles will also sit on twelve thrones, judging [i.e., through their writings] the twelve tribes of Israel [i.e., God’s people].