In chapter four the vision of these dramatic years on earth begins when John is called up to heaven into the throne room of God. God is encircled by twenty-four elders and the four cherubim.

The vision opens with the throne of God presumably in the heavenly temple encircled by rainbow of light and a series of beings. In Revelation 4:6-9 the four living creatures (also seen in Ezekiel 1:5-25) form the first encirclement. They are encircled by twenty-four thrones with twenty-four elders. In Revelation 5:11-13 we see in a larger circle of angelic hosts. There will be yet another group appear in chapter 7:9 of a great multitude of the redeemed from the earth before the throne.

The question that is asked is, “Who are these elders on the twenty-four thrones?” It is usually agreed the  twenty-four thrones are seats of representatives of either an angelic or human group since the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 24:3-19) has a clear parallel of twenty-four divisions of Levitical priests who were represented by a single priest. But, who are the elders representing? There are three suggested answers: orders of angels, believers of all the ages (12 tribes from Israel plus 12 apostles), or representatives of the church.

Some clues are given in John's vision. First, their white clothes could be angelic or redeemed men. In 7:14 and 22:14 men are said to have washed their robes. Second, the word translated "crowns" is not diadem, a crown of a ruler with governmental authority bestowed on them, but stephanos, the crown of the victor which was awarded the winner in the Greek games. These "elders" have won a contest and received the award. Third, the "thrones" have already been part of the eschatological rewards promised to the churches by Jesus in 2:10, 3:5 and 3:21.

In addition these elders use golden incense bowls in 5:8 as priests representing the saints. And, in 7:11 the elders are clearly distinguished as a separate group than the angelic hosts.

At this point it would appear that these elders are human believers who have already gone through judgment and have received their reward and are serving as representative of the believers who are still on earth and those who are worshipping in heaven.

"Leave sadness to those in the world. We who work for God shold be lighthearted."
- Leonard of Port Maurice

In 298 Christians were forbidden to serve in the Roman military.
In 303 Diocletian razed churches, burned Scripture.
In 305 Galerius tried to end Christianity by
killing believers.
In 312 Roman General Constantine, a pagan
Sun worshiper, marched towards Rome to confront Maxentius in a battle for the imperial throne.

Later Eusebius, the church historian, would be told by Constantine that upon his approach to battle he saw a cross of light in the sky
and an inscription,
“In this conquer.”
Later Christ appeared to Constantine in a dream and told him to mark the soldier’s shields with the first two Greek letters of “Christ”
- the chi (X) and rho (P). Constantine obeyed and
won the battle.

In 313 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which granted religious freedom in the empire and ended the persecution of Christians.