The 24 elders are mentioned twice in ch 7.......among a number of other groups. This chapter alone quashes a lot of erroneous teachings.
7:11
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
7:13
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
7:11
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
7:13
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
Here we also see this large group. They are the raptured church. But chapter 7 is an intermission after the 6th seal which started (will start) the Day of the Lord. Yet is is before the 7th seal that will start the 70th week and the trumpets, each which will come with the wrath of God. Why the intermission to show these two events?
It is simple: before God will allow the Trumpets to begin God's wrath for the 70th week God MUST see two events accomplished:
1: the 144,000 must be sealed
2. The church must be seen safe in heaven.