He was bidden by a voice from heaven, saying, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne ... 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." (Rev. 4:1, 2, 4).
Seeing the saints will not be on earth at the time of the Great Tribulation, where were they? We would naturally expect them to be in heaven, and that is just where John saw them in vision, under the symbolism of four and twenty elders.
But say the Tribulationists, the four and twenty elders cannot set forth the Church, for how could they wear crowns, before the Lord should have His crown, as King of the Jews, and as the Son of Man over the Whole earth? The answer is very simple.
There are two words for crown in the Greek language from which our English Bible is translated. First, diadema, which signifies the kingly crown, from which we get our English word, diadem. Second, stephanos, signifying the reward or prize awarded to the successful athlete in the Olympic games, made of leaves of wild thyme, laurel, ivy or parsley. This latter had nothing remotely to do with reigning as a king.
The Apostle Paul could write, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [stephanos] of righteousness." (2 Tim. 4:7, 8).
James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, could write, "Blessed is he that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown [stephanos] of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12).
The Apostle Peter could write, "Feed the flock of Christ which is among you.... neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown [stephanos] of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Pet. 5: 2-4).
This last Scripture evidently is a contrast between the wreathen crowns placed upon the heads of the successful runners in the Olympic games, which would soon wither, and the crown (stephanos) of glory, which will never fade, thank God.
On the other hand we read of our Lord, "His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns [diadema]," (Rev. 19:12) for will He not be King of kings, and Lord of lords, supreme above all? He alone has title to wear these many diadems, and how infinitely worthy He is of them all.