>I was reading the Book of Revelation about the four and twenty elders. I was
>wondering if someone could tell me:
>Where did they come from?(e.g. where they created at the outset of creation
>or are they redeemed believers?)

I've been accumulating info on Temple services during the time of Jesus and 
have found the following to be very interesting.

The priests and Levites were divided into 24 courses (see 1 Chron 24:1-19) 
with one course always on service in the Temple. The rest of Israel was also 
represented by 24 courses of 'stationary men.' Each course had its 
head/chief/elder (24 elders). Each course served individually for one week 
at a time from Sabbath to Sabbath and all together during the three great 
festivals of the year.

In the Temple was a special chamber where the heads of the ministering 
courses slept and there was a special receptacle under the pavement where 
the keys to the Temple were hung--they were the keepers of the keys to the 
Temple.

Early on Friday afternoon, the new course of priests, of Levites, and of 
stationary men arrived in Jerusalem and went to the Temple (the old course 
and new course overlapped in their duties). There were 3 separate blasts of 
the trumpets to tell the people that the Sabbath was coming and that it had 
begun. The first blast was around 3 (the ninth hour) when all work was 
supposed to stop, the Sabbath lamp lit and festive clothes put on. The 
second blast indicated the Sabbath had actually begun and the old course 
handed over the keys and the vessels and whatever else they were in charge 
of over to the new course (they still weren't finished for the week, though). 
Then the new course drew lots among themselves to see who did what for that 
day and the rest of the week. The trumpets were sounded again when special 
Psalms were sung (I don't know if this is the last of the three blasts 
previously mentioned or if there was something more significant regarding 
that last trumpet blast).

The 24 courses of stationary men corresponded to 24 districts. In the 
capital of each district assembled those who were to go up with the 
firstfruits to the Temple. It was a joyous procession where everyone 
sang 'Songs of Ascent.' When they arrived at the Temple, they would place 
their baskets on the side of the altar and cast themselves on their faces 
in worship.

I think the parallels between the Temple services and the imagery of the 
book of Revelation are astounding and have typed Alfred Edersheim's "The 
Temple: Its Ministry and Services as They Were at the Time of Jesus" onto 
my web site for anyone who is interested in a more indepth study.