The reference to white garments recalls the promise mentioned in Revelation 3:4. Because of sin, people are defiled before God (Zechariah 3:3). But the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ washes sin away so that dirty clothes may be replaced with the whiteness of purity (Zechariah 3:4). These elders, saints of previous generations promoted to glory, may receive their place in God’s presence because of the atoning work of the Saviour. Their white garments are God’s gifts of grace.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.