Revelation 4 -- John has written the things that were and the things that are in the form of letters to seven existing churches around 90-95AD. There are several ways of looking at those seven churches including a way of seeing church history as well as seeing each of these churches in every local church even today. Suddenly, John writes, "after this" meaning after these churches, therefore future from when John wrote Revelation. He suddenly finds his spirit in Heaven while his body is left on Patmos. Compare the wording in verse 1 to wording on the Rapture in I Thess 4:16-17. Sure seems more than coincidence, doesn't it! Go and read/study Daniel and notice he had a vision of the 24 thrones mentioned in Revelation with one major difference, those thrones Daniel saw were being set up with no one sitting on them and in Revelation we see 24 elders wearing crowns. In other words, these elders show they had been judged and rewarded with crowns in Revelation but they were not even present in Daniels vision. There is so much more in this teaching, enjoy and learn from the Word of God!