24 Elders and Pre; Mid; Post?

Just wanted you to know that from what I have read and what I see in the text, what you decide about Pre, Mid, or Post relative to the Tribulation will determine who the 24 elders must at least represent. If you believe, as I do and as the church teaches, that the church will be raptured before the tribulation then who are the 24 elders, or who do they represent. Lets consider who is in this heavenly vision of the throne-room of heaven. We have God the Father seated on the throng, God the Son (the lamb), angels, and the elders. Who must they be and why would this say Pretrib.?