This chapter describes the throne room up in heaven and the setting for the judgment to begin in heaven at the close of the 2300 days.  Daniel the prophet tells of this judgment to come, "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool; his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Daniel 7:9,10.

    When we get to chapter eleven of Revelation we will find from scripture that the judgment of the wicked take place at a later time.  In this judgment going on now, "all who have taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny.  Both the living and the dead are to be judged 'out of those things which are written in the book." Great Controversy 486.  Jesus will bring His reward with Him when He returns, (Revelation 22:12) so now heaven will be satisfied that the reward goes to the ones who pass this phase of the judgment.  The only fair way is to have a jury trial made up of our peers, people who walked on this earth, fell into sin, but were set free by the redeeming blood of Jesus, then taken to heaven to occupy those twenty four seats (a double jury).  The Bible explains that for us in the next chapter.