The Throne Room of Heaven

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet(A) said, “Come up here,(B) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(C)

Immediately I was in the Spirit,(D) and there was a throne in heaven(E) and someone was seated on it. The one seated[a] there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone.(F) A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.(G)

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders(H) dressed in white clothes,(I) with golden crowns on their heads.(J)

Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne.(K) Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.(L) Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.(M)

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.(N) Each of the four living creatures had six wings;(O) they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night(P) they never stop,[b] saying,

Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.(Q)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,(R) 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne(S) and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

11 Our Lord and God,[c]
you are worthy(T) to receive
glory and honor and power,(U)
because you have created all things,(V)
and by your will
they exist and were created.

Footnotes

  1. 4:3 Other mss omit The one seated
  2. 4:8 Or rest
  3. 4:11 Some mss add the Holy One; other mss read Lord

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.