The Throne Room of Heaven

4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing aopen in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a btrumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

2 Immediately cI was in the Spirit; and behold, da throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 1And He who sat there was elike a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; fand there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 gAround the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, hclothed in white 2robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded ilightnings, 3thunderings, and voices. jSeven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are kthe 4seven Spirits of God.

6 Before the throne there 5was la sea of glass, like crystal. mAnd in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 nThe first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having osix wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

p“Holy, 6holy, holy,

qLord God Almighty,

rWho was and is and is to come!”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, swho lives forever and ever, 10 tthe twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “You uare worthy, 7O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

vFor You created all things,

And by wYour will they 8exist and were created.”

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne aa scroll written inside and on the back, bsealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, c“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open 1and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, dthe Lion of the tribe of eJudah, fthe Root of David, has gprevailed to open the scroll hand 2to loose its seven seals.”

6 And I looked, 3and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood ia Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and jseven eyes, which are kthe seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand lof Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy is the Lamb

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, mthe four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the nprayers of the saints. 9 And othey sang a new song, saying:

p“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And qhave redeemed us to God rby Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

10 And have made 4us skings 5and tpriests to our God;

And 6we shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And uevery creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

v“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him wwho sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and 7ever!”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the 8twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped 9Him who lives forever and ever.

First Seal: The Conqueror

6 Now aI saw when the Lamb opened one of the 1seals; and I heard bone of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, ca white horse. dHe who sat on it had a bow; eand a crown was given to him, and he went out fconquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

3 When He opened the second seal, gI heard the second living creature saying, “Come 2and see.” 4 hAnother horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to itake peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

5 When He opened the third seal, jI heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, ka black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of lscales 3in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A 4quart of wheat for a 5denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and mdo not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

7 When He opened the fourth seal, nI heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 oSo I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And 6power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, pto kill with sword, with hunger, with death, qand by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under rthe altar sthe souls of those who had been slain tfor the word of God and for uthe testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, v“How long, O Lord, wholy and true, xuntil You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a ywhite robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them zthat they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, aand 7behold, there was a great earthquake; and bthe sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the 8moon became like blood. 13 cAnd the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 dThen the sky 9receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and eevery mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the fkings of the earth, the great men, 1the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, ghid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 hand said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who isits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, jand who is able to stand?”