Revelation 4–5

THE THRONE ROOM OF HEAVEN

4After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet^ai said, “Come up here,^aj and I will show you what must take place after this.”^ak

²Immediately I was in the Spirit,^al and there was a throne in heaven^am and someone was seated on it. ³The one seated^A there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone.^an A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.^ao

⁴Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders^ap dressed in white clothes,^aq with golden crowns on their heads.^ar

⁵Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne.^as Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.^{a 6}Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.^b

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. ⁷The 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.^{c 8}Each of the four living creatures had six wings;^d they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night^e they never stop,^B saying,

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God, the Almighty,

who was, who is, and who is to come.^f

⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,^{g 10}the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne^h and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

¹¹Our Lord and God,^C

you are worthyⁱ to receive

glory and honor and power,^j

because you have created all things,^k

and by your will

they exist and were created.

THE LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL

5Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals.^{l 2}I also saw a mighty angel^m proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. ⁴I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open^D the scroll or even to look in it. ⁵Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah,ⁿ the Root of David,^o has conquered^p so that he is able to open the scroll and^E its seven seals.”

⁶Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb^q standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God^r sent into all the earth. ⁷He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.

THE LAMB IS WORTHY

⁸When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^s and golden bowls^t filled with incense,^u which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song:^v

You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slaughtered,

and you purchased^A people^B

for God by your blood

from every tribe and language

and people and nation.^w

¹⁰You made them a kingdom^C

and priests to our God,^x

and they will reign on the earth.

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands.^{y 12}They said with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!

¹³I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth,^z on the sea, and everything in them say,^aa

Blessing and honor and glory and power

be to the one seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

¹⁴The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.