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 ^bsaid, “Come up here, ^cand I will show you what must take place after this.” ^d

²Immediately I was in the Spirit, ^efand a throne was set there in heaven. ^gOne was seated on the throne, ³and the One seated ^hlooked like jasper ⁱand carnelian ^jstone. ^kA rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. ^l4Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders ^mdressed in white clothes, ⁿwith gold crowns on their heads. ^o5Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. ^pSeven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. ^q6Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. ^rFour living creatures ^scovered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle ^tand around the throne. ⁷The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like a calf; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ^u8Each of the four living creatures had six wings; ^vthey were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night ^wthey never stop, ^xsaying:

Holy, holy, holy, ^y

Lord God, the Almighty,

who was, who is, and who is coming. ^z

⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, ^a10the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, ^bworship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:

¹¹Our Lord and God, ^c

You are worthy ^dto receive

glory and honor and power, ^e

because You have created all things, ^f

and because of 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 the inside and on the back, ^gsealed with seven seals. ^h2I also saw a mighty angel ⁱproclaiming in 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. ⁴And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open ^jthe scroll or even to look in it.

⁵Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, ^kthe Root of David, ^lhas been victorious ^mso that He may open the scroll and ⁿits seven seals.” ⁶Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb ^ostanding between ^pthe throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God ^qsent into all the earth. ⁷He came and took the scroll ^rout 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 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp ^sand gold bowls ^tfilled with incense, ^uwhich 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 redeemed ^wpeople ^x

for God by Your blood

from every tribe and language

and people and nation. ^y

¹⁰You made them a kingdom ^z

and priests to our God, ^a

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. ^b12They said with a loud voice:

The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy

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, ^con the sea, and everything in them say: ^d

Blessing and honor and glory and dominion

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.