4After this I looked, and there in front of me was a door standing open in heaven. I heard the voice I had heard before. It sounded like a trumpet. The voice said, “Come up here. I will show you what must happen after this.”

²At once the Holy Spirit took complete control of me. There in front of me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³The One who sat there shone like jewels. Around the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.

⁴Twenty-four other thrones surrounded that throne. Twenty-four elders were sitting on them. The elders were dressed in white. They had gold crowns on their heads.

⁵From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and thunder. Seven lamps were blazing in front of the throne. These stand for the seven spirits of God. ⁶There was something that looked like a sea of glass in front of the throne. It was as clear as crystal.

In the inner circle, around the throne, were four living creatures. They were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷The first creature looked like a lion. The second looked like an ox. The third had a man’s face. The fourth looked like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living creatures had six wings. Each creature was covered all over with eyes, even under the wings. Day and night, they never stop saying,

“Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God who rules over all.

He was, and he is, and he will come.”

⁹The living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to the One who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever. ¹⁰At the same time, the 24 elders fall down and worship the One who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns in front of the throne. They say,

¹¹“You are worthy, our Lord and God!

You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power.

You are worthy because you created all things.

They were created and they exist.

That is the way you planned it.”

The Scroll and the Lamb

5Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides. It was sealed with seven seals.

²I saw a mighty angel calling out in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll. No one could even look inside it.

⁴I cried and cried because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

⁵Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not cry! The Lion of the tribe of Judah has won the battle. He is the Root of David. He is able to break the seven seals and open the scroll.”

⁶Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if he had been put to death. He stood in the center of the area around the throne. The Lamb was surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes. The eyes stand for the seven spirits of God, which are sent out into all the earth.

⁷The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. ⁸Then the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one had a harp. They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which stand for the prayers of God’s people.

⁹Here is the new song they sang.

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and break open its seals.

You are worthy because you were put to death.

With your blood you bought people for God.

They come from every tribe, language, people and nation.

¹⁰You have made them members of a royal family.

You have made them priests to serve our God.

They will rule on the earth.”

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of millions and millions of angels. They surrounded the throne. They surrounded the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they sang,

“The Lamb, who was put to death, is worthy!

He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength!

He is worthy to receive honor and glory and praise!”

¹³All creatures in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and all that is in them, were singing. I heard them say,

“May praise and honor for ever and ever

be given to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!

Give them glory and power

for ever and ever!”

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

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