The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing openi in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpetj said, “Come up here,k and I will show you what must take place after this.”l 2 At once I was in the Spirit,m and there before me was a throne in heavenn with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jaspero and ruby.p A rainbowq that shone like an emeraldr encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.s They were dressed in whitet and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.u In front of the throne, seven lampsv were blazing. These are the seven spiritsa w of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,x clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,y and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.z 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.a 8 Each of the four living creaturesb had six wingsc and was covered with eyes all around,d even under its wings. Day and nighte they never stop saying:

“ ‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’b f

who was, and is, and is to come.”g

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throneh and who lives for ever and ever,i 10 the twenty-four eldersj fall down before himk who sits on the thronel and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,m

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”n