Revelation 4

The Throne in Heaven

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^a in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^b said, “Come up here,^c and I will show you what must take place after this.”^d At once I was in the Spirit,^e and there before me was a throne in heaven^f with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^g and ruby.^h A rainbowⁱ that shone like an emerald^j encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.^k They were dressed in white^l and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.^m Before the throne, seven lampsⁿ were blazing. These are the seven spirits^o of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^p clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^q and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^r 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.^s Each of the four living creatures^t had six wings^u and was covered with eyes all around,^v even under its wings. Day and night^w they never stop saying:

“ ‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’^x

who was, and is, and is to come.”^y

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne^z and who lives for ever and ever,^a the twenty-four elders^b fall down before him^c who sits on the throne^d and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,^e

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”^f