The Throne Room of Heaven^(A)

4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing ^(B)open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a ^(C)trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

² Immediately ^(D)I was in the Spirit; and behold, ^(E)a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. ^3 [a]And He who sat there was ^(F)like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; ^(G)and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. ^4 (H)Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, ^(I)clothed in white ^[b]robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ And from the throne proceeded ^(J)lightnings, ^[c]thunderings, and voices. ^(K)Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are ^(L)the^[d] seven Spirits of God.

⁶ Before the throne there ^[e]was ^(M)a sea of glass, like crystal. ^(N)And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ^7 (O)The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ The four living creatures, each having ^(P)six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, ^(T)who lives forever and ever, ^10 (U)the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

^7 (A)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give ^(B)to eat from ^(C)the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Vision of Paradise

12 It is ^[a]doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to ^(A)visions and ^(B)revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man ^(C)in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one ^(D)was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ how he was caught up into ^(E)Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. ⁵ Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not ^(F)boast, except in my infirmities. ⁶ For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in ^(A)Paradise.”

^26 (A)And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, ^(B)in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above ^(C)it. ²⁷ Also from the appearance of His waist and upward ^(D)I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. ^28 (E)Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. ^(F)This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Ezekiel Sent to Rebellious Israel

So when I saw it, ^(G)I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.

²² And the ^(A)glory which You gave Me I have given them, ^(B)that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; ^(C)that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

^24 (D)“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; ^(E)for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let ^(A)not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many ^[a]mansions; if it were not so, ^[b]I would have told you. ^(B)I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, ^(C)I will come again and receive you to Myself; that ^(D)where I am, there you may be also.

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am ^(A)the way, ^(B)the truth, and ^(C)the life. ^(D)No one comes to the Father ^(E)except through Me.