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Revelation 4-6
New King James Version

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:

(Q)“Holy,[f] holy, holy,
(R)Lord God Almighty,
(S)Who was and is and is to come!”

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:

11 “You(V) are worthy, [g]O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
(W)For You created all things,
And by (X)Your will they [h]exist and were created.”

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (Y)a scroll written inside and on the back, (Z)sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, (AA)“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [i]and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, (AB)the Lion of the tribe of (AC)Judah, (AD)the Root of David, has (AE)prevailed to open the scroll (AF)and [j]to loose its seven seals.”

6 And I looked, [k]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood (AG)a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and (AH)seven eyes, which are (AI)the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand (AJ)of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy Is the Lamb

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, (AK)the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the (AL)prayers of the saints. 9 And (AM)they sang a new song, saying:

(AN)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And (AO)have redeemed us to God (AP)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made [l]us (AQ)kings[m] and (AR)priests to our God;
And [n]we shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And (AS)every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

(AT)“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him (AU)who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and [o]ever!”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [p]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [q]Him who lives forever and ever.

First Seal: The Conqueror

6 Now (AV)I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [r]seals; and I heard (AW)one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 And I looked, and behold, (AX)a white horse. (AY)He who sat on it had a bow; (AZ)and a crown was given to him, and he went out (BA)conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

3 When He opened the second seal, (BB)I heard the second living creature saying, “Come [s]and see.” 4 (BC)Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to (BD)take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

5 When He opened the third seal, (BE)I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, (BF)a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of (BG)scales[t] in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A [u]quart of wheat for a [v]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and (BH)do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

7 When He opened the fourth seal, (BI)I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 (BJ)So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And [w]power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, (BK)to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, (BL)and by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under (BM)the altar (BN)the souls of those who had been slain (BO)for the word of God and for (BP)the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, (BQ)“How long, O Lord, (BR)holy and true, (BS)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a (BT)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them (BU)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, (BV)and [x]behold, there was a great earthquake; and (BW)the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the [y]moon became like blood. 13 (BX)And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 (BY)Then the sky [z]receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and (BZ)every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the (CA)kings of the earth, the great men, [aa]the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, (CB)hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 (CC)and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who (CD)sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, (CE)and who is able to stand?”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:3 M omits And He who sat there was, making the following a description of the throne.
  2. Revelation 4:4 NU, M robes, with crowns
  3. Revelation 4:5 NU, M voices, and thunderings.
  4. Revelation 4:5 M omits the
  5. Revelation 4:6 NU, M add something like
  6. Revelation 4:8 M has holy nine times.
  7. Revelation 4:11 NU, M our Lord and God
  8. Revelation 4:11 NU, M existed
  9. Revelation 5:4 NU, M omit and read
  10. Revelation 5:5 NU, M omit to loose
  11. Revelation 5:6 NU, M I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing
  12. Revelation 5:10 NU, M them
  13. Revelation 5:10 NU a kingdom
  14. Revelation 5:10 NU, M they
  15. Revelation 5:13 M adds Amen
  16. Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit twenty-four
  17. Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit Him who lives forever and ever
  18. Revelation 6:1 NU, M seven seals
  19. Revelation 6:3 NU, M omit and see
  20. Revelation 6:5 balances
  21. Revelation 6:6 Gr. choinix, about 1 quart
  22. Revelation 6:6 About 1 day’s wage for a worker
  23. Revelation 6:8 authority
  24. Revelation 6:12 NU, M omit behold
  25. Revelation 6:12 NU, M whole moon
  26. Revelation 6:14 Or split apart
  27. Revelation 6:15 NU, M the commanders, the rich men,
Listen to Revelation 4-6
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Revelation 4-6
New International Version

The Throne in Heaven

4 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) 2 At once I was in the Spirit,(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven(F) with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(G) and ruby.(H) A rainbow(I) that shone like an emerald(J) encircled the throne. 4 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. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(M) In front of the throne, seven lamps(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](O) of God. 6 Also in front of 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) 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.(S) 8 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,’[b](X)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(Y)

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(Z) and who lives for ever and ever,(AA) 10 the twenty-four elders(AB) fall down before him(AC) who sits on the throne(AD) 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,(AE)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(AF)

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(AG) a scroll with writing on both sides(AH) and sealed(AI) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel(AJ) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(AK) of the tribe of Judah,(AL) the Root of David,(AM) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw a Lamb,(AN) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(AO) and the elders.(AP) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(AQ) which are the seven spirits[c](AR) of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(AS) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(AT) and the twenty-four elders(AU) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(AV) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(AW) of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:(AX)

“You are worthy(AY) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(AZ) you purchased(BA) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(BB)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(BC) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[d] on the earth.”(BD)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(BE) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(BF) and the elders.(BG) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(BH) who was slain,(BI)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(BJ)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(BK) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(BL) and to the Lamb(BM)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(BN)

14 The four living creatures(BO) said, “Amen,”(BP) and the elders(BQ) fell down and worshiped.(BR)

The Seals

6 I watched as the Lamb(BS) opened the first of the seven seals.(BT) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(BU) say in a voice like thunder,(BV) “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(BW) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(BX) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(BY)

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(BZ) say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(CA) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(CB) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(CC) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(CD) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(CE) saying, “Two pounds[e] of wheat for a day’s wages,[f] and six pounds[g] of barley for a day’s wages,[h](CF) and do not damage(CG) the oil and the wine!”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(CH) say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(CI) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(CJ) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(CK)

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(CL) the altar(CM) the souls of those who had been slain(CN) because of the word of God(CO) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(CP) Sovereign Lord,(CQ) holy and true,(CR) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(CS) and avenge our blood?”(CT) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(CU) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[i] were killed just as they had been.(CV)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(CW) The sun turned black(CX) like sackcloth(CY) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(CZ) as figs drop from a fig tree(DA) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(DB) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(DC)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(DD) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(DE) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(DF) and hide us[j] from the face of him who sits on the throne(DG) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(DH) of their[k] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(DI)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
  3. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  4. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
  5. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  6. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  7. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  8. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  9. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  10. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  11. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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