From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(A) In front of the throne, seven lamps(B) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](C) of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(D) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(E) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(F) 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.(G) Each of the four living creatures(H) had six wings(I) and was covered with eyes all around,(J) even under its wings. Day and night(K) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[b](L)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3

The Throne and Worship of the Creator

Out from the throne *came (A)flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were (B)seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are [a](C)the seven spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a (D)sea of glass, like crystal; and in the [b]center and (E)around the throne, (F)four living creatures (G)full of eyes in front and behind. (H)The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the (I)four living creatures, each one of them having (J)six wings, are (K)full of eyes around and within; and (L)day and night [c]they do not cease to say,

(M)Holy, holy, holy is the (N)Lord God, the Almighty, (O)who was and who is and who [d]is to come.”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  2. Revelation 4:6 Lit middle of the throne and around
  3. Revelation 4:8 Lit they have no rest, saying,
  4. Revelation 4:8 Or is coming

The Throne and Worship of the Creator

From the throne came flashes of lightning and [rumbling] sounds and peals of thunder. Seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are [a]the seven Spirits of God;(A) and in front of the throne there was something like a sea or large expanse of glass, like [the clearest] crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living [b]creatures who were full of eyes in front and behind [seeing everything and knowing everything that is around them].(B) [c]The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf (ox), the third creature had the face of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.(C) And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying,

Holy, holy, holy [is the] Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], who was and who is and who is to come [the unchanging, eternal God].”(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 See note 1:4.
  2. Revelation 4:6 Some scholars identify these creatures as cherubim glorifying God and guarding the throne of heaven; others suggest the creatures represent God’s attributes (especially His omniscience and omnipresence).
  3. Revelation 4:7 Jewish tradition suggests that during the exodus the four standards of the tribal triads depicted these images: the triad led by Judah, the lion; the triad led by Reuben, the man; the triad led by Ephraim, the ox; the triad led by Dan, the eagle.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

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(A) Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne. (B)(C) Also in front of the throne was something that looked like a glass sea, clear as crystal.

Around the throne in the center were four living creatures covered front and back with eyes. The first creature was like a lion, the second one was like a bull, the third one had the face of a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. (D) Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and their bodies were covered with eyes. Day and night they never stopped singing,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord,
    the all-powerful God,
who was and is
    and is coming!”

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