Tronul din ceruri

După toate acestea, m-am uitat şi iată că în cer era o uşă deschisă. Glasul, pe care prima oară îl auzisem vorbindu-mi ca sunetul unei trâmbiţe, mi-a zis: „Urcă-te aici şi-ţi voi arăta ce trebuie să se întâmple după acestea!“ Imediat am fost în Duhul; şi iată că în cer era un tron, iar pe tron şedea Cineva. Cel Ce şedea pe tron era la înfăţişare asemenea unei pietre de jasp şi de sardiu, iar de jur împrejurul tronului era un curcubeu, asemenea smaraldului la înfăţişare. De jur împrejurul tronului erau douăzeci şi patru de tronuri, iar pe aceste tronuri şedeau douăzeci şi patru de bătrâni îmbrăcaţi în haine albe şi având pe cap coroane de aur. Din tron ieşeau fulgere, sunete[a] şi tunete. Înaintea tronului ardeau şapte lămpi de foc – care sunt cele şapte duhuri ale lui Dumnezeu – şi tot înaintea tronului era ceva ca o mare de sticlă, asemenea cristalului.

În mijloc, de jur împrejurul tronului,[b] erau patru fiinţe vii, pline de ochi în faţă şi în spate. Prima fiinţă vie era asemenea unui leu, a doua fiinţă vie era asemenea unui viţel, a treia fiinţă vie avea faţa ca a unui om, iar a patra fiinţă vie era asemenea unui vultur care zboară. Fiecare dintre cele patru fiinţe vii avea şase aripi şi era plină de ochi de jur împrejur şi pe dinăuntru. Zi şi noapte ele spuneau fără încetare:

„Sfânt, sfânt, sfânt
    este Domnul, Dumnezeul cel Atotputernic,
        Care era, Care este şi Care vine!“

Ori de câte ori fiinţele vii Îi dădeau slavă, onoare şi mulţumire Celui Ce şedea pe tron, Care este viu în vecii vecilor, 10 cei douăzeci şi patru de bătrâni cădeau înaintea Celui Ce şedea pe tron, I se închinau Celui Ce este viu în vecii vecilor şi îşi puneau coroanele înaintea tronului, zicând:

11 „Tu eşti vrednic, Domnul şi Dumnezeul nostru,
    să primeşti slava, onoarea şi puterea,
pentru că Tu le-ai creat pe toate
    şi prin voia Ta ele au existat şi au fost create!“

Footnotes

  1. Apocalipsa 4:5 Sau: voci
  2. Apocalipsa 4:6 Lit.: În mijlocul tronului şi de jur împrejurul tronului

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

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.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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 rainbow(I) 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) In front of the throne, seven lamps(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](O) of God. 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) 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,’[b](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,(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)

Footnotes

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