El trono en el cielo

Después de esto miré y allí en el cielo había una puerta abierta. Y la voz que me había hablado antes con sonido como de trompeta me dijo: «Sube acá: voy a mostrarte lo que tiene que suceder después de esto». Al instante vino sobre mí el Espíritu y vi un trono en el cielo y a alguien sentado en el trono. El que estaba sentado tenía un aspecto semejante a una piedra de jaspe y de cornalina. Alrededor del trono había un arcoíris que se asemejaba a una esmeralda. Rodeaban al trono otros veinticuatro tronos en los que estaban sentados veinticuatro ancianos vestidos de blanco y con una corona de oro en la cabeza. Del trono salían relámpagos, estruendos y truenos. Delante del trono ardían siete antorchas de fuego, que son los siete espíritus[a] de Dios, y había algo parecido a un mar de vidrio, como de cristal transparente.

En el centro, alrededor del trono, había cuatro seres vivientes cubiertos de ojos por delante y por detrás. El primero de los seres vivientes era semejante a un león; el segundo, a un becerro; el tercero tenía rostro como de hombre; el cuarto era semejante a un águila en vuelo. Cada uno de ellos tenía seis alas y estaba cubierto de ojos, por encima y por debajo de las alas. De día y de noche repetían sin cesar:

«Santo, santo, santo
es el Señor Dios Todopoderoso,
el que era y que es y que ha de venir».

Cada vez que estos seres vivientes daban gloria, honra y acción de gracias al que estaba sentado en el trono, al que vive por los siglos de los siglos, 10 los veinticuatro ancianos se postraban ante él y adoraban al que vive por los siglos de los siglos. Y deponían sus coronas delante del trono exclamando:

11 «Digno eres, Señor y Dios nuestro,
    de recibir la gloria, la honra y el poder,
porque tú creaste todas las cosas;
    por tu voluntad existen
    y fueron creadas».

Footnotes

  1. 4:5 O Espíritu séptuple, frase que simboliza al Espíritu de Dios en sus múltiples manifestaciones.

III. God and the Lamb in Heaven

Chapter 4

Vision of Heavenly Worship.[a] After this I had a vision of an open door[b] to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.” [c]At once I was caught up in spirit.(A) A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders[d] sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.(B) From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.[e] Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. (C)In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal.[f]

In the center and around the throne, there were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a human being, and the fourth looked like an eagle[g] in flight. The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,[h] were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
    who was, and who is, and who is to come.”(D)

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:

11 “Worthy are you, Lord our God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
    because of your will they came to be and were created.”(E)

Footnotes

  1. 4:1–11 The seer now describes a vision of the heavenly court in worship of God enthroned. He reverently avoids naming or describing God but pictures twenty-four elders in priestly and regal attire (Rev 4:4) and God’s throne and its surroundings made of precious gems and other symbols that traditionally express the majesty of God (Rev 4:5–6). Universal creation is represented by the four living creatures (Rev 4:6–7). Along with the twenty-four elders, they praise God unceasingly in humble adoration (Rev 4:8–11).
  2. 4:1 The ancients viewed heaven as a solid vault, entered by way of actual doors.
  3. 4:2–8 Much of the imagery here is taken from Ez 1 and 10.
  4. 4:4 Twenty-four elders: these represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles; cf. Rev 21:12–14.
  5. 4:5 Flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder: as in other descriptions of God’s appearance or activity; cf. Rev 8:5; 11:19; 16:18; Ex 19:16; Ez 1:4, 13. The seven spirits of God: the seven “angels of the presence” as in Rev 8:2 and Tb 12:15.
  6. 4:6 A sea of glass like crystal: an image adapted from Ez 1:22–26. Four living creatures: these are symbols taken from Ez 1:5–21; they are identified as cherubim in Ez 10:20. Covered with eyes: these suggest God’s knowledge and concern.
  7. 4:7 Lion…calf…human being…eagle: these symbolize, respectively, what is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation. Calf: traditionally translated “ox,” the Greek word refers to a heifer or young bull. Since the second century, these four creatures have been used as symbols of the evangelists Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John, respectively.
  8. 4:8 Six wings: like the seraphim of Is 6:2.

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