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He sees heaven open, and the seat, and one sitting upon it, and 24 seats around it with 24 elders sitting upon them, and four creatures praising God day and night.

After this I looked, and behold, a door was open in heaven, and the first voice that I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up here, and I will show you things that must be fulfilled hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a seat was put in heaven, and one sat on the seat. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardine stone. And there was a rainbow about the seat, in sight like an emerald. And around the seat were 24 seats, and upon the seats 24 elders sitting clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the seat proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the seat, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the seat there was a sea of glass like a crystal, and in the midst of the seat, and round about the seat, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four creatures had each one of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within. And they had no rest day or night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

And when those creatures gave glory and honour and thanks to him who sat on the seat, who lives forever and ever, 10 the 24 elders fell down before him who sat on the throne and worshipped him who lives forever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for you have created all things, and for your will’s sake they exist 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