Revelation 4
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
A Voice Says, Come Up To Heaven And See Things Which Must Take Place After These Things
4 After these things I saw, and behold— there was an opened door in heaven, and the first voice which I heard speaking with me like [the sound] of a trumpet saying, “Come-up here and I will show you the things which must take-place after these things”. 2 Immediately I came-to-be in the Spirit[a].
Vision 1: The Scroll With Seven Seals. The Heavenly Scene
And behold— a throne was setting there in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And the One sitting was resembling[b] a jasper stone and a carnelian in appearance. And a rainbow[c] was around the throne resembling an emerald in appearance. 4 And around the throne I saw twenty four thrones. And on the thrones I saw twenty four elders sitting, having been clothed in white garments, and golden crowns[d] on their heads. 5 And lightnings[e] and voices[f] and thunders[g] are coming-out from the throne. And seven torches[h] of fire are burning before the throne (which are the seven[i] Spirits of God). 6 And before the throne is something like a sea of-glass[j], resembling crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne are four living-creatures[k] being full of eyes on the front and on the back. 7 And the first living-creature is resembling a lion. And the second living-creature is resembling a calf. And the third living-creature is having the face like of a man[l]. And the fourth living-creature is resembling a flying eagle. 8 And the four living-creatures, each one of them having six wings apiece, are full of eyes around and inside[m]. And they do not have a rest[n] by day and by night, saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, the One Who was and Who is and Who is coming”. 9 And whenever the living-creatures will give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne, to the One living forever and ever, 10 the twenty four elders will fall before the One sitting on the throne, and will give-worship to the One living forever and ever, and will cast[o] their crowns before the throne, saying 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because You created all things. And they existed and were created because-of Your will”.
Footnotes
- Revelation 4:2 See 1:10.
- Revelation 4:3 That is, in color.
- Revelation 4:3 Or, halo.
- Revelation 4:4 Or, wreaths. That is, victor’s-crowns.
- Revelation 4:5 That is, bolts or flashes of lightning.
- Revelation 4:5 Or, sounds.
- Revelation 4:5 That is, crashes or peals of thunder.
- Revelation 4:5 Or, lamps.
- Revelation 4:5 See 1:4.
- Revelation 4:6 That is, made of glass.
- Revelation 4:6 Or, living-beings, living-ones.
- Revelation 4:7 Or, human.
- Revelation 4:8 That is, under their wings.
- Revelation 4:8 Or, cessation. That is, they say this both daytime and nighttime, with no stopping for sleep (not, over and over without any pause).
- Revelation 4:10 Or, throw, put. They repeatedly cast their crowns, v 9.
Revelation 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
III. God and the Lamb in Heaven
Chapter 4
Vision of Heavenly Worship.[a] 1 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.” 2 [c]At once I was caught up in spirit.(A) A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat 3 one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. 4 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) 5 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. 6 (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. 7 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. 8 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)
9 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
- 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).
- 4:1 The ancients viewed heaven as a solid vault, entered by way of actual doors.
- 4:2–8 Much of the imagery here is taken from Ez 1 and 10.
- 4:4 Twenty-four elders: these represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles; cf. Rev 21:12–14.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 4:8 Six wings: like the seraphim of Is 6:2.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.