Revelation 4
International Children’s Bible
John Sees Heaven
4 After this I looked, and there before me was an open door in heaven. And I heard the same voice that spoke to me before. It was the voice that sounded like a trumpet. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 Then the Spirit took control of me. There before me was a throne in heaven. Someone was sitting on the throne. 3 The One who sat on the throne looked like precious stones, like jasper and carnelian. All around the throne was a rainbow the color of an emerald. 4 Around the throne there were 24 other thrones. There were 24 elders[a] sitting on the 24 thrones. The elders were dressed in white, and they had golden crowns on their heads. 5 Lightning flashes and noises of thunder came from the throne. Before the throne there were seven lamps burning. These lamps are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass. It was clear like crystal.
Around the throne, on each side, there were four living things. These living things had eyes all over them, in front and in back. 7 The first living thing was like a lion. The second was like a calf. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of these four living things had six wings. The living things were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God All-Powerful.
He was, he is, and he is coming.”
9 These living things give glory and honor and thanks to the One who sits on the throne. He is the One who lives forever and ever. And every time the living things do this, 10 the 24 elders bow down before the One who sits on the throne. The elders worship him who lives forever and ever. They put their crowns down before the throne and say:
11 “Our Lord and God! You are worthy
to receive glory and honor and power.
You made all things.
Everything existed and was made
because you wanted it.”
Footnotes
- 4:4 24 elders Elder means “older.” Here the elders probably represent God’s people.
Revelation 4
Revised Geneva Translation
4 After this, I looked. And behold, a door was open in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was, as it were, of a trumpet; talking with me, saying, “Come up here! And I will show you things which must be done hereafter.”
2 And immediately, I was ravished in the Spirit. And behold, a throne was set in Heaven. And One sat upon the throne.
3 And He Who sat looked like a jasper stone, and a sardius. And there was a rainbow around the throne, which looked like an emerald.
4 And around the throne were 24 seats. And upon the seats I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white raiment. And on their heads were crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne (which are the seven spirits of God).
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four beasts, full of eyes in front and behind.
7 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.
8 And each of the four beasts had six wings around him. And they were full of eyes within. And they ceased neither day nor night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Who was and Who is and Who is to come!”
9 And when those beasts gave glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sat on the throne, Who lives forever and ever,
10 the 24 elders fell down before Him Who sat on the throne and worshipped Him Who lives for evermore; and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power! For You have created all things! And for Your will’s sake they are and have been created!”
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
© 2019, 2024 by Five Talents Audio. All rights reserved.