Revelation 4
Wycliffe Bible
4 After these things I saw, and lo! a door was opened in heaven. And the first voice that I heard, was as of a trumpet speaking with me, and said, Ascend thou up hither [And the first voice that I heard, was as of a trump speaking with me, saying, Ascend up hither], and I shall show to thee which things it behooveth to be done soon after these things.
2 And at once [And anon] I was in Spirit, and lo! a seat was set in heaven, and upon the seat one sitting [and on the seat one sitting].
3 And he that sat, was like [to] the sight of a stone jasper, and to sardine; and a rainbow was in [the] compass of the seat, like [to] the sight of emerald [like to the sight of smaragdus].
4 And in the compass of the seat were four and twenty small seats; and above the thrones four and twenty elder men sitting, covered about with white clothes [And in compass of the seat were four and twenty small seats; and upon the thrones four and twenty elders sitting, girded about with white clothes], and in the heads of them golden crowns.
5 And lightnings, and voices, and thunderings came out of the throne; and seven lamps burning before the throne, which be the seven spirits of God.
6 And before the seat as a sea of glass, like [to] crystal, and in the middle of the seat, and in the compass [and in compass] of the seat, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast like a lion; and the second beast like a calf; and the third beast having a face as of a man [and the third beast having a face as a man]; and the fourth beast like an eagle flying.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings; and all about [and in compass] and within they were full of eyes; and they had not rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God almighty, that was, and that is, and that is to coming [and that is to come].
9 And when those four beasts gave glory, and honour, and blessing to him that sat on the throne, that liveth into worlds of worlds,
10 the four and twenty elder men [the four and twenty elders] fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth into worlds of worlds. And they cast their crowns before the throne, and said [saying],
11 Thou, Lord our God, art worthy to take glory, and honour, and virtue; for thou madest of nought all things, and for thy will those were [and for thy will they were], and be made of nought.
Revelation 4
New Matthew Bible
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.
4 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. 2 And immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a seat was put in heaven, and one sat on the seat. 3 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. 4 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.
5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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!
9 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.
Revelation 4
1599 Geneva Bible
4 1 Another vision containing the glory of God’s Majesty: 3 which is magnified of the four beasts, 10 and the four and twenty Elders.
1 After [a]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 hither, and I will show thee things which must be done hereafter.
2 And [b]immediately I was ravished [c]in the spirit, [d]and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat upon the throne.
3 [e]And he that sat, was to look upon, like unto a Jasper stone, and a sardine, and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.
4 [f]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 had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 [g]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.
6 [h]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.
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 the [i]four beasts had each one of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they ceased not [j]day nor night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Which was, and which is, and which is to come.
9 And when those beasts [k]gave glory, and honor, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, which liveth forever and ever,
10 [l]The four and twenty Elders fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for evermore, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 [m]Thou art (A)worthy, O Lord, [n]to receive glory, and honor, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy will’s sake they are, and have been created.
Footnotes
- Revelation 4:1 Hereafter followeth the second part of this book, altogether prophetical, foretelling those things which were to come, as was said before, Rev. 1:19. This is divided into two histories: one common unto the whole world, unto Chapter 9: and another singular of the Church of God, thence unto chapter 22. And these histories are said to be described in several books, Rev. 5:1 and 10:2. Now this verse is as it were a passage from the former part unto this second: where it is said, that the heaven was opened, that is, that heavenly things were unlocked, and that a voice as of a trumpet sounded in heaven to stir up the Apostle, and call him to the understanding of things to come. The first history hath two parts: one the causes of things done, and of this whole Revelation, in that and the next chapter. Another of the acts done, in the next 4 chapters. The principal causes according to the distinction of persons in the vanity of divine essence, and according to the economy or dispensation thereof, are two. One the beginning, which none can approach unto, that is, God the Father, of whom is spoken in this chapter. The other, the Son, who is the mean cause, easy to be approached unto us, in respect that he is God and man in one person: of whom, Rev. 5.
- Revelation 4:2 The manner of revelation, as before, 1:10.
- Revelation 4:2 See Rev. 1:12.
- Revelation 4:2 A description of God the Father, and of his glory in the heavens, framed unto the manner of men, by his office, nature, company, attending, effect, instruments and events that follow afterwards. In this verse, he is presented in office a judge, as Abraham said, Gen. 18, which is declared by his throne, as an ensign of judgment, and his sitting thereupon.
- Revelation 4:3 By his nature, in that he is the Father, most glorious in his own person, and with his glory overshining all other things.
- Revelation 4:4 By the company attending about him in that, as that most high Judge, he is accompanied with the most honorable attendance of Prophets and Apostles, both of the old and new Church, whom Christ hath made to be Priests and Kings, Rev. 1:6 and 5:10.
- Revelation 4:5 By effects, in that most mightily he speaketh all things by his voice and word, as Ps. 29:3, and with the light of his spirit and providence peruseth and passes through all.
- Revelation 4:6 By instruments used, in that he both hath a most ready treasury, and as it were a workhouse excellently furnished with all things, unto the executing of his will, which things flow from his commandment, as is repeated, Rev.15:2. And hath also the Angels most ready administers of his counsels and pleasure unto all parts of the world, continually watching (in this verse) working by reason otherwise than the instruments, without life last mentioned, courageous as lions, mighty as bulls, wise as men, swift as eagles, verse 7, most apt unto all purposes, as furnished with wings on every part, most piercing of sight, and finally pure and perfect Spirits, always in continual motion, verse 8.
- Revelation 4:8 Every beast had six wings.
- Revelation 4:8 By events, in that for all the causes before mentioned God is glorified both of Angels, as holy, Judge, omnipotent, eternal and immutable, verse 8, and also after their example he is glorified of holy men (verse 9) in sign and in speech, verses 10, 11.
- Revelation 4:9 God is said to have glory, honor, kingdom, and such like given unto him, when we godly and reverently set forth that which is properly and only his.
- Revelation 4:10 Three signs of divine honor given unto God, prostration or falling down, adoration and casting their crowns before God, in which the godly, though made kings by Christ, do willingly empty themselves of all glory, moved with a religious respect for the majesty of God.
- Revelation 4:11 The sum of their speech: that all glory must be given unto God: the reason, because he is the eternal beginning of all things, from whose only will they have their being and are governed: and finally in all respects are that which they are.
- Revelation 4:11 That is, that thou shouldest challenge the same to thyself alone. But as for us, we are unworthy, that even by thy goodness we should be made partakers of this glory. And hitherto hath been handled the principal cause unapproachable, which is God.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
