The Throne Room of Heaven

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet(A) said, “Come up here,(B) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(C)

Immediately I was in the Spirit,(D) and there was a throne in heaven(E) and someone was seated on it. The one seated[a] there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone.(F) A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.(G)

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders(H) dressed in white clothes,(I) with golden crowns on their heads.(J)

Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne.(K) Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.(L) Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.(M)

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.(N) Each of the four living creatures had six wings;(O) they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night(P) they never stop,[b] saying,

Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.(Q)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,(R) 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne(S) and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

11 Our Lord and God,[c]
you are worthy(T) to receive
glory and honor and power,(U)
because you have created all things,(V)
and by your will
they exist and were created.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:3 Other mss omit The one seated
  2. 4:8 Or rest
  3. 4:11 Some mss add the Holy One; other mss read Lord

Scene in Heaven

After (A)these things I looked, and behold, (B)a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, (C)like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “(D)Come up here, and I will (E)show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was (F)in the [a]Spirit; and behold, (G)a throne was standing in heaven, and (H)someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a (I)jasper stone and a (J)sardius in appearance; and there was a [b](K)rainbow around the throne, like an (L)emerald in appearance. (M)Around the throne were (N)twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw (O)twenty-four elders (P)sitting, clothed in (Q)white garments, and (R)golden crowns on their heads.

The Throne and Worship of the Creator

Out from the throne *came (S)flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were (T)seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are [c](U)the seven spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a (V)sea of glass, like crystal; and in the [d]center and (W)around the throne, (X)four living creatures (Y)full of eyes in front and behind. (Z)The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the (AA)four living creatures, each one of them having (AB)six wings, are (AC)full of eyes around and within; and (AD)day and night [e]they do not cease to say,

(AE)Holy, holy, holy is the (AF)Lord God, the Almighty, (AG)who was and who is and who [f]is to come.”

And when the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who (AH)sits on the throne, to (AI)Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the (AJ)twenty-four elders will (AK)fall down before Him who (AL)sits on the throne, and they will worship (AM)Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their (AN)crowns before the throne, saying,

11 (AO)Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You (AP)created all things, and because of Your will they [g]existed, and were created.”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:2 Or spirit
  2. Revelation 4:3 Or halo
  3. Revelation 4:5 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  4. Revelation 4:6 Lit middle of the throne and around
  5. Revelation 4:8 Lit they have no rest, saying,
  6. Revelation 4:8 Or is coming
  7. Revelation 4:11 Lit were