The Throne Room of Heaven(A)

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing (B)open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a (C)trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

Immediately (D)I was in the Spirit; and behold, (E)a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. [a]And He who sat there was (F)like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; (G)and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. (H)Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, (I)clothed in white [b]robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded (J)lightnings, [c]thunderings, and voices. (K)Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are (L)the[d] seven Spirits of God.

Before the throne there [e]was (M)a sea of glass, like crystal. (N)And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. (O)The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having (P)six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

(Q)“Holy,[f] holy, holy,
(R)Lord God Almighty,
(S)Who was and is and is to come!”

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, (T)who lives forever and ever, 10 (U)the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “You(V) are worthy, [g]O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
(W)For You created all things,
And by (X)Your will they [h]exist and were created.”

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (Y)a scroll written inside and on the back, (Z)sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, (AA)“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [i]and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, (AB)the Lion of the tribe of (AC)Judah, (AD)the Root of David, has (AE)prevailed to open the scroll (AF)and [j]to loose its seven seals.”

And I looked, [k]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood (AG)a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and (AH)seven eyes, which are (AI)the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand (AJ)of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy Is the Lamb

Now when He had taken the scroll, (AK)the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the (AL)prayers of the saints. And (AM)they sang a new song, saying:

(AN)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And (AO)have redeemed us to God (AP)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made [l]us (AQ)kings[m] and (AR)priests to our God;
And [n]we shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And (AS)every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

(AT)“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him (AU)who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and [o]ever!”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [p]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [q]Him who lives forever and ever.

First Seal: The Conqueror

Now (AV)I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [r]seals; and I heard (AW)one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, (AX)a white horse. (AY)He who sat on it had a bow; (AZ)and a crown was given to him, and he went out (BA)conquering and to conquer.

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth

When He opened the second seal, (BB)I heard the second living creature saying, “Come [s]and see.” (BC)Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to (BD)take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth

When He opened the third seal, (BE)I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, (BF)a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of (BG)scales[t] in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A [u]quart of wheat for a [v]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and (BH)do not harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth

When He opened the fourth seal, (BI)I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” (BJ)So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And [w]power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, (BK)to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, (BL)and by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under (BM)the altar (BN)the souls of those who had been slain (BO)for the word of God and for (BP)the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, (BQ)“How long, O Lord, (BR)holy and true, (BS)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a (BT)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them (BU)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, (BV)and [x]behold, there was a great earthquake; and (BW)the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the [y]moon became like blood. 13 (BX)And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 (BY)Then the sky [z]receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and (BZ)every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the (CA)kings of the earth, the great men, [aa]the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, (CB)hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 (CC)and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who (CD)sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, (CE)and who is able to stand?”

The Sealed of Israel

After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, (CF)holding the four winds of the earth, (CG)that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, (CH)“Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God (CI)on their foreheads.” (CJ)And I heard the number of those who were sealed. (CK)One hundred and forty-four thousand (CL)of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were [ab]sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

After these things I looked, and behold, (CM)a great multitude which no one could number, (CN)of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, (CO)clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, (CP)“Salvation belongs to our God (CQ)who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 (CR)All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and (CS)worshiped God, 12 (CT)saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in (CU)white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, [ac]“Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, (CV)“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and (CW)washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will (CX)dwell among them. 16 (CY)They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; (CZ)the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne (DA)will shepherd them and lead them to [ad]living fountains of waters. (DB)And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Seventh Seal: Prelude to the Seven Trumpets

When(DC) He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (DD)And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, (DE)and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with (DF)the prayers of all the saints upon (DG)the golden altar which was before the throne. And (DH)the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And (DI)there were noises, thunderings, (DJ)lightnings, (DK)and an earthquake.

So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck

The first angel sounded: (DL)And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown (DM)to the [ae]earth. And a third (DN)of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck

Then the second angel sounded: (DO)And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, (DP)and a third of the sea (DQ)became blood. (DR)And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck

10 Then the third angel sounded: (DS)And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, (DT)and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 (DU)The name of the star is Wormwood. (DV)A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck

12 (DW)Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day [af]did not shine, and likewise the night.

13 And I looked, (DX)and I heard an [ag]angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, (DY)“Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:3 M omits And He who sat there was, making the following a description of the throne.
  2. Revelation 4:4 NU, M robes, with crowns
  3. Revelation 4:5 NU, M voices, and thunderings.
  4. Revelation 4:5 M omits the
  5. Revelation 4:6 NU, M add something like
  6. Revelation 4:8 M has holy nine times.
  7. Revelation 4:11 NU, M our Lord and God
  8. Revelation 4:11 NU, M existed
  9. Revelation 5:4 NU, M omit and read
  10. Revelation 5:5 NU, M omit to loose
  11. Revelation 5:6 NU, M I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing
  12. Revelation 5:10 NU, M them
  13. Revelation 5:10 NU a kingdom
  14. Revelation 5:10 NU, M they
  15. Revelation 5:13 M adds Amen
  16. Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit twenty-four
  17. Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit Him who lives forever and ever
  18. Revelation 6:1 NU, M seven seals
  19. Revelation 6:3 NU, M omit and see
  20. Revelation 6:5 balances
  21. Revelation 6:6 Gr. choinix, about 1 quart
  22. Revelation 6:6 About 1 day’s wage for a worker
  23. Revelation 6:8 authority
  24. Revelation 6:12 NU, M omit behold
  25. Revelation 6:12 NU, M whole moon
  26. Revelation 6:14 Or split apart
  27. Revelation 6:15 NU, M the commanders, the rich men,
  28. Revelation 7:5 NU, M omit sealed in vv. 5b–8b.
  29. Revelation 7:14 NU, M My lord
  30. Revelation 7:17 NU, M fountains of the waters of life
  31. Revelation 8:7 NU, M add and a third of the earth was burned up
  32. Revelation 8:12 had no light
  33. Revelation 8:13 NU, M eagle

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)

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(AG) a scroll with writing on both sides(AH) and sealed(AI) with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel(AJ) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(AK) of the tribe of Judah,(AL) the Root of David,(AM) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb,(AN) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(AO) and the elders.(AP) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(AQ) which are the seven spirits[c](AR) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(AS) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(AT) and the twenty-four elders(AU) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(AV) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(AW) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(AX)

“You are worthy(AY) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(AZ) you purchased(BA) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(BB)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(BC) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[d] on the earth.”(BD)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(BE) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(BF) and the elders.(BG) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(BH) who was slain,(BI)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(BJ)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(BK) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(BL) and to the Lamb(BM)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(BN)

14 The four living creatures(BO) said, “Amen,”(BP) and the elders(BQ) fell down and worshiped.(BR)

The Seals

I watched as the Lamb(BS) opened the first of the seven seals.(BT) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(BU) say in a voice like thunder,(BV) “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(BW) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(BX) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(BY)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(BZ) say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(CA) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(CB) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(CC) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(CD) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(CE) saying, “Two pounds[e] of wheat for a day’s wages,[f] and six pounds[g] of barley for a day’s wages,[h](CF) and do not damage(CG) the oil and the wine!”

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(CH) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(CI) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(CJ) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(CK)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(CL) the altar(CM) the souls of those who had been slain(CN) because of the word of God(CO) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(CP) Sovereign Lord,(CQ) holy and true,(CR) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(CS) and avenge our blood?”(CT) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(CU) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[i] were killed just as they had been.(CV)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(CW) The sun turned black(CX) like sackcloth(CY) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(CZ) as figs drop from a fig tree(DA) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(DB) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(DC)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(DD) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(DE) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(DF) and hide us[j] from the face of him who sits on the throne(DG) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(DH) of their[k] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(DI)

144,000 Sealed

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners(DJ) of the earth, holding back the four winds(DK) of the earth to prevent(DL) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal(DM) of the living God.(DN) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:(DO) “Do not harm(DP) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads(DQ) of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number(DR) of those who were sealed: 144,000(DS) from all the tribes of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(DT) standing before the throne(DU) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(DV) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,(DW)
who sits on the throne,(DX)
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(DY) and the four living creatures.(DZ) They fell down on their faces(EA) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(EB)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(EC)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(ED) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(EE) 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God(EF)
    and serve him(EG) day and night in his temple;(EH)
and he who sits on the throne(EI)
    will shelter them with his presence.(EJ)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.(EK)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[l]
    nor any scorching heat.(EL)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(EM)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[m](EN)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[n](EO)

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

When he opened the seventh seal,(EP) there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

And I saw the seven angels(EQ) who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.(ER)

Another angel,(ES) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,(ET) on the golden altar(EU) in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God(EV) from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,(EW) and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,(EX) rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(EY)

The Trumpets

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets(EZ) prepared to sound them.

The first angel(FA) sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire(FB) mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third(FC) of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.(FD)

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain,(FE) all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third(FF) of the sea turned into blood,(FG) a third(FH) of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky(FI) on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water(FJ) 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[o] A third(FK) of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.(FL)

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third(FM) of them turned dark.(FN) A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.(FO)

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair(FP) call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe(FQ) to the inhabitants of the earth,(FR) because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
  3. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  4. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
  5. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  6. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  7. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  8. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  9. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  10. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  11. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
  12. Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
  13. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  14. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
  15. Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.