1After this I looked, and there in front of me was a door standing open in heaven. I heard the voice I had heard before. It sounded like a trumpet. The voice said, ‘Come up here. I will show you what must happen after this.’2At once the Holy Spirit gave me a vision. There in front of me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.3The one who sat there shone like jasper and ruby. Around the throne was a rainbow shining like an emerald.4Twenty-four other thrones surrounded that throne. Twenty-four elders were sitting on them. The elders were dressed in white. They had gold crowns on their heads.5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and thunder. Seven lamps were blazing in front of the throne. These stand for the seven spirits of God.6There was something that looked like a sea of glass in front of the throne. It was as clear as crystal. In the inner circle, around the throne, were four living creatures. They were covered with eyes, in front and behind.7The first creature looked like a lion. The second looked like an ox. The third had a man’s face. The fourth looked like a flying eagle.8Each of the four living creatures had six wings. Each creature was covered all over with eyes. It had eyes even under its wings. Day and night, they never stop saying, ‘ “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all.” He was, and he is, and he will come.’ (Isa 6:3)9The living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to the one who sits on the throne. He lives for ever and ever.10At the same time, the 24 elders fall down and worship the one who sits on the throne. He lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns in front of the throne. They say,11‘You are worthy, our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory and honour and power. You are worthy because you created all things. They were created and they exist. This is the way you planned it.’
Revelation 4
English Standard Version
The Throne in Heaven
1After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Ex 19:19; Re 1:1; Re 1:10; Re 1:19; Re 11:12; Re 22:6)2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. (1Ki 22:19; Ps 11:4; Ps 103:19; Isa 66:1; Mt 5:34; Mt 23:22; Re 1:10)3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. (Ge 9:13; Eze 1:28; Re 10:1; Re 21:11)4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. (Jas 1:12; Re 3:4; Re 4:10; Re 11:16)5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings[1] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, (Ex 19:16; Zec 4:2; Re 1:4; Re 8:5; Re 11:19; Re 16:18)6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: (Ps 77:19; Eze 1:5; Eze 10:12; Re 15:2; Re 21:18; Re 21:21)7the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. (Eze 1:10; Eze 10:14)8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Isa 6:2; Isa 6:3; Re 1:4; Re 4:6; Re 14:11)9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, (Da 4:34; Da 12:7; Re 1:18; Re 5:13; Re 15:7)10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (Re 4:4; Re 5:8; Re 5:14; Re 7:11; Re 11:16; Re 19:4)11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Ge 1:1; Ps 33:9; Ac 14:15; Eph 1:11; Re 5:12; Re 10:6; Re 14:7)