A Revelation to John

4 After this I saw, and look! an opened door in heaven, and the first voice that I heard speaking with me was like a trumpet, saying: “Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take place.” 2 After this I immediately came to be in the power of the spirit, and look! a throne was in its position in heaven, and someone was seated on the throne.+ 3 And the One seated had the appearance of a jasper stone+ and a sardius stone,* and all around the throne was a rainbow like an emerald in appearance.+

4 All around the throne were 24 thrones, and on these thrones I saw seated 24 elders+ dressed in white garments, and on their heads golden crowns. 5 From the throne were coming lightning+ and voices and thunders;+ and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, and these mean the seven spirits of God.+ 6 Before the throne was something resembling a glassy sea,+ like crystal.

In the midst of the throne* and around the throne were four living creatures+ that were full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first living creature was like a lion,+ and the second living creature was like a young bull,+ and the third living creature+ had a face like a man’s, and the fourth living creature+ was like a flying eagle.+ 8 As for the four living creatures, each one of them had six wings; they were full of eyes all around and underneath.+ And continuously, day and night, they say: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah*+ God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming.”+

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever,+ 10 the 24 elders+ fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship the One who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, Jehovah* our God, to receive the glory+ and the honor+ and the power,+ because you created all things,+ and because of your will they came into existence and were created.”