Revelation 4

The Throne Room of Heaven

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

2. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

3. And He who sat there was[a] like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

4. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns[b] of gold on their heads.

5. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.[c] Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the[d] seven Spirits of God.

6. Before the throne there was[e] a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

7. 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.

8. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,[f] Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

9. Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10. 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 are worthy, O Lord,[g] To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist[h] and were created.”

Footnotes:

a. Revelation 4:3: M-Text omits And He who sat there was (which makes the description in verse 3 modify the throne rather than God).
b. Revelation 4:4: NU-Text and M-Text read robes, with crowns.
c. Revelation 4:5: NU-Text and M-Text read voices, and thunderings.
d. Revelation 4:5: M-Text omits the.
e. Revelation 4:6: NU-Text and M-Text add something like.
f. Revelation 4:8: M-Text has holy nine times.
g. Revelation 4:11: NU-Text and M-Text read our Lord and God.
h. Revelation 4:11: NU-Text and M-Text read existed.