Revelation 4

¹After these things I looked, and look! A door standing open in heaven, and the first voice I had heard—the one like a trumpet speaking with me—said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

²Immediately I was in a state of spirit-possession. And look! A throne was set in heaven, and someone was seated on the throne. ³The one seated there was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow that looked like an emerald encircled the throne. ⁴Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments with gold victory wreaths on their heads.

⁵Lightning, voices, and peals of thunder proceeded from the throne. Seven torches of fire were burning in front of the throne—these are the seven spirits of God. ⁶In front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne itself, were four living beings covered with eyes in front and behind. ⁷The first living being was like a lion, the second living being was like an ox, the third living being had a face like a human’s, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living beings had six wings, and they were covered with eyes all around and even under their wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Ruler of All, the one who was, and who is, and who is coming.”

⁹Whenever the living beings give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne—the one who lives forever and ever— ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their victory wreaths before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, because you created all things; by your will they existed and were created.”