Revelation 4:1-5:7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Throne Room of Heaven
4 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit,[a](A) and a throne was set there in heaven.(B) One was seated on the throne, 3 and the One seated[b] looked like jasper[c] and carnelian[d] stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. 4 Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. 5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.(C) 6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures(D) covered with eyes in front and in back were in the middle[e] and around the throne. 7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like a calf; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings;(E) they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop,[f] saying:
Holy, holy, holy,[g]
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is coming.
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks 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, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:
11 Our Lord and God,[h]
You are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because You have created all things,
and because of Your will
they exist and were created.
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
5 Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back,(F) sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open[i] the scroll or even to look in it.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah,(G) the Root of David,(H) has been victorious(I) so that He may open the scroll and[j] its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between[k] the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God(J) sent into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll[l] out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
Footnotes
- Revelation 4:2 Or in spirit; lit I became in the Spirit
- Revelation 4:3 Other mss omit and the One seated
- Revelation 4:3 A precious stone
- Revelation 4:3 A translucent red gem
- Revelation 4:6 Lit In the middle of the throne
- Revelation 4:8 Or they never rest
- Revelation 4:8 Other mss read holy 9 times
- Revelation 4:11 Other mss add the Holy One; other mss read Lord
- Revelation 5:4 Other mss add and read
- Revelation 5:5 Other mss add loose
- Revelation 5:6 Or standing in the middle of
- Revelation 5:7 Other mss include the scroll
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