The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open^(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet^(B) said, “Come up here,^(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”^{(D) 2} At once I was in the Spirit,^(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(F) with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^(G) and ruby.^(H) A rainbow^(I) that shone like an emerald^(J) encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.^(K) They were dressed in white^(L) and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.^(M) In front of the throne, seven lamps^(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a](O) of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^(P) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^(Q) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^{(R) 7} The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.^{(S) 8} Each of the four living creatures^(T) had six wings^(U) and was covered with eyes all around,^(V) even under its wings. Day and night^(W) they never stop saying:

²⁶ Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne^(A) of lapis lazuli,^(B) and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.^{(C) 27} I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.^{(D) 28} Like the appearance of a rainbow^(E) in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.^(F)

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory^(G) of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown,^(H) and I heard the voice of one speaking.

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.^(A) They encircled the throne and the living creatures^(B) and the elders.^{(C) 12} In a loud voice they were saying:

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth^(G) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

¹⁴ The four living creatures^(K) said, “Amen,”^(L) and the elders^(M) fell down and worshiped.^(N)