The Throne in Heaven

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me (A)like a trumpet, said, (B)“Come up here, and (C)I will show you what must take place after this.” At once (D)I was in the Spirit, and behold, (E)a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of (F)jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was (G)a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were (H)twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, (I)clothed in white garments, with (J)golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came (K)flashes of lightning, and rumblings[a] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning (L)seven torches of fire, (M)which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was (N)as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are (O)four living creatures, (P)full of eyes in front and behind: (Q)the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, (R)each of them with six wings, are (S)full of eyes all around and within, and (T)day and night they never cease to say,

(U)“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    (V)who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, (W)who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders (X)fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast (Y)their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 (Z)“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for (AA)you created all things,
    and (AB)by your will they existed and were created.”

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne (AC)a scroll written within and on the back, (AD)sealed with seven seals. And (AE)I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, (AF)the Lion (AG)of the tribe of Judah, (AH)the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw (AI)a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with (AJ)seven eyes, which are (AK)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders (AL)fell down before the Lamb, (AM)each holding a harp, and (AN)golden bowls full of incense, (AO)which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang (AP)a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for (AQ)you were slain, and by your blood (AR)you ransomed people for God
    from (AS)every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them (AT)a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering (AU)myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

(AV)“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard (AW)every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures (AX)said, “Amen!” and the elders (AY)fell down and worshiped.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 Or voices, or sounds

John Sees Heaven

After the vision of these things I looked, and [L look; T behold] there before me was an open door in heaven. And the ·same [L first] voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet [1:8], said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” Immediately I was in the ·Spirit [or spirit; C a state of deep spiritual communion with God; 1:10], and [L look; T behold] before me was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it. The One who sat on the throne looked like precious stones, like jasper and carnelian [C a symbol of great beauty, purity and value]. All around the throne was a ·rainbow [or halo] ·the color of [or that looked like] an emerald. Around the throne there were twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them [C probably angelic leaders]. They were dressed in white and had golden crowns [C wreaths symbolizing honor or victory; see 2:10] on their heads. Lightning flashes and ·noises and thunder [or the rumbling of thunder; C phenomena associated with God’s appearance at Mount Sinai; Ex. 19:16–18] came from the throne. Before the throne seven lamps were burning, which are the seven spirits [C either angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection; 3:1] of God. Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, clear like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living creatures ·with eyes all over them [full of eyes], in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like an ·ox [or calf]. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle [Ezek. 1:10; C angelic beings identified with the most powerful example of various species]. Each of these four living creatures had six wings and was ·covered all over with eyes [full of eyes], inside and out. Day and night they never ·stop [rest from] saying:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God ·Almighty [All-powerful].
    He was, he is, and he is coming [1:4, 8].”

[L Whenever] These living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. 10 Then the twenty-four elders bow down before the One who sits on the throne, and they worship him who lives forever and ever. They ·put their crowns down [cast/lay their crowns; 4:4] before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and ·power [strength],
because you made all things.
    Everything existed and was made,
    ·because you wanted it [by your will].”

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was ·kept closed [L sealed] with seven seals [C a wax stamp that sealed a document shut]. And I saw a ·powerful [mighty] angel ·calling [proclaiming] in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it. I cried ·bitterly [L much] because there was no one who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not cry! [L Look; T Behold] The Lion from the tribe of Judah [C a messianic title; Gen. 49:9–10], ·David’s descendant [L the root of David; C a messianic title applied to Christ; Is. 11:10], has ·won the victory [overcome; conquered] so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb [C Jesus] standing ·in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders [or between the throne and the living creatures and among the elders]. The Lamb looked as if he had been ·killed [slaughtered; slain]. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God [C either angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”; see 1:4] that were sent into all the world. The Lamb came and ·took [received] the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [4:4] ·bowed down [fell] before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people [Ps. 141:2]. And they all sang a new song [Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 98:1] to the Lamb:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were ·killed [slaughtered; slain],
    and with ·the blood of your death [L your blood] you ·bought [ransomed; purchased; redeemed] people for God
    from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You made them to be a kingdom ·of priests [or and priests; Ex. 19:6] for our God,
    and they will ·rule [reign; C other manuscripts have “they reign” (present tense)] on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were ·thousands and thousands [L myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands; C a myriad can mean either ten thousand or many thousands; here means “countless”] of angels, 12 saying in a loud voice:

“The Lamb who was ·killed [slaughtered; slain] is worthy
to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength,
honor, glory, and ·praise [or blessing]!”

13 Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying:

“To the One who sits on the throne
    and to the Lamb
be ·praise [or blessing] and honor and glory and power
    forever and ever.”

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen [C Hebrew for “so be it”],” and the elders ·bowed down [fell] and worshiped.

The Throne Room of Heaven(A)

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

Immediately (D)I was in the Spirit; and behold, (E)a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. [a]And He who sat there was (F)like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; (G)and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. (H)Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, (I)clothed in white [b]robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded (J)lightnings, [c]thunderings, and voices. (K)Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are (L)the[d] seven Spirits of God.

Before the throne there [e]was (M)a sea of glass, like crystal. (N)And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. (O)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. The four living creatures, each having (P)six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

(Q)“Holy,[f] holy, holy,
(R)Lord God Almighty,
(S)Who was and is and is to come!”

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, (T)who lives forever and ever, 10 (U)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(V) are worthy, [g]O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
(W)For You created all things,
And by (X)Your will they [h]exist and were created.”

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (Y)a scroll written inside and on the back, (Z)sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, (AA)“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [i]and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, (AB)the Lion of the tribe of (AC)Judah, (AD)the Root of David, has (AE)prevailed to open the scroll (AF)and [j]to loose its seven seals.”

And I looked, [k]and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood (AG)a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and (AH)seven eyes, which are (AI)the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand (AJ)of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy Is the Lamb

Now when He had taken the scroll, (AK)the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the (AL)prayers of the saints. And (AM)they sang a new song, saying:

(AN)“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And (AO)have redeemed us to God (AP)by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made [l]us (AQ)kings[m] and (AR)priests to our God;
And [n]we shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And (AS)every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

(AT)“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him (AU)who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and [o]ever!”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the [p]twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped [q]Him who lives forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:3 M omits And He who sat there was, making the following a description of the throne.
  2. Revelation 4:4 NU, M robes, with crowns
  3. Revelation 4:5 NU, M voices, and thunderings.
  4. Revelation 4:5 M omits the
  5. Revelation 4:6 NU, M add something like
  6. Revelation 4:8 M has holy nine times.
  7. Revelation 4:11 NU, M our Lord and God
  8. Revelation 4:11 NU, M existed
  9. Revelation 5:4 NU, M omit and read
  10. Revelation 5:5 NU, M omit to loose
  11. Revelation 5:6 NU, M I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing
  12. Revelation 5:10 NU, M them
  13. Revelation 5:10 NU a kingdom
  14. Revelation 5:10 NU, M they
  15. Revelation 5:13 M adds Amen
  16. Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit twenty-four
  17. Revelation 5:14 NU, M omit Him who lives forever and ever