4:1 After these things I looked, and there was1 a door standing open in heaven!2 And the first voice I had heard speaking to me3 like a trumpet4 said: “Come up here so that5 I can show you what must happen after these things.” 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit,6 and7 a throne was standing8 in heaven with someone seated on it! 4:3 And the one seated on it was like jasper9 and carnelian10 in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald11 encircled the throne. 4:4 In12 a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were13 dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns14 on their heads. 4:5 From15 the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring16 and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God,17 were burning in front of the throne 4:6 and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.18
In19 the middle of the throne20 and around the throne were four living creatures21 full of eyes in front and in back. 4:7 The22 first living creature was like a lion, the23 second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying. 4:8 Each one of the four living creatures had six wings24 and was full of eyes all around and inside.25 They never rest day or night, saying:26
“Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful,27
Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
4:9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor,28 and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 4:10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground29 before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns30 before his31 throne, saying:
4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
since you created all things,
and because of your will they existed and were created!”32
The Opening of the Scroll