The Throne in Heaven
1
After this I looked, and there before me was a door stnding open in heaven.
And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said,
"Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."
2
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne
in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3
And the one who at there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.
A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
4
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones,
and seated on them were twenty-four elders.
They were dessed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.
Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
6
Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,
and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
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.
8
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes
all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
9
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him
who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
10
the twenty-four elders fall down beforehim who sits on the throne,
and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
The lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."