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The Heavenly Throne of Adonai

After these things I looked, and behold, a door was standing open in heaven.[a] And the first voice, which I had heard speaking with me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

Immediately I was in the Ruach;[b] and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One seated on the throne. [c] And the One who was seated was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. [d] Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes with golden crowns on their heads. And out from the throne come flashes of lightning and rumblings and clashes of thunder[e]—and seven torches of fire burning before the throne,[f] which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal.

In the middle of the throne and around it were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind.[g]

The first living creature was like a lion,

the second living creature was like an ox,

the third living creature had a face

like a man,

and the fourth living creature was

like a flying eagle.[h]

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes all around and within.[i] They do not rest day or night, chanting,

Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh
    Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot,[j]
    asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo!
Holy, holy, holy
    is the Lord God of Hosts,
    who was and who is
    and who is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, [k] 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns down before the throne, chanting,

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
For You created all things,
    and because of Your will
    they existed and were created!”

The Throne in Heaven

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) At once I was in the Spirit,(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven(F) with someone sitting on it. 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. 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. 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. 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) 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) 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:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[b](X)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(Y)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(Z) and who lives for ever and ever,(AA) 10 the twenty-four elders(AB) fall down before him(AC) who sits on the throne(AD) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,(AE)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3