4
“There before Me Was a Door, Standing Open in Heaven”
1 After these things I had another vision. There before me was a door, standing open in heaven. And the booming voice that I had heard earlier, which was as loud as a trumpet blast, spoke to me. “Come up here,” the voice said, “and I will show ˢyou the things that are appointed to take place after these things.”
2 Immediately I came under the power of the Spirit. There before me in heaven was a throne, and on the throne one who was seated.
3 The one seated on the throne was shining with a brilliant light the color of jasper and carnelian, and encircling the throne was a rainbow, radiant green, like an emerald.
4 I also saw, in a circle around the throne, twenty-four other thrones, on which were seated twenty-four elders, dressed in white and wearing victor’s crowns made of gold.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. Blazing in front of the throne were seven fiery torches, which are the sevenfold Spirit of God.
6 Also in front of the throne was what looked like a body of water made of glass, as bright as crystal. Right next to the throne, on each side of it, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and in back.
7 The first living creature looked like a lion, the second living creature resembled an ox, the third living creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth living creature looked like an eagle in flight.
8 The four living creatures: Each of them had six wings, and all over their bodies, even under their wings, they were covered with eyes. Day and night their song never stops:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and who is and who is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives forever into the ages of the ages,
10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever into the ages of the ages, casting their victor’s crowns before his throne and declaring,
11 “Worthy you are, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
because you created all things,
and it is by your will that they came into existence and were created.”