1 After this I looked, and behold, a door was standing open in heaven! And the voice I had previously heard speaking to me like a trumpet said,
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, there was a throne in heaven, with one sitting on thethrone,
3 like jasper and carnelian in appearance. And around the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, andsitting on the thrones were the twenty-four elders. They were clothed in white garments and had golden crowns on their heads.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning,rumblings, and peals of thunder, and there were seven flaming torches burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6 Also before the throne wassomething like a sea of glass that looked like crystal. Around the throne on each side were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature was like a calf, the third living creature hadthe face of a man, and the fourthliving creature was like an eagle in flight.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying,
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,