1 A fter this, I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. The first voice I heard was like the loud sound of a horn. It said, “Come up here. I will show you what must happen after these things.”

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future.

2 A t once I was under the Spirit’s power. See! The throne was in heaven, and One was sitting on it.

At once I came under the Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!

3 T he One Who sat there looked as bright as jasper and sardius stones. The colors like those of an emerald stone were all around the throne.

And He Who sat there appeared like jasper and sardius, and encircling the throne there was a halo that looked like emerald.

4 T here were twenty-four smaller thrones around the throne. And on these thrones twenty-four leaders were sitting dressed in white clothes. They had crowns of gold on their heads.

Twenty-four other thrones surrounded the throne, and seated on these thrones were twenty-four elders ( the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin), arrayed in white clothing, with crowns of gold upon their heads.

5 L ightning and noise and thunder came from the throne. Seven lights of fire were burning before the throne. These were the seven Spirits of God.

Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne seven blazing torches burned, which are the seven Spirits of God '> the sevenfold Holy Spirit];

6 B efore the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, shining and clear. Around the throne and on each side there were four living beings that were full of eyes in front and in back.

And in front of the throne there was also what looked like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal. And around the throne, in the center at each side of the throne, were four living creatures (beings) who were full of eyes in front and behind.

7 T he first living being was like a lion. The second one was like a young cow. The third one had a face like a man. The fourth one was like a very large bird with its wings spread.

The first living creature (being) was like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.

8 E ach one of the four living beings had six wings. They had eyes all over them, inside and out. Day and night they never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the All-powerful One. He is the One Who was and Who is and Who is to come.”

And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.

9 T he four living beings speak of His shining-greatness and give honor and thanks to Him Who sits on His throne as King. It is He Who lives forever.

And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities),

10 T he twenty-four leaders get down before Him and worship Him Who lives forever. They lay their crowns before Him and say,

The twenty-four elders ( the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out,

11 “ Our Lord and our God, it is right for You to have the shining-greatness and the honor and the power. You made all things. They were made and have life because You wanted it that way.”

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were and were created.