Revelation 4

The Throne in Heaven

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me f like a trumpet, said, g "Come up here, and h I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once i I was in the Spirit, and behold, j a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of k jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was l a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were m twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, n clothed in white garments, with o golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came p flashes of lightning, and rumblings 1 and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning q seven torches of fire, r which are the seven spirits of God,

6 and before the throne there was s as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are t four living creatures, u full of eyes in front and behind: 7 v the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

8 And the four living creatures, w each of them with six wings, are x full of eyes all around and within, and y day and night they never cease to say,
z "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
a who was and is and is to come!"

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, b who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders c fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast d their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 e "Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for f you created all things,
and g by your will they existed and were created."

  1. Cross References
    Revelation 1:10
    I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
    Exodus 19:19 - 20
    And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
  2. Cross References
    Revelation 11:12
    Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.
  3. Cross References
    Revelation 1:1
    The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.
    Revelation 1:19
    Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
    Revelation 22:6
    And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.
  4. Cross References
    Revelation 1:10
    I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 11:4
    The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord 's thr...
    Psalms 103:19
    The Lord has established his throne in the heav...
    Isaiah 66:1
    Thus says the Lord : "Heaven is my throne, and ...
    Matthew 5:34
    But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, e...
    Matthew 23:22
    And whoever swears by heaven swears by the thro...
    1 Kings 22:19
    And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of t...
  6. Cross References
    Revelation 21:11
    Having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:28
    Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
    Revelation 10:1
    Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.
    Genesis 9:13 - 17
    I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
  8. Cross References
    Revelation 11:16
    And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God.
  9. Cross References
    Revelation 3:4
    Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
  10. Cross References
    Revelation 4:10
    The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying.
    James 1:12
    Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
  11. Cross References
    Revelation 8:5
    Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
    Revelation 11:19
    Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
    Revelation 16:18
    And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.
    Exodus 19:16
    On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
  12. Cross References
    Zechariah 4:2
    And he said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.
  13. Cross References
    Revelation 1:4
    John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
  14. Cross References
    Revelation 15:2
    And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire - and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.
    Revelation 21:18
    The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass.
    Revelation 21:21
    And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
    Psalms 77:19
    Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:5
    And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness.
  16. Cross References
    Ezekiel 10:12
    And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around - the wheels that the four of them had.
  17. Cross References
    Ezekiel 1:10
    As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.
    Ezekiel 10:14
    And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
  18. Cross References
    Isaiah 6:2
    Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
  19. Cross References
    Revelation 4:6
    And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
  20. Cross References
    Revelation 14:11
    And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.
  21. Cross References
    Isaiah 6:3
    And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!
  22. Cross References
    Revelation 1:4
    John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
  23. Cross References
    Revelation 1:18
    And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
    Revelation 5:13
    And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!
    Revelation 15:7
    And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
    Daniel 4:34
    At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
    Daniel 12:7
    And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.
  24. Cross References
    Revelation 5:8
    And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
    Revelation 5:14
    And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
    Revelation 7:11
    And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.
    Revelation 11:16
    And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God.
    Revelation 19:4
    And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!
  25. Cross References
    Revelation 4:4
    Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
  26. Cross References
    Revelation 5:12
    Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!
  27. Cross References
    Revelation 10:6
    And swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay.
    Revelation 14:7
    And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.
    Genesis 1:1
    In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
    Acts 14:15
    Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
  28. Cross References
    Psalms 33:9 - 11
    For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
    Ephesians 1:11
    In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Previous Book Next Book