1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits4:5That is, the sevenfold Spirit of God.

6Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

7The 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.

8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: