The throne in heaven
1 After these things I looked, and what did I see but a door opened up in heaven! Then the trumpet-like voice I had heard before said to me, “Come up here, and I will show you what must come to pass after these things.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and look! A throne set in heaven, 3 and on the throne sits someone whose appearance is like the precious stones jasper and carnelian. Surrounding the throne is a rainbow like an emerald, 3 4 and twenty-four thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them, with the elders clothed in white garments and wearing golden victor’s crowns on their heads. 5 Flashes of light, sounds, and thunder issue from the throne, and in front of the throne are seven flaming torches which are the seven spirits of God. 6 Beyond them is a glassy, crystal-like sea.
The throne is in the center of a circle formed by four creatures covered with eyes from front to back. 7 The first is like a lion, the second is like a calf, the third has a human-like face, and the fourth is like a flying eagle. 8 Each one has six wings and is loaded with eyes, inside and out. Day and night they never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Master God Almighty, who was, and is, and is coming!”
9 Whenever the creatures give honor and esteem and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever), 10 the twenty four elders fall down before the one on the throne and worship him who lives forever. Throwing their victor’s crowns before him they say, 11 “You are worthy, our Master and God, to receive honor and esteem and power, because you formed everything by your will.”
- 3 These precious gems have a variety of colors