The chat will start when you send the first message.
1After this I had a vision of an open door to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.”[#The ancients viewed heaven as a solid vault, entered by way of actual doors.]
2At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat[#Much of the imagery here is taken from Ez 1 and 10.; #Is 6:1 / Ez 1:26–28.]
3one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald.
4Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.[#: these represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles; cf. Rev 21:12–14.; #Is 24:23.]
5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.[#: as in other descriptions of God’s appearance or activity; cf. Rev 8:5; 11:19; 16:18; Ex 19:16; Ez 1:4, 13. : the seven “angels of the presence” as in Rev 8:2 and Tb 12:15.]
6In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal.[#Ex 24:10.; #: an image adapted from Ez 1:22–26. : these are symbols taken from Ez 1:5–21; they are identified as cherubim in Ez 10:20. : these suggest God’s knowledge and concern.]
In the center and around the throne, there were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back.
7The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a human being, and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight.[#: these symbolize, respectively, what is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation. : traditionally translated “ox,” the Greek word refers to a heifer or young bull. Since the second century, these four creatures have been used as symbols of the evangelists Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John, respectively.]
8The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:[#: like the seraphim of Is 6:2.]
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:
11“Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
because of your will they came to be and were created.”