1After these things I saw , and behold , a door opened in heaven , and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me , one saying , Come up hither , and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter . 2Straightway I was in the Spirit : and behold , there was a throne set in heaven , and one sitting upon the throne ; 3and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius : and there was a rainbow round about the throne , like an emerald to look upon . 4And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones : and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting , arrayed in white garments ; and on their heads crowns of gold . 5And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders . And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne , which are the seven Spirits of God ;
The Four Living Creatures
6and before the throne , as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal ; and in the midst of the throne , and round about the throne , four living creatures full of eyes before and behind . 7And the first creature was like a lion , and the second creature like a calf , and the third creature had a face as of a man , and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8And the four living creatures , having each one of them six wings , are full of eyes round about and within : and they have no rest day and night , saying , Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God , the Almighty , who was and who is and who is to come .
The Worship of the Elders
9And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne , to him that liveth for ever and ever , 10the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne , and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever , and shall cast their crowns before the throne , saying , 11Worthy art thou , our Lord and our God , to receive the glory and the honor and the power : for thou didst create all things , and because of thy will they were , and were created .