(M16) 1 After 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(106) hereafter.
(M17) 2 Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne
set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne; 3 and 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.
(M18) 4 And 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.
(M19) 5 And 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;
(M20) 6 And before the throne, as it were a sea of glass(107) like unto
crystal; and in the midst(108) of the throne, and round about the throne,
four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 And 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. 8 And 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(109).
(M21) 9 And 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(110), 10 the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that
sitteth on the throne, and shall worship(111) him that liveth for ever and
ever(112), and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Worthy 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.