The Bible — World English Bible
Revelation 4
In brief
In Revelation 4, John sees a door standing open in heaven and hears the call “Come up here.” He is brought before the throne of God, surrounded by a rainbow, twenty-four crowned elders and four living creatures covered with eyes. These creatures proclaim day and night “Holy, holy, holy,” and the elders cast their crowns before the throne to worship the Creator. The chapter shows that behind the events of the world, God reigns and receives the worship that is his due.
The chapter in 4 parts
1After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
2Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne
3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads.
5Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
7The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.
8The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. 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!”
9When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,
10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,
11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
Key verses
After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.”
The open door and the invitation “Come up here” begin the vision of heaven. John is called to see events from God's perspective.
Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne
From the second verse, the throne is at the center. The whole book rests on this reality: someone reigns, and it is neither chaos nor the powers of the world.
The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. 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 cry “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty” recalls Isaiah 6. The holiness of God is the theme of heavenly worship.
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!”
The elders cast their crowns before the throne: they acknowledge that everything they have comes from God. The Creator is worthy to receive glory, honor and power.
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Frequently asked questions about Revelation 4
Who are the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4?
The text describes them seated on twenty-four thrones, dressed in white and crowned with gold. Interpretations vary: some see representatives of the church, others the whole people of God from both covenants, and others heavenly beings. What the text has in common is their gesture: they fall down and cast their crowns before the throne.
What does “Holy, holy, holy” mean in Revelation 4:8?
The threefold repetition is a Hebrew way of stressing something to the highest degree. The four living creatures proclaim without ceasing the holiness of God, who was, who is and who is to come. This cry recalls the prophet Isaiah's vision in chapter 6 of his book.
What does the open door in heaven represent?
The open door symbolizes the access given to John to see what is happening in God's presence. After the letters to the seven churches, the invitation “Come up here” opens the great vision of the book: that of a central throne around which everything is organized.
Articles quoting Revelation 4
World English Bible translation — public domain.