Images of Medieval Art and Architecture

DOUAY-RHEIMS VERSION OF THE HOLY BIBLE

Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle

Chapter 4


1 After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven, and
the first voice which I heard,
as it were, of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I
will shew thee the things which
must be done hereafter. 

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold there was a throne set
in heaven, and upon the throne
one sitting. 

3 And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone;
and there was a rainbow round
about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the
seats, four and twenty ancients
sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads were crowns of
gold. 

5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and
there were seven lamps
burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

6 And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to
crystal; and in the midst of the
throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of
eyes before and behind. 

7 And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living
creature like a calf: and the third
living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth
living creature was like an eagle
flying. 

8 And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round
about and within they are full of
eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, who was, and
who is, and who is to come. 

9 And when those living creatures gave glory, and honour, and benediction
to him that sitteth on the
throne, who liveth for ever and ever; 

10 The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the
throne, and adored him that
liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and
power: because thou hast
created all things; and for thy will they were, and have been created.

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Updated by Jane Vadnal, February, 1998