¶ After this I looked, and behold a door was open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said: come up hither, and I will shew the things which must be fulfilled hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a seat was put in heaven, and one sat on the seat. And he that sat was to look upon like unto a jasper stone, and a sardyne stone: And there was a rainbow about the seat, to look upon, like unto an emerald. And about the seat were xxiiij. seats. And I saw on the seats. xxiiij. seniors sitting clothed in white raiment, and had on their heads crowns of gold.
¶ And out of the seat proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices: and there were vij. lamps of fire, burning before the seat, which are the vij. spirits of God. And before the seat there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal, and in the midst of the seat, and round about the seat, were iiij. beats full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the iiij. beasts had each one of them vj. wings about him, and they were full of eyes within. And they had no rest day neither night saying: holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
¶ And when those beasts gave glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the seat, which liveth evermore, the xxiiij. seniours fell down before the throne, before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying: thou art worthy Lord to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy will's sake they are, and were created.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526