In Revelation Chapter 4, the author, John the Apostle, looked above him and saw what he perceived to be a door opening up in Heaven. He then heard a voice that commanded him to come up and be shown things that are going to happen in the future.
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John Experiences Heaven
John recounted that it felt like his soul left his body as he was taken up into Heaven. He saw a throne with someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne had a look about Him like semiprecious stones, such as jasper and sardonyx.
John also described the throne as being encircled by a brilliant, gemlike rainbow that reminded him of emeralds. He also saw 24 seats around this throne and the seats were occupied by 24 elders. They were all dressed in white and crowned with golden crowns.
John Sees the Seven Spirits
Next, John heard great sounds like thunder and lightning and many voices out of the throne. He saw seven fiery lamps burning in front of it, which he realized were the Lord’s seven spirits. The next thing he noticed was a great ocean of glass that was as clear and bright as crystal before the throne and four beasts standing around it. John went on to describe how they had eyes in the front of their heads and behind their heads.
John Describes the Beasts
John continued by describing the first beast as being lion-like, the second beast as calf-like, the third beast with the face of a man and the fourth beast with an aquiline aspect. All of the beasts had six wings and many eyes. John also realized that these beasts never sleep, but rather they praised God endlessly.
John then witnessed that the 24 elders were lying prostrate before the being who sat on the throne. The elders threw off their crowns and worshiped the being on the throne with great praise.
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Revelation 4 (King James Version)
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened 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 thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a 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 I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and 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.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.