Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the LORD is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you.

Now you arrogant leaders who rule here in Jerusalem over this people, listen to what the LORD is saying.

Listen to the LORD's message, you descendants of Jacob, you tribes of Israel.

All of you whom I sent into exile in Babylonia, listen to what I, the LORD, say.'

(SEE 42:13)

"Mortal man," he said, "denounce the prophets of Israel who make up their own prophecies. Tell them to listen to the word of the LORD."

So now listen to what the LORD says. You tell me to stop prophesying, to stop raving against the people of Israel.

Micaiah went on: "Now listen to what the LORD says! I saw the LORD sitting on his throne in heaven, with all his angels standing beside him.

until a spirit stepped forward, approached the LORD, and said, 'I will deceive him.' 'How?' the LORD asked.

And Micaiah concluded: "This is what has happened. The LORD has made these prophets of yours lie to you. But he himself has decreed that you will meet with disaster!"

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple.

They were calling out to each other: "Holy, holy, holy! The LORD Almighty is holy! His glory fills the world."

Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire, and sitting on the throne was a figure that looked like a human being.

that had in it all the colors of the rainbow. This was the dazzling light which shows the presence of the LORD. When I saw this, I fell face downward on the ground. Then I heard a voice

While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire,

and a stream of fire was pouring out from it. There were many thousands of people there to serve him, and millions of people stood before him. The court began its session, and the books were opened.

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God.

"Look!" he said. "I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!"

At once the Spirit took control of me. There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it.

His face gleamed like such precious stones as jasper and carnelian, and all around the throne there was a rainbow the color of an emerald.

When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD, Satan was there among them.

When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD again, Satan was there among them.

Praise the LORD, you strong and mighty angels, who obey his commands, who listen to what he says.

Praise the LORD, all you heavenly powers, you servants of his, who do his will!

Around him flaming creatures were standing, each of which had six wings. Each creature covered its face with two wings, and its body with two, and used the other two for flying.

They were calling out to each other: "Holy, holy, holy! The LORD Almighty is holy! His glory fills the world."

The LORD sent them to go and inspect the earth."

"See that you don't despise any of these little ones. Their angels in heaven, I tell you, are always in the presence of my Father in heaven.

"When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne,

But about the angels God said, "God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire."

What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with its thousands of angels.

Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders,