We Win!

We see that around the throne are also four living creatures. They are described as: Full of eyes front and back One like a lion One like a calf One with the face of a man One like a flying eagle Six wings This is the first time we have run into something strange and unfamiliar. Because it is strange and unfamiliar, does not mean that it has some symbolic or exotic meaning. Our intention is to use literal interpretation to the greatest extent possible. Using this approach we must believe that before the throne are four living creatures that are exactly as described. As we try to understand more about the creatures we see they are full of eyes, front and back. Their eyes do not miss anything. Nothing escapes their notice. They have six wings which can carry them, with great speed, anywhere they need or desire to go. They, in fact, know everything that is going on in all creation being able to see all and they are ever-present in all creation have six wings to carry them in an instant to every corner of the world. So, who or what are the four living creatures? First of all, they are four living creatures just as they are described and they are before the throne worshipping and praising God. But, beyond this, there is significance to their form. Ezekiel writes about a vision where he sees four living beings resembling those John writes about in Revelation. “ As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man, all four had the face of a lion on the right and a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.” (Ezekiel 1:10) Each of the four animal forms seen in Ezekiel is the same as that seen in Revelation. Isaiah saw the living creatures in his vision. “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” (Isaiah 6:1-2) Ezekiel and Isaiah both see four living creature before the throne of God similar in appearance to the four living creatures in Revelation. Is there significance to these four living creatures? In the beginning God created all things. In the beginning the earth was formless and void and darkness was over the surface of the deep. On the first day He created light. On the second day God made the heaven above the earth. On the third day God separated the waters and dry land appeared and God caused the earth to sprout vegetation. On the fourth day God created the sun and moon and stars. On the fifth day God created the fish and the birds. On the sixth day God created man and all the animals. On the seventh day God rested from all He had done. Genesis 2:20 further describes God’s creatures. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field. Note that the five types of creatures of creation were the birds and fish and domestic animals and wild animals and man. Of these five, God brought only the warm blooded animals before Adam to name; the birds, the domestic animals, and the wild animals. The four living creatures before the throne in Revelation 4 have the face of a lion, the face of a calf, the face of a man, and the face of an eagle. All of the warm blooded creatures of God’s creation; wild animals, tame animals, birds, and man are seen before the throne worshipping and praising God. “..day and night they (four living creatures) do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God, the Almighty who was, who is and who is to come.”” (Revelation 4:8) The twenty four elders fall prostrate before the throne worshipping God Almighty who lives forever and ever and they cast their crowns before the throne saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God , to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will the existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:9-11) The twenty four elders cast their crowns before the throne because they are not worthy to receive glory, and honor and power. Only God, who is the eternal creator of all creation is worthy to receive such honor.