Revelation 4:6B-9

Revelation 4:6B-9

Four living creatures

Revelation 4:6B And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

Revelation 4:7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"

Revelation 4:9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

John now focuses his attention to four living creatures.  The Greek word used here, zw/ ' on Zoon means a living being.

The number four appears 12 times in the book of Revelation (Rev. 4:6+, Rev. 4:8+; Rev. 5:6+, Rev. 5:8+; Rev. 6:1+, Rev. 6:8+; Rev. 14:3+; Rev. 15:7+; Rev. 19:4+),

·        The four horsemen of the first seven seals (Rev. 6:1-8+),

·        The four angels (Rev. 7:1-2+) standing,

·        The four corners of the earth (Rev. 7:1+) holding back,

·        The four winds of the earth (Rev. 7:1+, Eze. 37:9; Mat. 24:31),

·        The four horns of the altar (Rev. 9:13+),

·        The four angels bound at the great river Euphrates (Rev. 9:14+) who are released to kill a third of all mankind,

·        The four corners of the earth to which Satan travels to gather the final battle (Rev. 20:8+),

·        The four faces and four wings (Eze. 1:5-6),

·        The four beasts coming up from the sea(Dan. 7:3),

·        The four metals composing the image which sets forth the same phases of empire (Dan. 2:32-33) and

·        The four Gospels.

The symbolic meaning of the number four in the book of Revelation seems clear: it is the signature of the world or of global effect.¹

Many of them tell the Ezekiel vision and John vision both are same but similarities are there its true but both visions are not the same. Now we will see the similarities and difference between these two visions.

 Similarities

1. They attend the throne.
2. They are winged.
3. Aspects of their character represent a lion, an ox (or calf), a man, and an eagle.

Significant differences:

1. Ezekiel’s creatures had four wings(Eza.1:6) whereas these have six (Rev.1:8)
2. Ezekiel’s creatures each had all four faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (Eza.1:6,10)  whereas these each have one of the characteristics (Rev.4:7).
3. No mention is made of Ezekiel’s creatures themselves having eyes—although the wheels they attend are full of eyes (Eza.1:15:16). These creatures themselves are full of eyes (4:8).

Similarity does not make identity and we must conclude that these living creatures, while probably cherubim, are different in identity to Ezekiel’s cherubim (Eze. 10:20).

Ezekiel 10:20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.

Since Isaiah’s seraphs had six wings, perhaps these creatures are of that order (Isa. 6:2, Isa. 6:6).

Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train^[1] of his robe filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Isaiah 6:3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"^[1]

vigor

When the Jews camped in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, they were instructed to set up in 4 sub-camps, one for each point of the compass with the tabernacle in the center. The first was called the Camp of Judah and included Issachar and Zebulon. Members of those 3 tribes would look for the ensign of Judah, a flag with a large lion embroidered on it, to locate their campground.  It was always due east of the tabernacle. The second camp was called Ephraim and included Manasseh and Benjamin and was positioned opposite to the west. Ephraim’s flag depicted the figure of an ox.  The third camp was headed by Reuben and included Simeon and Gad.  Reuben’s flag showed the face of a man.  They were located south of the tabernacle.  The fourth camp was that of Dan with Asher and Napthali included and was located on the North.  Dan’s flag pictured a large eagle.
Looking down from above God would see the camp of Israel with the tabernacle in the Center and the 4 sub-camps around it. The large flag waving in the East pictured the Lion, and opposite it was the Ox. To the south was the face of a Man and opposite it was the Eagle. Was God modeling His throne in the Camp of Israel with the four flags representing the four faces of the cherubim?

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

In the earthly Tabernacle and Temple, we find these living creatures portrayed at each end of the Ark of the Covenant and on the veil separating the holy place (Ex. 26:31; Ex. 36:35). Their images attended God’s glory which was said to “dwell between the cherubim” above the mercy seat (Ex. 25:22; Num. 7:89; 1S. 4:4; 2S. 6:2; 1K. 7:29; 2K. 19:15; 1Chr. 13:6; 2Chr. 5:7; 2Chr. 6:41; Ps. 80:1; Ps. 99:1; Isa. 37:16; Eze. 41:18)

Satan also one of the Cherubim

Satan was created as one of these cherubim serving at God’s throne until he fell (Eze. Eze. 28:14).

Ezekiel 28:14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you;^[1] you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.