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2. The Immediate Vicinity of the Almighty (Revelation 4:4-8)
Four Living Creatures in the Throne – the Throne Guardians
REVELATION 4:6b-8a
6 ... In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, …
When John saw the throne room in heaven, his eyes were led from the outer circle of the twenty-four elders to the thunderstorm in the throne and from there to the seven burning torches and the sea of glass. Finally he realized the mystery of the four living creatures at the throne.
The seer saw the earlier visions of Isaiah (6:1-4) and of Ezekiel (1 and 10) inside each other as a unity together with the arrangement of the cherubim above the mercy seat, which is the cover of the ark of testimony (Exodus 25:17-22; 37:1-9). He saw four living creatures "in the midst of the throne" as well as "around" it. The four living creatures were neither animals nor human beings, but servants at the throne of God, his throne guardians and the carriers of his throne. Ezekiel had sawn them several times as throne carriage or throne plane.
The four living creatures in the book of Revelation are neither Seraphim, as Isaiah saw them, nor Cherubim, as Ezekiel described them. He rather recognized the Seraphim and Cherubim in the Old Testament in a complete unity not only in their being but also in their actions as exactly the same "living creatures". Therewith John also became in his vision of the throne guardians the standard and comprehension of all earlier prophecies. He called the figures neither Seraphim nor Cherubim, but living creatures. They fulfill different functions at different times.
These living creatures are not angels. The angels of the Bible do not have wings, and they do not need wings as they are spirits and move faster than light. These throne guardians which John saw have six wings, and they move in a restless zealousness. Ezekiel reports on a thundering swish along with each wing motion of the Cherubim (Ezekiel.1:24; 10:5; John 12:29).
The number six in the bible often means effort and restlessness, like such a situation, for instance, when God created heaven and earth in six days. But Isaiah makes clear that the six wings of the creatures serve above all as a protection against the radiation power of the threefold holy God penetrating everything. With two they covered their face, with two their feet and with two they flew (Isaiah 6:2).
It may be stated that the Almighty does not need throne or body guardians so as to protect him. He rather engages these creatures so as to prevent that nobody may draw near to him, as God dwells in unapproachable light that nobody can approach (1 Timothy 6:16).
While the Seraphim, according to Isaiah, moved "above" the Highest (Isaiah 6:2), the Cherubim, according to Ezekiel, stood "below" him and served him as throne carriage having three axes wheels which could at the same time move in different directions. According to John the throne guardians stood "in the midst" of or "around" the throne (Revelation 4:6). They are superior to all other persons, creatures and items in the throne room and constitute the closest circle around the Lord. The creatures that John saw did not remain silent like the Cherubim, according to Ezekiel, but praised the Holy One like the Seraphim according to Isaiah.
Whereas in the vision of Ezekiel each Cherub had at the same time four different faces, in the vision of John each of the four living creatures had only one face. John describes neither bodies of these four living creatures with legs or hands, nor does he mention a swish of their wings.
The seer was particularly impressed of the many eyes of these throne guardians. Their bodies had numerous eyes in front and behind. Their six wings were covered with many eyes inside and out (Revelation 4:6+8). These living creatures look through everything that approaches the throne. They look in each direction wherever they turn and move. They see at every time their Lord and recognize at the same time everything that moves in the throne room. They are of much knowledge and wisdom. Their circumspection may be compared in a spiritual manner with a modern radar unit.
Whoever entered the arrival hall in the airport in Tel Aviv some years ago was confronted with a wall of numerous eyes on it. Big, small, blue, brown, green and white eyes having black or red pupils stared at the visitor silently. They symbolized the cloud of generations that during the course of thousands of years lived in this country. Whoever had looked at these abstract eyes could sense how he will be looked through completely when he draws near to the throne of God.
Each of the living creatures that John saw is different from each other. They are neither animals nor human beings, yet they resemble them.
The first living creature was like a lion. Its growling or roaring deters each intruder. It is invincible and tears apart each aggressor. Those who live under its protection, live without fearfulness.
The second living creature was like a bull. Its concentrated strength may be used for pulling the throne. It may drive away with its bowed horns every aggressor powerfully. The black bull will be feared in Africa sometimes more than a lion.
The third living creature was like a human being having mind and conscience. This creature shows compassion and has wisdom, love, patience, planning and combination abilities, self-control and responsibility.
The fourth living creature was like an eagle that is able to fly in great altitude even under very stormy conditions. He is able to recognize even from a great distance the smallest movement so as to dive and kill its prey very quickly. The king of air soars above all creatures.
The list of characteristics of the four living creatures may be continued. Yet John did not name them all. It was enough for him to designate the category of what he had seen.
The four living creatures that the prophets had seen will be mentioned at the most time in combination with the throne of God: Yahweh is enthroned above the Cherubim (Isaiah 37:16; Ezekiel 1:26-28; 10:1). He sat above the Ark of the Covenant between the Cherubim (1 Samuel 4:4; 1 Chronicles 28:11+18). Luther called this place mercy seat (Exodus 25:17-22; 26:34; 31:7; 35:12; 37:6+7+9; 39:35; 40:20; Leviticus 16:2+13-15; Hebrews 9:5).
PRAYER: Your greatness, O God, is beyond our understanding, and Your glory is more beautiful than we think. You are surrounded by guardians of the throne from the whole creation, filled with reverence and praise, seeing You and magnifying you at all times. Give us the spirit of worship and praise with thankfulness and exultation to glorify You joyfully and gladly.
QUESTION:
- Who are the four living creatures at the throne of God?