REVELATION CHAPTER 4

[Rev 4:6-9]:

(v. 6) "Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

(v. 7) The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

[Notice that the four living creatures appear at once - indicating not one but four individual beings]

(v. 8) Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying.

'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.'

(v. 9) Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and Who lives for ever and ever..."

[And these creatures continually worship the Lord, indicating that they are not symbollic of the Lord Himself]

[Compare Rev 6:1-8]:

(v. 1) "I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, 'Come!'

[Notice that each of the four living creatures are portrayed as separate individuals from the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ]:

(v. 2) I looked, and there, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

(v. 2) When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'come!'

(v. 4) Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from theearth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

(v. 5) When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come!' I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

(v. 6) Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!'

(v. 7) When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, 'Come!'

(v. 8) I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famne and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.'

[Compare Ez 1:4-14 ]:

(v. 4) "I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north - an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,

(v. 5) and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man,

(v. 6) but each of them had four faces and four wings.

(v. 7) Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.

(v. 8) Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings,

(v. 9) and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.]

(v. 10) Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.

(v. 11) Such were their faces. Their wings were speread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and twwo wings covering its body.

(v. 12) Each one went straight ahead. Whereever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.

(v. 13) The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.

(v. 14) The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

(v. 15)