The Four Living Creatures
The Four Living Creatures vv. 6-8
Who They Are Not
They are not angels. (5:8-10; 7:11; Hebrews 2:5)
They are not Israel. Israel in History - Revelation 4:1. Also these are from all nations. Revelation 5:9
They are not the Apostles, but tribes and people of all the earth.
They are not disembodied spirits, but are glorified subjects of grace.
vv. 8,9 Enthroned - Crowned - Robed
Who They Are
Look at their characteristics revealed in the Scriptures
The first creature was like a lion v. 7
The second creature was like a calf
The third creature had a face as a man
The fourth creature was like a flying eagle
Four is representative of a larger number.
The Jewish writers tell us that the standard of each tribe of Israel took the color of the stone which represented it in the high priest's breastplate, and that there was wrought upon each a particular figure.
In the Four Gospels we have Christ portrayed in this same manner"
This is not Christ, but someone like Him - Who do you find in Scripture like Christ?
Christ is the head of the Church. This is His Body. This is His Church
Lion nature - Ox nature - Man's nature - Eagle's nature
This is the Church after it has been perfected in the first 3 -1/2 years of the tribulation.
They have eyes -
v. 6 "Before and behind"
v. 8 "Full of eyes within"
The symbol of intense intelligence
Looking backward into the past.
Forward into the future.
Inward into the present.
Nothing hid - secrets known.
Also symbol of unceasing activity.
A symbol of continued vigilance.
They have wings -v. 8
Isaiah 6: with twain covered his face
with twain covered his feet
with twain they did fly
Humility -
Redemption - uncovered feet cannot Redeem
Freedom -
Six is the number of man.
Revelation 13:18
Six is 4 -man's worldplus 2 -division or difference, and generally enmity.
Genesis 1:1 - Genesis 1:2
First - Perfection
Second - Ruin and desolation
Six is 5 - grace of God
plus 1 - made of none effect by man's addition to it.
Six is 7 - Completeness
minus 1 - man's coming short of perfection.
These are men redeemed - God's perfection.
Man was created on the sixth day. Man has six days to labor. When twelve (the number of governmental perfection) is divided, it indicates imperfection in rule and administration.
I Kings 10:19 Solomon's throne had six steps, and his kingdom was divided.
The twelve loaves were divided into sixes -
Also on the Breastplate of the High Priest -Twelve Tribes were divided tribes.
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