The 4 Living Beasts
I can't totally or logically explain these beast without Scripture and some conjecture on my part. I am sure that some may think this odd that a preacher is without solid backing for his position, but I assure you that I am not straining the text nor off in left field despite feeling somewhat at a loss for a part of the explanations. I see these 4 living beasts as representing the picture and purpose of presenting the Messiah to the whole world throughout all of time. I see these beasts as both literal and graphic as well as symbolic and allegorical. I hope to show and display my perception from Scripture so that what I say is from Scripture.
Revelation 4:6-11 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. ¶ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 5:8-10 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Some simple conclusions:
1) They are before the throne and worship the Lord.
2)They had eyes and could see in front and behind.
3) There are four separate beasts:
a) a lion
b) a calf
c) a man
d) a flying eagle
4) They are the initiators of worship giving glory and honor to the Lamb.
5) They also sing a song of redemption as the redeemed of the Lord and include themselves in as rulers and priests of the Lord.
Ezekiel 1:5-10 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 10:9-14 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Let's take a look at the comparisons from Ezekiel and the 4 Gospels.
Matthew to Jewish Christians | Mark to Disciples | Luke to Gentiles | John to the Diaspora |
|---|
| Messiah and King | The Servant | Son of Man | God in the Flesh |
|---|
| a lion | an ox | a man | an eagle |
| a lion | a cherub | a man | an eagle |
Notice the change from the first appearance of the Wheels in Ezekiel 1, the ox is seen, but in the 10th Chapte