Revelation 4:6-7 speaks about the living creatures around the throne. What do their different faces speak of? How are they connected to Jesus?
This question didn't come from an external source but was one that I had a simple revelation on recently and wanted to post it. Here are the verses concerned:
Rev 4:6-7 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. (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.
When I wrote my studies on Revelation, I added a footnote pointing out that many Bible teachers have noted how the four living creatures point to the four Gospels. Here is the table I included:
I had read many commentators over the years who said that these living creatures remind us of the four Gospels, even in the same order. And this is true, but it is not the full story. I had been a little blinded by this comment and hadn't taken it any further. What I had failed to do was insert the key of scripture - Jesus! So it always seemed a little strange to me that God would use the faces of these living creatures to point to the four gospels. And that is because... He didn't! I had it backwards and was missing the very obvious.
God didn't create these living creatures to point to the Gospels. He created these living creatures to point to the One that the Gospels point to... Jesus Christ! And they have told this eternal story since their creation and will do so for all eternity!
It is so simple that I missed it! But it is a cool thought that God specially designed and created these creatures to be a reminder of, and give glory to, Jesus!
These living creatures are around the throne constantly and each face presents a different aspect of the character of Christ:
- Living Creature 1: 'The first living creature was like a lion' - Reminds us and all of heaven that Jesus is the Lion from the tribe of Judah. He is the King. He is the Promised Messiah who will come shortly to rule in His Kingdom.
- Living Creature 2: 'The second was like an ox' - Reminds us and all of heaven that Jesus was willing to suffer and bear our burden of sin, for we were not able.
- Living Creature 3: 'The third had a face like a man' - Reminds us and all of heaven that God, Jesus Christ, had to become a man in order to save mankind.
- Living Creature 4: 'The fourth was like a flying eagle' - Reminds us that this He was no ordinary man! He was divine, from Heaven, and to there He returned at His ascension.
So we could say that the King of kings (Lion), who was from Heaven (Eagle) was willing to come and take on flesh (man) to suffer for our sins and bear our burdens (Ox).
And that sounds a lot like the Gospel truth recorded in Philippians:
Php 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! (9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So now I know why these living creatures were created as they were. They continually testify to the greatness of Christ and they will do so for all eternity!
And that may have all been obvious to you, but I didn't have it clear in my little brain! : )