Revelation Chapter 4
VERSE 6 continued, “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”
IN THE CENTER AND AROUND THE THRONE: (See note following Rev 4:4).
These “creatures” are totally engulfing BECAUSE they represent God’s attributes. We cannot look at God; we cannot comprehend Him; but by these four very basic parts of His character —the things we see as totally engulfing the Father (i.e. the things which exemplify his very being) it is only then that —we can truly “see” (or perceive) Him.
FOUR LIVING CREATURES:
We will try past this point never to allude to these four again as “creatures,” but rather as LIVING ONES which is not only the correct translation, but a very important part of understanding what these four represent. God is NOT created, nor His four attributes. In this sense, the word “creature” is totally misleading. It does, certainly, improve on the KJV’s “Four Beasts!”
Remember, there ARE no creatures. These are SYMBOLS representing God’s basic attributes (WISDOM, JUSTICE, POWER, and LOVE). These are VERY ALIVE attributes —attributes, which function constantly and in total harmony. However, just as there are not 24 Elders as (literal) beings, there, likewise, are not four living ones as (literal) beings.
LIVING ONES
This is VERY CLOSE to the name which God, Himself, gives Himself. Yahweh, the great I AM, the Existing One, the Living One, is throughout the Bible referred to with the preface (in some form) of LIVING. A few examples: Deut. 5:26; 2 Kings 19:4, 16; Psalm 42:2 and 84:2; Isa. 37:4, 17; John 6:57, 69; II Cor. 3:3; Rev. 7:2; Ruth 3:13; I Sam. 14:39, 45; Jer. 4:2; 12:16; 16:15; Rev. 4:9, 10; 5:14; 10:6; 15:7; etc. HE is the ONE GREAT LIVING ONE; these FOUR LIVING ONES ARE God’s character. The number Four symbolizes universality. These four Living Ones symbolize the universality of God’s character as expressed in the terms of His character which we can DISCERN when we look at His works.
FULL OF EYES IN FRONT AND BEHIND:
Eyes represent wisdom. While WISDOM is one of the four attributes, all of the attributes are wisdom applied. God is omniscient. The eyes in front and behind show the lack of need for change (Jas. 1:17) in God whose former works only supply the groundwork for His coming works. (Acts 15:18 KJV)
(These attributes, though they are “in the middle and around the throne” might, by extension, also be thought of as before the throne since God’s attributes SERVE to explain Him to all who approach. This seems implied in Verse 8. However, it is probably not so stated since God is not a servant of God.).” New Albany Notes on Revelation
“There have been different meanings given by others for these four living creatures, such as four covenants or the four gospels, but we favor the traditional understanding of wisdom, love, justice and power. We believe that we have a scripture from the Old Testament (Psa 89:13, 14) that tells us what they are.
“You have a strong arm; your hand is mighty, your right hand is exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before you.”
God’s throne is being supported by those four principles, and we believe that they are in perfect balance. In the above Psalm, the words strong and mighty would signify “power”. Righteousness and justice, represent “justice”. The word lovingkindness shows us “love”. Last but not least we have truth, which would point to “wisdom”. (Revelation Notes: Southern Wisconsin)
We will continue with our examination of this last part of Verse 6 in our next post.
VERSE 6 continued, “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”
IN THE CENTER AND AROUND THE THRONE: (See note following Rev 4:4).
These “creatures” are totally engulfing BECAUSE they represent God’s attributes. We cannot look at God; we cannot comprehend Him; but by these four very basic parts of His character —the things we see as totally engulfing the Father (i.e. the things which exemplify his very being) it is only then that —we can truly “see” (or perceive) Him.
FOUR LIVING CREATURES:
We will try past this point never to allude to these four again as “creatures,” but rather as LIVING ONES which is not only the correct translation, but a very important part of understanding what these four represent. God is NOT created, nor His four attributes. In this sense, the word “creature” is totally misleading. It does, certainly, improve on the KJV’s “Four Beasts!”
Remember, there ARE no creatures. These are SYMBOLS representing God’s basic attributes (WISDOM, JUSTICE, POWER, and LOVE). These are VERY ALIVE attributes —attributes, which function constantly and in total harmony. However, just as there are not 24 Elders as (literal) beings, there, likewise, are not four living ones as (literal) beings.
LIVING ONES
This is VERY CLOSE to the name which God, Himself, gives Himself. Yahweh, the great I AM, the Existing One, the Living One, is throughout the Bible referred to with the preface (in some form) of LIVING. A few examples: Deut. 5:26; 2 Kings 19:4, 16; Psalm 42:2 and 84:2; Isa. 37:4, 17; John 6:57, 69; II Cor. 3:3; Rev. 7:2; Ruth 3:13; I Sam. 14:39, 45; Jer. 4:2; 12:16; 16:15; Rev. 4:9, 10; 5:14; 10:6; 15:7; etc. HE is the ONE GREAT LIVING ONE; these FOUR LIVING ONES ARE God’s character. The number Four symbolizes universality. These four Living Ones symbolize the universality of God’s character as expressed in the terms of His character which we can DISCERN when we look at His works.
FULL OF EYES IN FRONT AND BEHIND:
Eyes represent wisdom. While WISDOM is one of the four attributes, all of the attributes are wisdom applied. God is omniscient. The eyes in front and behind show the lack of need for change (Jas. 1:17) in God whose former works only supply the groundwork for His coming works. (Acts 15:18 KJV)
(These attributes, though they are “in the middle and around the throne” might, by extension, also be thought of as before the throne since God’s attributes SERVE to explain Him to all who approach. This seems implied in Verse 8. However, it is probably not so stated since God is not a servant of God.).” New Albany Notes on Revelation
“There have been different meanings given by others for these four living creatures, such as four covenants or the four gospels, but we favor the traditional understanding of wisdom, love, justice and power. We believe that we have a scripture from the Old Testament (Psa 89:13, 14) that tells us what they are.
“You have a strong arm; your hand is mighty, your right hand is exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before you.”
God’s throne is being supported by those four principles, and we believe that they are in perfect balance. In the above Psalm, the words strong and mighty would signify “power”. Righteousness and justice, represent “justice”. The word lovingkindness shows us “love”. Last but not least we have truth, which would point to “wisdom”. (Revelation Notes: Southern Wisconsin)
We will continue with our examination of this last part of Verse 6 in our next post.
