Revelation Chapter 4
VERSE 8 “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Similar to the vision we see here in Revelation, is that which is found in Ezekiel Chapter One in which there are likewise four living creatures depicted (beginning at Verse 5), however the major difference is that in Ezekiel’s vision each creature possessed all four faces upon its head and here each creature has its own face. The other major difference is that in Ezekiel’s account each creature had 4 wings whereas here they each have 6 wings.
In order to be through and not miss anything we will once again be presenting two different perspectives of this verse from our two primary sources on Revelation, beginning with the New Albany account.
THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES, EACH HAVING SIX WINGS:
“Wings seem to refer to God’s Word because we are carried aloft by it. (See Rev 12:14.) We are also protected by it. (Psa. 91:4) Wings are always in pairs, thus teaching that God’s Word would ultimately be in the two divisions of the Bible —Hebrew and Greek. However, since this picture is at the beginning of the Gospel Age, ONLY the Hebrew Scriptures exist, thus giving the EXPECTATION for more —the sealed scroll of the next chapter.
Since there are four living ones with six wings each, we have 24 wings —a probable reference to the 24 prophecies (elders) which were, at the beginning of the age, the only written embodiment of God’s Word. The total symbolic picture, then, seems to say that God’s attributes are the basis of, and are fully reflected in, His Word.
The six wings on any ONE of the living ones seem to draw a lesson from Isa 6:2 where two wings cover the face, two cover the feet, and two were used to fly.
(A) The two which cover the face CONCEAL God’s FAVOR (face) from the world. If, of course, we have access to the wings (the Holy Scriptures), WE know what is behind them (i.e. the favor of God as outline in His word).
(B) The two, which cover the feet, conceal God’s OPERATIONS (walking’s, dealings) among men. Again, THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES (wings), WE can discern these stately stepping’s.
(C) The two which are used to fly show that God’s attributes SEARCH OUT those whose hearts are His (2 Chron. 16:9). These are found, of course, by contact with His Word (wings).
WERE FULL OF EYES AROUND AND WITHIN:
It is not absolutely clear whether it is the living ones or their wings which are full of eyes. The latter seems more likely; but the symbolism is good in either case. If we speak of the living ones (attributes) or the wings (the Scriptures which manifest those attributes now), we see unfathomable wisdom (eyes) in each of the four.
We see wisdom (eyes) AROUND —i.e., on the surface and in the results —and we see wisdom (eyes) WITHIN —i.e., if we dig deeply into the mysteries. If it be only the wings with eyes, we have, in addition to the above, the ability of the Scriptures to tell us of the wisdom of things past, as well as things future as the eyes can see both directions.
AND THEY DO NOT REST DAY OR NIGHT, SAYING:
“Do not rest” symbolizes the CONSTANT testimony of these attributes. There is NEVER an instant nor an example when their testimony is absent (if we search for it.) “Day and Night” may refer to Psa 121:4. It may also be a nice way of referring to the night of sin and death and the morning of millennial joys.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY:
This threefold repetition seems the Scriptural equivalent of the most positive and absolute conclusion. It may also refer to His Holiness in the past, present, and future with which this verse concludes. Clearly, it also refers to the WHOLENESS of God’s character, a wholeness represented by the perfect balance of the four attributes. This is the one and only total Monarch:
THE LORD, THE GOD, THE ALMIGHTY: So it is in the Greek. The definite article (“THE”) also precedes the following:
THE ONE WHO WAS, THE ONE WHO IS, AND THE ONE WHO IS TO COME:
(Compare comments on Rev 1:4 where the SEQUENCE DIFFERS.) While it IS true of Yahweh that He has existed and will exist from eternity in both directions, it never seems quite appropriate to attach a past-tense verb to Him. Thus it is quite likely that this does not refer to His PERSONAL EXISTENCE, but rather to His HOLINESS which has just been thrice stated.
Look into the past; you find only His holiness. Look now; you find only His holiness. Look to the future; you will only find holiness. THAT is the testimony of these four attributes. BECAUSE of the perfect balance of Wisdom, Justice, Power, and Love, ONLY HOLINESS IS POSSIBLE!
In our next post we will take another look at this verse from the perspective given in The Keys of Revelation.
VERSE 8 “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Similar to the vision we see here in Revelation, is that which is found in Ezekiel Chapter One in which there are likewise four living creatures depicted (beginning at Verse 5), however the major difference is that in Ezekiel’s vision each creature possessed all four faces upon its head and here each creature has its own face. The other major difference is that in Ezekiel’s account each creature had 4 wings whereas here they each have 6 wings.
In order to be through and not miss anything we will once again be presenting two different perspectives of this verse from our two primary sources on Revelation, beginning with the New Albany account.
THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES, EACH HAVING SIX WINGS:
“Wings seem to refer to God’s Word because we are carried aloft by it. (See Rev 12:14.) We are also protected by it. (Psa. 91:4) Wings are always in pairs, thus teaching that God’s Word would ultimately be in the two divisions of the Bible —Hebrew and Greek. However, since this picture is at the beginning of the Gospel Age, ONLY the Hebrew Scriptures exist, thus giving the EXPECTATION for more —the sealed scroll of the next chapter.
Since there are four living ones with six wings each, we have 24 wings —a probable reference to the 24 prophecies (elders) which were, at the beginning of the age, the only written embodiment of God’s Word. The total symbolic picture, then, seems to say that God’s attributes are the basis of, and are fully reflected in, His Word.
The six wings on any ONE of the living ones seem to draw a lesson from Isa 6:2 where two wings cover the face, two cover the feet, and two were used to fly.
(A) The two which cover the face CONCEAL God’s FAVOR (face) from the world. If, of course, we have access to the wings (the Holy Scriptures), WE know what is behind them (i.e. the favor of God as outline in His word).
(B) The two, which cover the feet, conceal God’s OPERATIONS (walking’s, dealings) among men. Again, THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES (wings), WE can discern these stately stepping’s.
(C) The two which are used to fly show that God’s attributes SEARCH OUT those whose hearts are His (2 Chron. 16:9). These are found, of course, by contact with His Word (wings).
WERE FULL OF EYES AROUND AND WITHIN:
It is not absolutely clear whether it is the living ones or their wings which are full of eyes. The latter seems more likely; but the symbolism is good in either case. If we speak of the living ones (attributes) or the wings (the Scriptures which manifest those attributes now), we see unfathomable wisdom (eyes) in each of the four.
We see wisdom (eyes) AROUND —i.e., on the surface and in the results —and we see wisdom (eyes) WITHIN —i.e., if we dig deeply into the mysteries. If it be only the wings with eyes, we have, in addition to the above, the ability of the Scriptures to tell us of the wisdom of things past, as well as things future as the eyes can see both directions.
AND THEY DO NOT REST DAY OR NIGHT, SAYING:
“Do not rest” symbolizes the CONSTANT testimony of these attributes. There is NEVER an instant nor an example when their testimony is absent (if we search for it.) “Day and Night” may refer to Psa 121:4. It may also be a nice way of referring to the night of sin and death and the morning of millennial joys.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY:
This threefold repetition seems the Scriptural equivalent of the most positive and absolute conclusion. It may also refer to His Holiness in the past, present, and future with which this verse concludes. Clearly, it also refers to the WHOLENESS of God’s character, a wholeness represented by the perfect balance of the four attributes. This is the one and only total Monarch:
THE LORD, THE GOD, THE ALMIGHTY: So it is in the Greek. The definite article (“THE”) also precedes the following:
THE ONE WHO WAS, THE ONE WHO IS, AND THE ONE WHO IS TO COME:
(Compare comments on Rev 1:4 where the SEQUENCE DIFFERS.) While it IS true of Yahweh that He has existed and will exist from eternity in both directions, it never seems quite appropriate to attach a past-tense verb to Him. Thus it is quite likely that this does not refer to His PERSONAL EXISTENCE, but rather to His HOLINESS which has just been thrice stated.
Look into the past; you find only His holiness. Look now; you find only His holiness. Look to the future; you will only find holiness. THAT is the testimony of these four attributes. BECAUSE of the perfect balance of Wisdom, Justice, Power, and Love, ONLY HOLINESS IS POSSIBLE!
In our next post we will take another look at this verse from the perspective given in The Keys of Revelation.
