REVELATION l 4:8-11 l "The Heavenly Beings" l Chuck Smith l Bible Teaching University l School of the Bible l Night School

REVELATION 4:8-11

And  the  four  living  creatures  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 living creatures  give glory and  honor and  thanks  to him  that  sat on  the throne, who lives  for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders  fall down before him that sat on the throne, and  they worship him  that  lives  for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:  for thou hast created all things, and  for thy pleasure they are
and were created (Revelation 4:8-11).

Here  we  get  a  view  of  the  heavenly  scene.  

Study  Revelation  4.  

Fix  it  in  your mind. You don't want  to  look  like a country  bumpkin  on  his  first  trip  to  the  big city when  you  get  to  heaven.  You  don't  want  to  be  looking  around  and  asking
everyone, "What's that!?"

You'll  see  God  sitting  upon  the  throne  with  the  emerald  rainbow  about  the throne. You'll see the twenty-four  lesser thrones for the elders and you'll see the cherubim who  stand before  God  continually  saying, 

 "Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" - declaring the holiness and eternal character  of  God.  

As  they  do  this,  the  twenty-four  elders  fall  down  upon  the
crystal  sea  which  is  before  the  throne  of  God,  cast  their  crowns  before  the throne, and declare God's worthiness  to  receive  their worship.  God  is worthy by virtue of the fact that He has created all things and that all things were made for
Him and for His pleasure.

Now, like  it or not, God created you for His own pleasure. 

You say, "I don't think it's fair!" Well, that's tough. That's the way  it is.

 Like it or not, that's why you've been created. 

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  [proper  translation is "living creatures"] (Revelation 4:6).

These  are  not  beasts  like  wild  or  dumb  animals;  they  are  actually  highly intelligent  created  beings  of  God.  As  they  are  described  in  and  compared  with Ezekiel 1 and 10, we know that these are cherubim about the throne of God.

These  four  living creatures  were "full of eyes  before and behind. 

The  first living creature was like a lion, and the  second was like a calf, and the third had a face as a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle" (Revelation 4:6-7).

Some see  these creatures as manifestations  of Christ  in the Gospels. In the first Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as  the  lion of  the tribe of Judah. 

Mark presents Him as a calf, a beast of burden  representing a suffering  servant.  Luke presents Him  as  the  Son  of  man.  John  presents  Him  as  the  Son  of  God,  the  eagle representing the Divinity.