Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. (Revelation 4:5-6)
If you were filming this scene you’d be zooming out by now. Whereas initially we are riveted on the representation of God on the throne, a veritable fireworks show now ensues, with “flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.” (Revelation 4:5) When I was a very small child, I was told I called fireworks “boom-boom lights.” This description would work here, yet growing up and living all my life in Tampa, Florida, “the lightening capital of the world,” I can attest to the fact that no one does fireworks like Almighty God!
Zooming out further we see seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven Spirits of God, a number always referring spiritually and colloquially to perfection. The Spirit’s close proximity to God is mind blowing when I ponder the fact that this same spirit came to reside in me at salvation! This wide angle view allows us to gaze on the “sea of glass” on which the throne rests, reflecting all the vivid colors of God’s throne.
The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7)
Seeing these four creatures, the response has got to be, “what in the world are these?” You might also say, I thought we vowed at the beginning not to find symbolism in what we are seeing, or spiritualize every strange embodiment to which we are introduced. It’s extremely hard not to, but we have erected boundaries to such eventualities by enforcing a semblance of logic and biblical parameters. While the representation of the Spirit (seven lamps) and its practical outworking speaks of God’s omnipresence, seeing the “eyes in front and behind” of the four creatures leads us to acknowledge the Lord’s omniscience. While later proven to be “wrong,” on occasion, my mother claimed to have “eyes in the back of her head.” You get the the idea.
Now to the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle, trying to stay within the lines, we can certainly gather that God is omnipotent from the lion, ferocious and stately. From what can be translated a young “ox,” we get the attributes of steady, strong, and true. As to the man, of all God’s creation, the only one who possesses intelligence. And finally, from the soaring eagle, we are hard pressed not to think of God’s supreme sovereignty annd heavenly vantage point. Add in the eyes in “front and behind,” our God cannot be trifled with.
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:8-11)
The four living creatures are reminiscent of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2, who also have six wings. Not to get too far afield, these “living creatures” appear to be angels, juxtaposed against the elders, who are men, all of whom attest to the glory of God and give reverence to him. The elders cast their crowns at his feet in response to what they’re seeing and to what they’ve experienced, symbolizing the necessary transfer of any glory we might accumulate for our work on earth to him. Empty hands. Full hearts.
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