Revelation 4:6-8 - All Creation Worships Him

“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. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 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!" In Revelation 4 the first thing that John sees is a worship service going on around the throne of God. I think it is interesting to note that it appears everything about this worship is connected to the throne. Notice the phrases: “On the throne…” (v. 2); “Around the throne…” (vs. 3 & 4); “From the throne…” (v. 5); “Before the throne…” (vs. 5, 6 & 10); “in the midst of the throne…” (v. 6). Everything that takes place with worship is connected to the throne! God is seated on this throne (v. 2). There is a rainbow around the throne (v. 3). There are twenty-four elders sitting on twenty-four thrones around the throne (v. 4). And also around the throne, John saw four "living creatures". They resemble the cherubim that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:4-14; 10:20-22), but their praise (Rev. 4:8) reminds us of the seraphim of Isaiah 6. I believe that these special creatures symbolize God's creation and are related to God's covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:8-17). The faces of the living creatures parallel God's statement in Genesis 9:9-10 "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.” His covenant is with Noah (the face of the man), the fowl (the face of the eagle), the cattle (the face of the calf), and the beasts of the earth (the face of the lion). These creatures signify the wisdom of God ("full of eyes") and proclaim the holiness of God. They are heavenly reminders that God has a covenant with His creation and that He rules His creation from His throne. The presence of the emerald rainbow further enhances this image, since the rainbow was given as the sign of the creation covenant. No matter what terrible judgments may fall on God's earth, He will be faithful to keep His Word. Men may curse Him during the judgments (Rev. 16:9, 11, 21), but nature will praise Him and magnify His holiness. The cherubim described in Ezekiel 1 seem to have a part in the providential workings of God in the world, pictured by the "wheels within the wheels." God uses the forces of nature to accomplish His will (Ps. 148), and all nature praises and thanks Him. Some students see in the four faces described (Rev. 4:7) an illustration of the fourfold picture of Christ given in the Gospel accounts. Matthew is the royal Gospel of the King, illustrated by the lion. Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the Lord's ministry (the calf). Luke presents Christ as the compassionate Son of man. John magnifies the deity of Christ, the Son of God (the eagle). Finally, the name used by these creatures, "Lord God Almighty," emphasizes the power of God. The name Almighty is used nine times in Revelation. The only other such usage in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 6:18, but it is found at least thirty-one times in Job, a book that magnifies the power of God in nature. It is obvious that worship of God is connected to our submission and surrender to the authority of God in our lives. There can be no worship without humbling ourselves and bowing before His throne!