Introduction: The apostle John is transported in a vision to heaven. He is taken there to see the things that must take place after the things that were present. He saw a throne He saw the one sitting on the throne He saw 24 thrones and 24 elders clothed in white with crowns on their heads around the throne He saw flashes of lightning and heard thunder He saw 7 torches that represented the Spirit of God He saw a sea of glass like crystal under the feet of God He saw a rainbow the color of emerald This morning, we begin with what else he saw. 1. The description of the four living creatures (vs.6-8a) 2. The declaration of the four living creatures (vs.8b) 3. The declaration of the twenty-four elders (vs.9-11) I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES (vs.6-8a) Again, what John saw can be organized by the way the Spirit of God describes in relationship to God’s throne. Now, John relates what was in the middle of the throne and around the throne. He seas four living creatures full of eyes. A. THEIR LOCATION (vs.6b) The word “around” indicates a circle. The picture is of the four living creatures in the immediate vicinity of the throne and encircling it. One on either side, on behind, and one in front. In a vision given to Ezekiel, we meet with four living creatures and their appearance is the same. ESV Ezekiel 1:4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. In that passage movement is described. So it could be that what John witnessed was a rapid circular movement around the throne. B. THEIR DESIGNATION (vs.6) They are called living beings. And when compared with other parts of Scripture, it becomes clear that they are angels. 1. They resemble the Seraphim of Isaiah 6. 2. They resemble the Cherubim of Ezekiel 1 and 10. C. THEIR APPEARANCE (vs.6-8a) The description is striking. FULL OF EYES ALL AROUND (vs.6b, 8a) FOUR FACES (vs.7) LION CALF MAN FLYING EAGLE SIX WINGS The angels in Ezekiel 1 had these same faces, and EACH ANGEL HAD EACH OF THESE FOUR FACES. ESV Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. So, as John sees them around the throne, each of the four faces are on display.