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(Rev 4:6-8 KJV) "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 full of eyes before and behind. {7} And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. {8} And the four beasts 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." To help (John 14:26) with the understanding (Col 1:9-11) of the four beasts in Revelation 4:6-8, I made a comparison (Mark 4:30-34) with some heavenly things (John 3:9-13) that Moses made according to the pattern that God showed him in the mount (Heb 8:5 1), which include the two cherubims, with the two cherubims Solomon made, with the four cherubims (living creatures) in Ezekiel's visions, and with the seraphims in Isaiah 6:1-7. Four Living Creatures (Ezek 1:5-6) (Ezek 1:10-11 KJV) "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. {11} Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies." Cherubims (Living Creatures, Ezek 10:20-22) (Ezek 10:12 KJV) "And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had." (Ezek 10:14 KJV) "And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." Seraphims (Isa 6:1-3 KJV) "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. {2} Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. {3} And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." God told Moses to make the tabernacle according to the pattern that He showed him (Exo 25:8-9) in the mount (Exo 25:40). According to Exodus 25:17-19 and 37:6-8, Moses made two cherubims (imaginary figures) one for each end of the mercy seat. According to Exodus 25:20 and 37:9, their wings stretched forth (spread out) on high (upward) and covered over the mercy seat. (1 Chr 28:18 KJV) "And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD." Two wings of the two cherubims that Solomon made (1 Ki 6:23-28) touched (reaching) two walls of the inner house and their other two wings touched one another (covering the mercy seat, Ezek 37:9) in the midst of the house according to 1 Kings 6:27, and joined according to 2 Chronicles 3:12. In Ezekiel's visions (a mirror) of God (Ezek 1:1) in Ezekiel 1:11, the living creatures' (cherubims') wings were stretched upward, two wings of every one were joined one to another (Ezek 1:9), and two covered their bodies. (Ezek 1:5-6 KJV) "Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. {6} And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings." (Ezek 1:7-9 KJV) "And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. {8} And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. {9} Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward." Other tabernacle items patterned after the cherubims were on the borders and the bases for the lavers (1 Ki 7:27-39). (1 Ki 7:29-33 KJV) "And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims... {30} And every base had four brazen wheels... {33} And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel:" The lions, oxen and cherubims featured on the borders of the bases possibly had some resemblance of the four cherubims (living creatures) in Ezekiel 1:10 and 10:14. Every base for the ten lavers (1 Ki 7:38) had four wheels (1 Ki 7:30), and the four cherubims had four wheels (Ezek 1:15-19; 10:9-13). Note: The cherubims Ezekiel saw were the same living creatures that he saw by the river of Chebar. "Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward" (Ezek 10:20-22 KJV). The word "beasts" in Revelation 4:6-8 was translated from the Greek word zoon (G2226), "a living thing," and translated "living creatures" in some Bible versions. In comparing some appearances of the various creatures, I find that the four beasts (living creatures) in Revelation 4:6-8 had some in part similarities with the four living creatures (Ezek 1:1-28), which were cherubims (Ezek 10:1-22), in Ezekiel's visions, and with the seraphims in Isaiah 6:1-7. Note: The serpent in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:1) could have been identified with the cherub (Ezek 28:1-19) and had some seraph's (saraph: H8314) characteristics according to its meaning, which was translated "fiery" and "serpent" in some verses KJV (Isa 14:29). The four beasts were full of eyes before and behind (Rev 4:6-8), and the four (Ezek 1:18) living creatures' (cherubims') whole body, backs, hands, wings, wheels, rings were full of eyes round about (Ezek 10:12 2). The four beasts (Rev 4:7) and four (Ezek 1:10) cherubims (Ezek 10:14) had likenesses and faces of a lion, a calf/ox/cherub, a man, and an eagle. Each of the four beasts (Rev 4:8) and seraphims (Isa 6:2-3) had six wings. And they had the joy, pleasure (Psa 16:11) and responsibility of proclaiming the Holiness of the Lord. The four living creatures (cherubims) appear to have had the joy, pleasure and responsibility of being sort of a flying vehicle for the glorious Lord God and His throne (Ezek 1:22-28). Part of David's description of the LORD when he called upon Him while in his distress in Psalms 18:10 was, "And he rode upon a cherub, 3 and did fly...." 4 The direction for the four living creatures in Ezekiel came from the spirit in the wheels, which is not mentioned in the description of the four beasts. In brief, wherever the spirit in the wheels was to go, the wheels were lifted up together with the living creature when they went. When they went or stood or were lifted up, they were together, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels (Ezek 1:12, 18-21 5). Note: Those lead by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14 6) are the sons of God. Other cherubims were placed at the east side of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life in Genesis 3:24, which is the first mentioning of cherubims in the Bible. (Gen 3:24 KJV) "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." The creatures had other pleasures (Psa 16:11) and responsibilities. The four beasts gave glory, honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne... (Rev 4:9). The four beasts and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having harps and golden vials full of (incense) odors, which are the prayers of the Saints, and they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred (tribe), tongue, people and nation (Rev 5:8-14). They worshipped before the Lord God who sat on the throne... (Rev 19:4). Each of the four beasts had their one time to tell John to "come and see" when the Lamb opened the first four seals (Rev 6:1-8). One of the four beasts gave to seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God... (Rev 15:7). One of the seraphims flew to Isaiah, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar, and he laid it on his mouth, and said, behold, this has touched your lips, your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged (Isa 6:6-7). (Isa 6:6-7 KJV) "Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: {7} And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." Then there were some differences in the creatures' appearances, not to mention them all. Each of the four beasts had one appearance. The first was like a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had the face as a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle (Rev 4:7). But the four (cherubims) living creatures (Ezek 1:1-27; 10:1-22) had the (appearance) likeness of a man, and each had four faces the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox/cherub and the face of an eagle (Ezek 1:10; 10:14). Another difference is, each of the four beasts had six wings (Rev 4:8), but each of the four living creatures had four wings (Ezek 1:5-6, 11). The first beast was like a lion, which could be symbolic of the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5 7). The fourth was like a flying eagle (Rev 4:7), which could be emblematic of our Lord; for example, who did bare the children of Israel on eagles' wings, and brought them unto himself out of the land of Egypt (Exo 19:4). "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." (Isa 40:31 KJV). For those who wait upon the LORD will mount up with wings as eagles, perhaps like the woman in Revelation 12:14. 
(Rev 12:14 KJV) "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, 8 from the face of the serpent." The creatures had their places with the Lord on His throne in heaven, and the Lord had His place when He dwelt in the tabernacle of congregation and talked (with) unto Moses, and dwelt among the children of Israel. In Revelation 4:6, "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 full of eyes before and behind." In Ezekiel 1:22, "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature[s] was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above." In Ezekiel 1:26, "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it." In Isaiah 6:1-2, above the Lord sitting upon a throne, "stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly." And in Numbers 7:89, "And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him." The LORD dwelt (1 Chr 13:6) between (1 Sam 4:4) the two (Exo 25:22) cherubims (Num 7:8-9) of gold (Exo 37:7) upon the Ark (1 Sam 4:4) of the Covenant (Heb 9:4-5) that Moses made for the tabernacle of God (1 Ki 8:1-9) in the wilderness (Acts 7:44), and dwelt among the children of Israel (Exo 25:8-9) and was their God (Exo 29:45-46). "And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people" (Lev 26:11-12 KJV). "...As God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor 6:16 KJV). When the Lord Jesus Christ comes, appears the second time (Heb 9:28), the marvelous (holy place) Sanctuary, and true (Heb 9:24-26), greater and perfect Tabernacle (Psa 76:2) of God (Rev 21:2-3), the Lord pitched (Heb 8:1-5) and not man (Heb 9:11), will be with us forever (Ezek 37:26-28). Then the LORD will dwell (Zec 2:10-11) among (Rev 7:15) and in the midst of His people (Ezek 43:7), and the LORD (Zec 8:3) and His people will dwell in the midst of (New) Jerusalem (Psa 46:4-7), and they will be His people, and He will be their God... (Zec 8:8). According to Revelation 21:3, the tabernacle of God will be with men, and He will dwell with them (Psa 46:4-7), and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. My estimation is, the living creatures (cherubims), the firmament stretched over their heads, and above it the Lord on His throne (Ezek 1:22-28), and the seraphims, above the Lord on His throne (Isa 6:1-7), perhaps were similitudes (Hosea 12:10) of some of that which was spiritual in heaven before the birth of Jesus Christ (Mat 1:18-25). Note: Above the likeness of the firmament that was on the heads of the living creatures (cherubims), as the color of awesome crystal stretched over their heads above (Ezek 1:22) -- that which was under the feet of the God of Israel "as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness" (Exo 24:10 KJV), which for today could represent the second foundation of sapphire stone in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:19), possibly the third heaven (2 Cor 12:1-4) -- was the likeness (similitude) of a throne, as the appearance (vision) of a sapphire stone (Ezek 10:1). And on the likeness of the throne was the likeness (similitude) as the appearance (vision) of a Man above it. "And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD..." (Ezek 1:26-28 KJV). And above the Lord on His throne were (copper color, Rev 21:19, fiery) seraphims (Isa 6:1-7). And before His throne, the sons of God (1 Ki 22:19), who at times presented themselves before the LORD, and Satan, who came among them (Job 1:6; 2:1) before he (the accuser of the brethren) was cast (down) out (John 12:31) of heaven (Luke 10:18) to the earth (Rev 12:7-10). And the four beasts (living creatures), in the midst and round about the throne (Rev 4:6-8), perhaps are similitudes (Hosea 12:10) of some, but not all, of that which is spiritual now in heaven after the descent and ascent of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:7-16). Note: The temple (Rev 7:15) is perhaps where John saw the Son of Man (Rev 1:12-16) and the seven stars in His right hand, which are the angels of the seven churches, the seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven churches (Rev 1:20), messages to the seven churches (Rev 2-3) and over comers given (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21), souls under the altar (Rev 6:9-11), ones out of great tribulation, throne (Rev 4:1-11) and Lamb of God (Rev 7:9-17), angels, altar and Saints upon the golden altar, golden censer (Rev 8:3-4), two candlesticks, which are the two witnesses (Rev 11:3-4), ark of his testament (Rev 11:19), those who had gotten the victory over (overcome) the beast... (Rev 15:2-4), etc. The four beasts (living creatures), that had various appearances, characteristics and duties (responsibilities) of the cherubims (living creatures) and seraphims, could be new creatures or creations, in the spiritual (1 Cor 2:9-16) sense, like believers are new creatures (Gal 6:15) in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). The Lord makes all things new (Rev 21:5). R Note: All things have not yet been fulfilled (Mat 5:17-19) may be a good reason for not understanding all of the revelations (2 Cor 12:1-4 9), dreams, visions (Num 12:6 10), similitudes (Hosea 12:10 11) and likenesses (Ezek 1:5-6, 10) in Scripture. If you're perplexed, become spiritual (1 Cor 2:9-16), study more of the Word, and "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him..." (Prov 3:5-6 KJV) who was on the likeness of a throne, above the firmament, that was over the heads of the (cherubims) living creatures (Ezek 1:22-28). And to the God of Israel, who had under His feet "as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness" (Exo 24:10 KJV). He is still on His throne, now before ("in the presence (sight) of") the throne there was a sea of glass (Rev 15:2-4) like unto crystal, and in the midst and round about the throne, were four (living creatures) beasts full of eyes before and behind; also round about the throne were twenty-four sets and on the sets twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white rainment with crowns of gold on their heads (Rev 4:1-11 12). The Lord never changes. He is the "same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb 13:8 KJV 13). The Father has put all things under His feet (1 Cor 15:24-28), and every knee is going to bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:10-11 14). (Dan 7:9-10 KJV) "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. {10} A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." In closing, after understanding (Col 1:9-11) that the various beasts (Dan 7:17, 23-24) and images in prophecy could represent kings and kingdoms, such as in Daniel chapters 2, 4, 7 and 8, and in Revelation chapters 13, 17, etc., spiritually (1 Cor 2:9-16) I believe the four beasts in Revelation 4:6-8 could be figurative (similitudes) representing the kingdom of God -- home of the Saints and formerly dispersed to the four corners of the earth (Isa 11:12 15) and lost (Ezek 34:16) sheep of the house of Israel (Mat 10:5-8). And the twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white rainment with crowns of gold on their heads (Rev 4:1-11), represent elder Saints who will reign with Christ as kings and priests (Rev 20:4-6). Another reason to believe that the four beasts could represent Saints in the kingdom is, not only were the twenty-four elders (Rev 4:1-11) redeemed to God by the Lamb's blood out of every kindred (tribe), tongue, people and nation, but also the four beasts (Rev 5:8-10). The lion likeness of the first beast (Rev 4:7) reminds me of our Lord who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5 7), who is King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15 16), and who will fully demonstrate his power and authority at His second coming when Saints reign (Rev 2:26-29 17) with Him (Rev 11:15 18) as kings and priests on the earth (Rev 5:9-10) for a thousand years (Rev 20:4-6), and in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-3) forever and ever (Rev 22:5; Dan 7:18). As I continue to study (2 Tim 2:15) and discover more of the Word of God, I need the Lord and the Spirit (1 Cor 2:9-16) of Truth (John 16:12-15) more than ever to help (John 14:26) make the revealed messages in next book, if possible, accurate and informative. Please read my newspaper articles next about some critical issues that will inform you and will help you make the right choices, especially in the upcoming elections; and that show how things are leading up to the global dictator, Antichrist (1 John 2:18) and the mark of the beast (Rev 13:14-18; 16:2). References:
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