by Darrel Cline (darrelcline biblical-thinking.org)
Chapter # 4 Paragraph # 1 Study # 14 (Study #13 was not recorded) April 21, 2024 Broadlands, Louisiana (Download Audio)
I. This Chapter Is The Ultimate Background For All That Follows.
A. It is a vision of The Heaven as the initial presentation of the realm of Heaven (with its characteristics and significances) in respect to "what must take place after these things..." (4:1).
B. The relationship of "being in the spirit" to the summons to Heaven.
C. What John saw...
1. The "First" issue: he saw a throne...
2. The "Second" Issue: he describes the One sitting upon the "Throne of Heaven".
3. The "Third" Issue: the emerald "iris".
4. The "Fourth" Issue: the twenty-four thrones.
5. The "Fifth" Issue: "out of the throne proceed..."
6. The "Sixth" Issue: "seven lamps of fire..."
7. The "Seventh" Issue: "the sea of glass..."
8. The "Eighth" Issue: The Four Living Creatures.
9. The "Ninth" Issue: The Primary Activity Of The Four Living Creatures.
a. The "setting" of their activity: their general appearance.
1) In 4:6, they are identified as "living creatures full of eyes in front and behind".
2) Then, in 4:8, the "eyes" issue is repeated as "full of eyes around and within".
a) The issue of the "eyes" is also given in Ezekiel's vision with the most expansive text being 10:12 where we are told that "... their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around..."
b) This is likely a presentation of the ability of these four living ones to "see" extensively, not having much that they might "overlook".
c) The "point" of such extensive "sight" is most likely an intensification of their essence as manifestations of the "glory of God" in specific reference to "the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13).
d) This is a profound and sober truth as Yahweh moves to enter into the "days of wrath" which mankind has been warned about for centuries.
3) Additionally, they are described as having six wings.
a) The number "six", in the book of The Revelation is only mentioned here and in 13:18 as a part of the number of the beast.
(1) Six is, when tripled as in 13:18, "the number of absolutely 'fallen' man".
(2) Six is itself a tripled set of two (which likely signifies "unity (two) brought to completion (three), but in this context it is a "completion" of an evil man who has reached the apex of "the image of God" (exercising complete dominion) though in competition with God.
b) The six wings motif is also in Isaiah's vision of "Seraphim" (Isaiah 6:2).
(1) These creatures used two wings to cover their faces, two wings to cover their feet, and two wings to fly.
(a) Two wings keep them from looking upon the glory of God.
(b) Two wings keep them from assuming a greater status than is theirs (illustration: John's declaration that he was not worthy to loose the thongs of Jesus' sandals), because that was Lucifer's failure.
(c) Two wings allow them to pursue their "calling" as the worship leaders of the heavens.
(2) These differ from Ezekiel's vision in that he saw four wings with human hands beneath them, and their wings touched one another (so they were not flying with them??...1:9).
(3) In Daniel's vision of the Greek military, the image is of a leopard with four wings (7:6), but in the companion vision he saw the same Greek kingdom as a "he-goat" who "was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground" (8:5).
(4) In David's record in 2 Samuel 22:11 Yahweh came todeliver him from his enemies and was riding upon a cherub and appeared to be flying upon "the wings of the wind".
(5) In summary, "wings" are first identified with flight" (Revelation 12:14), then with "speed" (Daniel 8:5 and 2 Samuel 22:11), then with "humility of presence" by covering certain aspects of their physical appearance when in the presence of Yahweh upon His throne.
