Unlocking the book of Revelation in the Bible.

Revelation - Chapter 4

Revelation 4:1 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."

After this - This is not a continuation of the vision from previous chapters, as we will see when coming down through verse 2. After seeing the events of the previous chapters, John now has a new vision which he introduces.

A door was opened in heaven - The first thing that must be noticed, is that the door that is being opened is not the door to heaven, but a door was opened in heaven. In verse 2, after the door has been opened, John sees a throne in heaven. Thus we can conclude that the door was the door to the throne room of God in heaven. But where is this door and where is the throne? We shall come to this in a moment.

Voice...of a trumpet talking with me - This first voice must be a reference to the voice that John heard in Revelation 1:10. The same voice now introduces the second vision. As the voice was like a trumpet in chapter 1 so it is here also, obviously indicating the intensity of the voice.

Which said, come up hither - The voice was inviting John to enter into vision. For we see, when the voice had spoken, John immediately enters into vision.

Things which must be hereafter - John was going to be shown what was going to transpire from then onwards. The time frame is from when the door in heaven opens onwards.

Revelation 4:2 "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."

John says that immediately he was in the Spirit - that is, in vision. If we look at Revelation 1:10 at the start of the churches, we see the same thing.

Revelation 1:10 "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,"

A throne was set in heaven - This shows that the throne was already in place when John beheld it.

One sat on the throne - How many do we see on this throne? We need to bear this in mind as we study to see how many we see in the throne room of the Almighty in Heaven.

Revelation 4:3 "And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Rainbow round about the throne - Around the throne John saw a rainbow like an emerald, or green in colour. The rainbow is a symbol of a covenant, and it is to remind us that God is a covenant-keeping God.

Genesis 9:11-17 "11 And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth."

We can trust in God, and His everlasting covenant, the plan of salvation. Justice in the fact that the sinner that has broken the law deserves death, but mercy in the fact that God sent His own Son to die for the sins of the world, and those that confess and forsake their sins shall obtain mercy. So the rainbow is also a symbol to remind us of God's justice but also His mercy.

This is what John sees. Now we should not expect to see God in a form because it tells us clearly in Scripture that no one has seen God, but it does give us an idea of the throne room and what takes place there. Paul told us a little about what we could expect and He had this to say...

1 Timothy 6:16 "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen."

So here it tells us that God dwells in light and to the mortal eye appears as light.

Psalms 104:1-2 "1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:"

So this is basically what you see when you step into the throne room.

Ezekiel 1:26-28 "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. 27 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. 28 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. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake."

So this is what we are seeing in the throne room as far as God the Father is concerned, who appears as light, in tremendous glory.

Revelation 22:1 "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

So if you have light and you have water then this makes a rainbow which is what we saw in verse three a rainbow round about the throne.

Proverbs 6:23 "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life."

So here in God's throne room we have the law, the law of God and it says that it is light; but not only light:

Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

So here in the throne room of God we have light and the water of life. And these two, the light and the water make the rainbow, and that's why it says around Gods throne is a rainbow and we have the amber colour of fire round about. And any time we want to we can bathe in the gold of God's love.

The 24 Elders

Revelation 4:4 "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."

Here we have the first mention of a special group called the "Twenty-Four Elders". They are also mentioned in chapter 5.

Revelation 5:8-9 "8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."

This group of 24 Elders is very mysterious yet very interesting. Who are they? What is their purpose? Are they angels or are they men?

I saw four and twenty elders sitting - These 24 elders were seated upon 24 seats, or as in the original "thrones", around God's throne. But who are these elders?

The identifying marks are as follows:

An elder is one that is a leader among God's people...

Acts 15:2-6 "2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter."

1 Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."

These 24 elders are special people; they also lead out in worship in the throne room of God.

Revelation 19:4 "And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great."

So they lead out in worship but they also participate in the judgement, that's what they are there for...

Revelation 11:16-18 "16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth."

These 24 elders are found through the entire book of Revelation.

• Revelation 4:4-7
• Revelation 4:8-11
• Revelation 5:8-14
• Revelation 7:11-13
• Revelation 11:16-18
• Revelation 19:4

Here is what we learn about the 24 elders:

• They are seated on 24 thrones
• They are clothed in white garments
• They wear golden crowns on their heads
• They sing a song of redemption

We believe that the 24 elders represent the Church. They are not the Church but they represent the Church. This is not a strange interpretation for we see this in the Old Testament. 1 Chronicles 24:7-19 shows us that King David appointed twenty-four priests to represent the entire priesthood. There were 24 priests and one High Priest - Hebrews 9:7, Ezekiel 8:16. And in 1 Peter 2:9 the Church is called a "royal priesthood."

1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;"

The 24 elders represent this entire royal priesthood. What about the thrones, the white garments and the golden crowns? Was the Church promised these? Earlier in Revelation we saw...

Revelation 3:21 "He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

Revelation 2:10 "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 3:11 "I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

These references to thrones, crowns and white garments fit perfectly with Revelation 4:4.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 "13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

This shows that man will be rewarded for his works. Since the Church has already received salvation at the cross by believing in Christ by faith, the Church is going to be judged for her works, the things that they have done for the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:10 calls this the Judgment Seat of Christ! The mere fact that the 24 elders have white garments and golden crowns suggests that the Judgment Seat of Christ has taken place already, suggesting that the second coming has already occurred.

This brings us to the question - are the 24 elders human beings or angels?

The Greek word for crowns in Revelation 4:4 is "stephanos", which is a victorious crown, in contrast to a kingly crown (diadem) which Christ wears (Revelation 19:12). No angel can wear a victor's crown for they have never gone through the battle of life on earth to earn these crowns. Another evidence that the 24 elders are human beings is found in Revelation 5:

Revelation 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."

This shows that the 24 elders are redeemed human beings, for they sing the new song that only the redeemed can sing.

We know these elders are not Angels because the Bible distinguishes them from the Angels and the Beasts.

Revelation 7:11 "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God."

It is highly significant that the 24 elders are first seen in Revelation. When John went in vision to heaven to see the events from then until the End Times (Revelation 4:1), he saw the 24 elders. In the other visions of heaven in Isaiah 6:2 and Ezekiel 1:4-11 there was only the throne and the four living creatures. There were no 24 elders. If the 24 elders were angels then they would have been in the visions of heaven that Isaiah and Ezekiel saw. It is significant that the 24 elders are seen in the New Testament and not in the Old Testament. If the 24 elders represent the Church then this is understandable, for Israel and the Church are different.

Let's look into the question – what is an elder? Isn't it someone who is older? Angels don't age for they are all the same age. Only human beigs age, and that is because of sin, because sin causes death. An elder could be someone with wisdom but angels have always had perfect wisdom. An elder could be someone who is a ruler. Doesn't the Bible say that "we will judge angels"?

1 Corinthians 6:3 "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?"

Whichever way you look at it, the 24 elders cannot be angels for only men can be called elders.

So, the 24 elders are seated on thrones, wearing white garments and golden crowns. These were promised to the Church at the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is at the second coming of Christ.

2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

1 Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

• The 24 elders sing a song of redemption.

• The 24 elders focus in their interpretation to John on the white-robed multitude and the slain Lamb, Jesus Christ. Redeemed men would better understand the redemptive work of Christ than angels.

• The 24 elders are distinguished from "all the angels" (Revelation 7:11).

• The 24 elders are only seen in Revelation after John goes to heaven (Revelation 4:1-2) and are absent in the visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel of heaven.

• The 24 elders are very different from angels.

• The 24 elders can't be angels for the Church will even judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).

• The 24 elders are redeemed from the earth (Revelation 5:9).

Clothed in white raiment - This we know to be the righteousness of Christ:

Revelation 3:4 "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."

Revelation 3:18 "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

Crowns of gold on their heads - This is none other than the crown of life or righteousness that the Lord gives to those that have endured temptation and have fought the good fight of faith, finishing their course and have overcome.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

2 Timothy 4:7-8 "7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

This shows to us that these have been redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation by the blood of the Lamb. Making them kings and priests.

So these are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and a crown of victory. They have been in warfare with sin and overcome (sin is only upon this earth). They are seen in heaven before the sequence of the seals begins and have been redeemed from among men. Does the Bible verify this?

Matthew 27:51-53 "51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

So here this tells us that when Christ died many graves were opened; and many of the bodies of the saints that were dead came out of their graves after the resurrection of Christ. And Ephesians 4 tells us that when Christ ascended to heaven He lead a multitude of captives with Him.

Ephesians 4:8 "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

So the 24 elders are some of those saints that were raised at Christ's resurrection and taken to heaven with Him in 31 AD.

The role of the 24 elders is explained in the following verse.

Revelation 4:5 "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."

Out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings - In Ezekiel's vision of the throne of God he describes the movements of the angelic beings, who are the messengers of God. These lightnings and thunderings are the movements of the angels around the throne.

Ezekiel 1:14 "And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning."

Ezekiel 10:5 "And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh."

Seven lamps of burning fire – Seven in the Bible is completeness/perfection. The seven Spirits of God are His character His attributes.

Isaiah 11:2 "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;"

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."

Exodus 24:10 "And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."

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."

This is describing the flooring before God’s throne. Also in Ezekiel it says...

Ezekiel 28:14 "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire."

This is what the righteous will be standing on...

Revelation 15:2 "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."

In ancient times glass was much more valuable than it is today. Here, it represents the clear, crystalline appearance of the surface on which the throne stood.

Ezekiel 1:22 "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above."

Crystal - Greek "krustallos", a word meaning either "crystal", a colorless, transparent mineral, or "ice". What John sees is a vast shimmering expanse, gloriously reflecting the radiance about the throne.

The Four Beasts

Now let's take a look at the four beasts.

Midst of the throne...

"Perhaps, like Ezekiel's cherubim, (Ezekiel 1:22, 26) these beasts were seen under the throne as well as around it. The symbolism here is in harmony with ancient Semitic thought. Thus a sarcophagus from Byblus, from the end of the 2d millennium B.C., portrays a Phoenician king seated on a throne supported by an animal cherub." What Were the Cherubim? W. F. Albright, The Biblical Archaeologist 1:1, Feb., 1938, pp. 1-3.

Psalms 80:1 "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth."

Psalms 99:1 "The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved."

Isaiah 37:16 "O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth."

Beasts - Greek "zōa" - "living beings". The word "zōa" does not indicate to what order of creatures these four belong. However, they closely resemble those of Ezekiel's vision (see Ezekiel 1:5-26), which Ezekiel calls cherubim; however, as we read on we will see they are different because those around the throne had six wings making them seraphim.

Ezekiel 10:20-22 "20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. 21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22 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."

The question must be asked, what are these living creatures that are around the throne?

Ezekiel 1:1 "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God."

Ezekiel was taken off in vision by the river Chebar, and from the following verses of that chapter, more so verses 5-10, we see that it was strikingly similar to what John saw.

Ezekiel 1:5-10 "5 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. 7 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. 10 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."

From Ezekiel 10:20 we see that these living creature are none other than Cherubim that are about the throne. This is not unusual, for God dwells between the Cherubim, as we saw in Psalms 99:1.

What is the work of these Cherubim? In Ezekiel 10:1 he sees that the throne is above the Cherubim (also 1:22, 26), and in verse 9 there are wheels beside the Cherubim. This shows that the throne of God has wheels and is movable; Daniel 7:9 confirms to us that the throne has wheels. So one of the duties of these Cherubim is to move the throne of God, for we are told that the form of transport that God uses is the angels.

Psalms 18:10 "And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind."

Psalms 68:17 "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place."

Full of eyes - Ezekiel tells us:

Ezekiel 1:18 "As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four."

Ezekiel 10:12 "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."

This may be understood as a symbol of the intelligence and ceaseless vigilance of heavenly beings. Inasmuch as the symbol of eyes is plainly drawn from Ezekiel, it is possible to understand it here also in terms of Hebrew thought. Nine times in the Old Testament the Hebrew word "ayin", or "eye", is used in the sense of "color" or "brilliance" (Proverbs 23:31; Ezekiel 1:4,7,16, 22,27; 8:2; 10:9; Daniel 10:6). This suggests that in describing the four beasts as "full of eyes", John may mean that their appearance was one of shining brilliance.

The four different faces upon these living creatures also represent to us something about Christ. Just as the living creatures, with these characteristics, are about the throne where God dwells; so too are the tribes of Israel, with these symbols, encamped around the sanctuary where God was dwelling.

Revelation 4:7-8 "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."

Lion, Calf, Man and Eagle - Here each of the four beings appears with one of the four faces that were characteristic of each of the cherubim in Ezekiel's vision (see Ezekiel 1:10; 10:14). Instead of a Calf, Ezekiel says like an Ox, so it gives it both ways in Scripture.

Six wings - The cherubim of Ezekiel's vision each had four wings (Ezekiel 1:6; 10:21), whereas the seraphim of Isaiah had six (Isaiah 6:2). Wings may be understood as indicating the speed with which God's heavenly creatures execute their errands (Deuteronomy 28:49) or protection (Matthew 23:37).

Full of eyes within - May be understood as a symbol of intelligence and ceaseless vigilance.

Rest not - Men customarily work by day and rest by night, but "he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalms 121:4). The divine power upholding the universe never relaxes.

Day and night - Night brings an intermission to most human activities, but it has no effect on the ceaseless stream of praise to God that issues forth from the beings of heaven.

Holy, holy, holy - This is also the cry of the seraphim in Isaiah's vision (see Isaiah 6:3).

Now let's look a little closer at the features of the beasts.

These living creatures are part of the Angelic host, and since they have six wings they are seraphim, and they have a very definite symbolic meaning for you and me. This symbolism was not foreign to the children of Israel; they understood this clearly because they have seen this before. As the children of Israel were going through the wilderness as they camped they erected the sanctuary and three of each of these tribes camped on each side of the sanctuary, on the East you had three tribes and the leading tribe was that of Judah, and Judah had a banner that hung in front of those three tribes, and on this banner was the picture of a lion.

To the south of the sanctuary you had the tribe of Ruben and two other tribes camped behind Ruben and on that banner was the picture of a man. To the West of the sanctuary you had the tribe of Ephraim with two more tribes behind Ephraim and on their banner was the picture of an ox. Then to the North you had the Eagle with the tribe of Dan and behind Dan two others. So these symbols were not strange to them they knew what these symbols represented, and they have great significance to us because those four living creatures also reveal to us the characteristics of Jesus.

We find the Lion of the tribe of Judah:

Revelation 5:5 "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Then you have Ruben, that was the banner of a man, and in Philippians 2 it says:

Philippians 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

So Christ's humanity is pictured there. And then you have the Ox of Ephraim, and we find in Numbers 7:

Numbers 7:88 "And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings..."

And so the Ox represented the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. Finally we have the Eagle:

Exodus 19:4 "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself."

Isaiah 40:31 "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

The Eagle was a symbol of the optimal ascendency that God envisioned for His people. So we can see that all these characteristics are the characteristics of Jesus.

It is also very interesting to note the four gospels. In the book of Matthew, you will find that Matthew speaks of Jesus as the King, (Lion) in fact if you take the genealogy in Matthew it traces it right back to King David and if you take the genealogy of Ruth it takes it right back to Adam. In the gospel of Luke this focuses on the humanity of Jesus (Man). The gospel of John speaks of the sacrifice of Jesus (Ox) – Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world (John 1:29). And in Mark this focuses on the divinity of Christ. There are more miracles recorded in the gospel of Mark than any of the other gospels, lifting Christ up, showing His divinity (Eagle). And this is why we have these four characteristics among those four living creatures.

Revelation 4:9-11 "9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

So these four living creatures give glory and honour to God before His throne. We see them here along with the 24 Elders. And everything from this point throughout the book of Revelation takes place in this throne room, every vision that John had was from the throne room.

When this cry of worship goes out from the seraphim, the 24 elders fall down and worship God, casting their crowns upon the ground before the throne, acknowledging that their victories have been derived though the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heavenly beings as well as men owe God thanks, for He has given them life. They exist by His pleasure. In the ultimate sense God owes His creatures nothing; they owe everything to Him. Praise God and His dear Son for they love us with an inexhaustible love.

Revelation - Chapter 5