What Are The Four Living Creatures In Revelation?

Last updated on: December 27, 2015 at 12:50 pm by Jack Wellman

What Are The Four Living Creatures In Revelation? 2015-12-27T12:50:18-06:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What or who are the four living creatures in the Book of Revelation?

The Four Living Creatures

The first appearance of the four living creatures comes in Revelation 4:8 where the Apostle John writes about “a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this” (Rev 4:1) and John saw “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal” (Rev 4:4-6a). The “twenty-four elders” who are “clothed in white garments” and had “golden crowns on their heads” may well symbolize the believers who have repented and trusted in Christ and as such, may represent the church. They could also be angelic messengers but other theologians, such as Dr. R.C. Sproul, feels that they are the overcomers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them which Jesus spoke about to the disciples in John 14:1-4.

The Four Living Creatures Purpose

As we continue in Revelation 4, “the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Rev 4:8). These creatures could be cherub angels whose job is to worship God non-stop, 24/7 and “whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying” (Rev 4:9-10). Like the angels, the twenty-four elders also worship Him Who is seated on the throne” and Him “who lives forever and ever” clearly meaning Jesus Christ. Their praise ought to be our praise too as they proclaim “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Rev 4:11). Since Jesus is also known as the Creator, this seems to be angelic beings those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb who are worshiping Christ.

John’s Vision

In Revelation chapter 5 we read where, in the Apostle John’s vision, he “saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Rev 5:1-5). Of course, this “Lamb” is Jesus Christ who was the only one worthy to open the scroll for Jesus is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” and “the root of David.” No one else “in heaven or earth or under the earth (the dead) were “able to open the scroll.” Jesus alone is most worthy.

Who are the Four Living Creatures?

Next, John continues to write about the “four living creatures” in the Book of Revelation chapter 5 where the Apostle John writes that “between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev 5:6-8). Ezekiel also mentions four living creatures in Ezekiel 1:5 where he writes about four living creatures so these creatures are not confined to the Book of Revelation.

Conclusion

All I know for sure is that those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, will join with the four living creatures and they will also worship the Lamb of God for ever and ever for as John writes, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Rev 4:11).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Bible Answers

Four Living Creatures

Lamb of God

Previous Post

December 26, 2015

What Is Demonic Oppression?

Next Post

December 27, 2015 How Can I Avoid Being Left Behind When The Rapture Occurs?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm contains "Create in me a clean heart, O God"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 33 Psalm 70 Psalm 51 Psalm 110