Revelation 4:6-7 – Four Beasts – Part 5
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Revelation 4:6-7 – Four Beasts, Part 5
Updated February 23, 2024
Introduction
Last week we discovered the spiritual significance of the cloud, the four living creatures and the four faces of those four living creatures. Let us not forget that these are all patterns of the things of the heavens themselves:
Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [the blood of bulls and goats]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
I have been telling you that there were fourteen things which these two chapters have in common, but as my studies continued, I discovered that there are at least sixteen. That is two more which we must examine. Last week we examined three characteristics which Ezekiel 1 and 10 have in common. This week we will examine another five of the remaining thirteen things which these two chapters have in common concerning the spiritual significance of the patterns of the heavenly things themselves.
The five topics we will look at this week are the spiritual meaning of 1) four wings on each of the four cherubs, 2) the hands of a man under the wings of each cherub, 3) the spiritual significance of “they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward”, 4) the spiritual meaning of “whither the spirit was to go, they went” and 5) “they four had one likeness” as it pertains to the four wheels which are by the four cherubims.
Patterns of The Heavenly Things Themselves
4) Each creature having four wings is common to both chapters. There are four wings because they signify the whole spirit of the whole body of Christ. Four is the whole of anything. In this case, it is the body of Christ and the spirit of Christ in that body.
Here is the link to the study of the number four: Number four
Eze 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Eze 1:11 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.
Eze 1:23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
Eze 10:21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
It is also under His wings that God protects his elect:
Rth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Psa 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Psa 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.
Christ tells us that it is under His wings that we are protected.
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Psa 46:1 A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
‘Wings’ in scripture, as do all things in scripture, have both a positive and a negative application. It is on “the wings of a stork” that the “two women” take the curse of wickedness into the land of Babylon or Shinar.
Zec 5:5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what [is] this that goeth forth.
Zec 5:6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
Zec 5:7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
Zec 5:8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
Zec 5:9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
Zec 5:10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
Zec 5:11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
5) “They had the hands of a man under their wings“ is common to both chapters..
Eze 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 10:21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
The fact that we are reading of ‘hands’ tells us that God uses Christ as His own hands, and He has placed the implementation of His entire plan into Christ’s hands. Christ, in turn has called and sent us, just as His Father has called and sent Him.
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
This is one more connection between these “four living creatures… four cherubims… and four beasts” to mankind who are “all in Adam.” Remember that many times when you see the word ‘man’ in the Old Testament, it is often translated from the Hebrew word ‘adam.’ These four living creatures, cherubims or beasts, may have wings and four faces on each creature, but one of those faces is “the face of a man”, and they have “the likeness of a man” in an overall way, and now we learn that they “have the hands of a man under their wings.”
Eze 1:5 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.
Eze 1:10 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.
These creatures signify just who they tell us they are:
Rev 5:8 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.
Rev 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;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
6) The fact that the four living creatures and the four wheels don’t need to turn to go wherever the spirit wants to go is common to both chapters. They always go straight forward. This is repeated a total of six times in these two chapters.
Eze 1:9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
Eze 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
Eze 1:17 When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not when they went.
This is repeated three times in this one chapter, and then three more times in chapter 10. This is the holy spirit placing great emphasis upon the sovereignty of God’s “no shadow of turning” hand in all things. This is nothing less than a commentary on both God’s sovereignty and His omnipresence. How else can the four faces never turning be explained?
Eze 10:11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
Eze 10:16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
What need is there for an omnipresent spirit to ‘turn as he goes’?
Psa 139:5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Psa 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Psa 139:10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Psa 139:11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Psa 139:12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
The “marred vessel of clay”, which we all are, the serpent and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil are one and all proclaimed by their Creator to be “very good” for fulfilling their God-ordained purpose (Gen 1:31). ‘Mankind is but a beast’ and our “evil experience” are all being worked “after the counsel of His own will” (Ecc 3:18, Ecc 1:13, Eph 1:11). There is “one event to all” and it was all ‘written in His book before it ever was’ (Psa 139:16). Therefore He “turns not as He goes.”
7) “Whither the spirit was to go, they went” is common to both chapters. The fact that these four living creatures and their four wheels are led by God’s spirit is emphasized in both chapters. We are thrice told “the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.”
Eze 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
Eze 1:20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.Eze 10:17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
The wheels “upon the earth” and the four living creatures have one mind and one spirit and are working in total agreement and in unison.
Eze 1:19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
There is no schism in the true body of Christ. It wants only to please Him.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is [the] Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
There is no mention of a chariot because, as we are later informed, this whole swirling cloud is His chariot. The Lord presents us as His means of transportation.
Psa 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
8) That the four wheels were all exactly alike is common to both chapters. What this tells us is that what these four living creatures experience, as God’s channel for saving all men, is the “one event” which is common to all men, “the righteous, and the wicked.”
Eze 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
Eze 10:10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
This is the “one likeness” of “all things [which] come alike to all” of mankind.
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he] that feareth an oath.
Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
Summary
The five topics we have examined today are:
1) Four wings on each of the four cherubs. We saw that four, as always, means ‘the whole’ of whatever is under consideration. In this case wings are under consideration, and wings mean protection. What we learn from the four wings on each cherub is that our entire refuge is the Lord, and we can do nothing without Him.
2) The hands of a man under the wings of each cherub. The fact that we are discussing ‘hands’ tells us that this is God’s channel for doing His works. He has placed His entire plan of salvation into the hands of a man named Jesus Christ, and Christ in turn has called and sent us as His Father has called and sent Him. The “hand of a man under the wings of the cherubims” once again connects these cherubims to mankind.
3) The spiritual significance of “they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.” This statement is a commentary on both the omnipresence and the omnipotent sovereignty of God. “There is no shadow of turning with Him and all things are being worked by Him, “yes, even the wicked” (Pro 16:4).
4) The spiritual meaning of “whither the spirit was to go, they went;” This, of course, is just one more of the many statements in scripture which inform us that we are not to allow heresies into our spiritual house, and we are to speak the same thing and be of the same mind as the spirit itself. That spirit, of course, is “the Words that I speak unto you.”
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
5) “And they four had one likeness:” as it pertains to the four wheels which are by the four cherubims. Once again, the unity of heart, mind, spirit and purpose is being driven home. There are no “nonessentials” anywhere in the Word of God. All mankind will live by every word of God and will all experience “one event”.
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
Next week, Lord willing, we will examine a few more of the patterns of the things of the heavens themselves.
Other related posts
- The Souls Under The Altar 2013 (July 11, 2005)
- The Revelation Of Jesus Christ Part 1 Introduction (January 14, 2007)
- Revelation 9:5-12 (March 20, 2010)
- Revelation 9:3-4 (March 20, 2010)
- Revelation 9:17-21 (March 27, 2010)
- Revelation 9:13-16 (March 19, 2010)
- Revelation 9:1-2 (February 12, 2010)
- Revelation 8:8-9 (January 15, 2010)
- Revelation 8:7 (January 8, 2010)
- Revelation 8:3-4 (December 29, 2009)
- Revelation 8:12-13 (February 12, 2010)
- Revelation 8:10-11 (January 22, 2010)
- Revelation 8:1-6 - Part 2 (December 26, 2009)
- Revelation 8:1-6 - Part 1 (February 11, 2010)
- Revelation 7:9-17 - I Beheld, and, lo, a Great Multitude (December 13, 2009)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Who Are The 144,000 - Part 1 (February 11, 2010)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Part 3 - Who Are The 144,000 (November 23, 2009)
- Revelation 7:4-8 - Part 2 - Who Are The 144,000 (December 25, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 5 - What Is The Seal of Our God? (November 25, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 3 and 4 - What Hurts The Earth, Sea, And Trees? (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 2 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 7:1-3 - Part 1 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:9-11 - The Souls Under the Altar (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:5-6 The Black Horse (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:12-17 - Part 2 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:12-17 - Part 1 (November 18, 2009)
- Revelation 6:1-4 (August 22, 2009)
- Revelation 5:7-10 (July 31, 2009)
- Revelation 5:4-6 (August 4, 2009)
- Revelation 5:11-14 (August 8, 2009)
- Revelation 5:1-3 - Who Can Open the Book? Part 1 (July 4, 2009)
- Revelation 4:8-9 Wings of the Seraphim (June 25, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 6 (June 14, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 5 (June 14, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 4 (May 23, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 3 (May 16, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 2A (May 9, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6-7 - Four Beasts - Part 1 (May 7, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6 - Sea of Glass - Part 2 (May 2, 2009)
- Revelation 4:6 - Sea of Glass - Part 1 (April 30, 2009)
- Revelation 4:4-5 Four and Twenty Elders (April 11, 2009)
- Revelation 4:10-11 (June 28, 2009)
- Revelation 4:1-3 His Throne in Heaven - Part 1 (April 7, 2009)
- Revelation 3:7-9 (February 13, 2009)
- Revelation 3:4-6 - Sardis, Part 3 (February 7, 2009)
- Revelation 3:3 - Sardis, Part 2 (January 30, 2009)
- Revelation 3:19-22 Laodicea, Part 3 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 3:18 (March 14, 2009)
- Revelation 3:14-18 (March 21, 2009)
- Revelation 3:10-13 - Philadelphia, Part 2 (February 19, 2009)
- Revelation 3:1-2 Sardis, Part 1 (January 30, 2009)
- Revelation 2:8-11 - Smyrna (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 2:26-29 (January 17, 2009)
- Revelation 2:21-25 (January 10, 2009)
- Revelation 2:18-20 (January 6, 2009)
- Revelation 2:12-17 - Part 2 (December 26, 2008)
- Revelation 2:12-17 - Part 1 (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 2:1-7 (December 24, 2008)
- Revelation 22:6-10 (June 4, 2011)
- Revelation 22:16-21 (June 25, 2011)
- Revelation 22:11-15 (June 11, 2011)
- Revelation 22:1-5 (May 26, 2011)
- Revelation 21:9-12 (May 26, 2011)
- Revelation 21:4-8 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:23-27 (May 15, 2011)
- Revelation 21:18-22 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:13-17 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 21:1-3 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 20:7-10 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 20:11-15 (October 26, 2011)
- Revelation 20:1-6 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 1:9 - Part 2 (August 8, 2008)
- Revelation 1:9 - Part 1 (August 8, 2008)
- Revelation 1:8 (July 25, 2008)
- Revelation 1:7 - Behold, He Cometh with Clouds... (July 19, 2008)
- Revelation 1:6 (July 10, 2008)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 2 - First Begotten of the Dead (July 10, 2008)
- Revelation 1:5 - Part 1 (June 20, 2008)
- Revelation 1:4 Part 2 (January 22, 2009)
- Revelation 1:4 Part 1 (June 6, 2008)
- Revelation 1:18-20 (December 6, 2008)
- Revelation 1:17 (November 24, 2008)
- Revelation 1:16 - Part 2 (November 15, 2008)
- Revelation 1:16 - Part 1 (January 22, 2009)
- Revelation 1:15 (November 1, 2008)
- Revelation 1:14 (October 25, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13, Part 2 - One Like unto the Son of Man (October 3, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13 - Part 4 (November 17, 2008)
- Revelation 1:13 - Part 1 (September 19, 2008)
- Revelation 1:11-12 (September 13, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 3 (October 23, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 2 (August 23, 2008)
- Revelation 1:10 - Part 1 (August 15, 2008)
- Revelation 1:1-2 - Read, Hear and Keep These Words (July 24, 2008)
- Revelation 19:6-10 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:20 (November 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:17-21 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:11-16 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 19:1-5 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:9-14 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:5-8 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:24 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:20-23 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:15-19 (May 13, 2011)
- Revelation 18:1-4 (December 29, 2010)
- Revelation 17:7-11 (December 10, 2010)
- Revelation 17:12-18 (December 29, 2010)
- Revelation 17:1-6 (December 10, 2010)
- Revelation 16:4-9 (October 22, 2010)
- Revelation 16:17-21 (November 13, 2010)
- Revelation 16:10-16 (November 7, 2010)
- Revelation 16:1-3 (October 15, 2010)
- Revelation 15:5-8 to Revelation 16:1-3 (October 15, 2010)
- Revelation 15:1-4 (October 9, 2010)
- Revelation 14:6-12 (September 16, 2010)
- Revelation 14:13-20 (September 23, 2010)
- Revelation 14:1-5 (September 11, 2010)
- Revelation 13:6-9 (August 6, 2010)
- Revelation 13:3-5 (July 29, 2010)
- Revelation 13:14-18 (September 3, 2010)
- Revelation 13:10-13 (August 19, 2010)
- Revelation 13:1-2 (July 22, 2010)
- Revelation 12:7-9 (July 2, 2010)
- Revelation 12:14-17 (July 16, 2010)
- Revelation 12:10-13 (July 9, 2010)
- Revelation 12:1-6 (June 25, 2010)
- Revelation 11:7-14 (May 8, 2010)
- Revelation 11:5-6 (April 30, 2010)
- Revelation 11:4 (April 22, 2010)
- Revelation 11:15-17 (June 12, 2010)
- Revelation 11:1-3 (April 18, 2010)
- Revelation 10:5-11 (April 9, 2010)
- Revelation 10:1-4 (April 12, 2010)
- Rev 1:3 How do we Keep the Sayings of this Book? (January 22, 2009)
- Rev 1:13, Part3 - Christ Revealed in the Law of the Offerings (October 11, 2008)