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Rev 4:6-7 – Part 7, 16 Characteristics

Posted March 8, 2024

This study will cover the last three characteristics which are common to chapters 1 and 10 of the book of Ezekiel concerning the description of the throne of God and the four beast in the middle of and around God’s throne.

Our first characteristic in today’s study is:

14)  A blue throne is common to both chapters.

A sapphire blue throne is seen above the sapphire blue firmament over the heads of the four living creatures, showing us that in the heavens the creatures are subject to him who first sits upon the blue throne in “the likeness as the appearance of a man”, the “son of man.”

Eze 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.

Eze 10:1  Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

It is “in the middle of and round about” this blue throne that these figures of those who are redeemed out of every nation are seated with Christ and His Father.

Rev 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.
Rev 4:2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 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.
Rev 4:7  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.
Rev 4:8  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.
Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10  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,
Rev 4:11  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.

As noted above concerning the color of the firmament, sapphires may come in other colors, but they are generally blue. The throne, we are told is blue. Everything pertaining to spiritual significance of the color of the firmament is also true for the spiritual significance of the color of the throne which is upon that firmament. In our study on the spiritual significance of colors in scripture, we saw that the color blue is associated with the things of the heavens themselves. That is especially true as it pertains to these patterns and figures of the true heavens, which we are now considering.

15)  The likeness of a man is common to both chapters 1 and chapter 10. In part 4 of this study of Revelation 4, we covered the four faces of the four living creatures, and we noted that one of those four faces was “the face of a man.” Another characteristic of these four living creatures is the fact that their overall appearance was “the lines of a man” which is mentioned in both chapters:

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 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 all serves to confirm who these four living creatures tell us they signify:

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.

These are the same words used to describe the Lord’s firstfruits who will be “kings and priest with Christ for a thousand years and then judge angels with Christ in the lake of fire:

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Reigning on the earth with Christ takes place after the “blessed and holy… first resurrection, which Christ called “the resurrection of life”, and which He contrasted with “the resurrection of judgment” for those who are not judged in this present life:

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [G2920: krisis, judgment, the great white throne judgment/ lake of fire/second death].

It will be those signified by these “four beasts in the midst of and round about the throne”, these “four living creatures of Daniel 1 and 10, who will live and reign with Christ over the kingdoms of this world” (Rev 11:15) for a thousand years:

Rev 20:1  And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands [signified by “four beasts; four living creatures”]; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

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.

These are the exceeding great and precious promises given to us by our Lord for no reason other than “it pleased him” (1Co 12:18, 1Co 15:38, Col 1:19)

Gen 15:1  After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram [“if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29)] I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

16) The glory of the Lord is common to both chapters 1 and 10.

Both chapters are a description of “the glory of the Lord”, and just as in the book of Revelation, ‘the glory of the Lord’ is described as being “the appearance of the brightness… of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain.”

Eze 1:28  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.

Eze 10:4  Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, [and stood] over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.

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

How does God display His glory? God’s glory and His sovereignty are revealed in His elect.  Our entire lives are to be in His service and to His glory “as the voice of Almighty God.”

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

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:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Summary

These are sixteen characteristics of the patterns and figures of the heavenly things themselves. They are all concerning the “glory of the Lord that that is to be revealed in us.”

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

They are:

1) The cloud in which this whole scene is revealed, which cloud we all are.
2) The four living creatures of Ezekiel 1, called cherubims in Ezekiel 10, and called four beasts throughout the book of Revelation.
3) Their four faces, said to be all four common to each creature in Ezekiel, and revealed to also be distinct creatures each one with one of these four faces, in the book of Revelation, and demonstrated as such in each of the four gospels.
4) The four wings of these four living creatures or four cherubims, represent the faith which the whole body of God’s elect have in the promised protection of our heavenly Father. We are “the apple of His eye”, and He will “never leave nor forsake us” (Heb 13:5).

Zec 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Heb 13:5  Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “ I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” (WEB)

5) “The hands of a man under the wings of the four living creatures” demonstrate for us that God has placed His entire work in the hands of “the man Christ Jesus.”

1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

As His Father has placed His work in “the hands” of “the man Christ Jesus”, Christ has in turn, placed the work His Father gave Him into “the hands” of His Christ.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

There is great peace in knowing that we are all in the hands of “the man, Christ Jesus” and that He has sent us as His Father sent Him. The “hands of a man” demonstrate who these four living creatures are. They four have “the hands of a man, the face of a man and the appearance of a man.” They are redeemed of mankind out of every nation on earth, and they will reign with Him over the kingdoms of this world for a thousand years.

6) “They turned not when they went” (Eze 1:17). Being sent by Christ as He is sent by His Father, these four living creatures “turn not as they go” simply because all things are being worked after the counsel of God’s own will, and there is “no shadow of turning with Him.”

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:

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.

Every move made by these four living creatures was “written in His book, even the days ordained for them, before there were any of those days.”

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

7)  “Whither the spirit was to go they went” is common to both chapters one and ten.

This singleness of mind demonstrates for us the unity that is in the body of the Christ. The Christ is not a schizophrenic, and there are no conflicting doctrines and denominations in the church which is His body.

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:

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 [no denominations] among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1Co 12:25  that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

8) The “one likeness” of the four wheels “upon the earth” is common to both chapters.

“One likeness” demonstrates the “one event” that is common to all men. “They four had one likeness.” ‘Four’ is spiritual language for the whole of any given subject, and the subject with which these four wheels are concerned is the whole of God’s elect, to whom “all things come alike.”  “That one likeness is the “one event” which “comes alike to all.”

“Each in his own order” will experience the revelation of Jesus Christ:

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.

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.

9) The work of the four wheels was as it were a wheel within a wheel, is common to both chapters.

“A wheel within a wheel” signifies and demonstrates the secret which has been hidden from the generations but is now revealed to us. It is the outgrowth of knowing that Christ is in His Father, and His Father is in Him. The spiritual significance of the wheel within a wheel is Christ in us and us in Him.

Joh 14:20  In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Col 1:26  even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,
Col 1:27  to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The “wheel within a wheel” is “ye in me, and I in you.”

10) The color of the wheels is the color of a beryl stone, is common to both chapters.

Beryl is blue, and Christ’s body is also the color of a beryl stone. Blue is the color of the heavens. This tells us that if we are like Christ, then we, too, are the color of beryl and fire, because we are “as He is in this world.”

Eze 8:2  Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

Dan 10:6  his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Christ came to bring fire. If we are like Him, then our words will also be the fiery Words that He spoke.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Beryl typifies the fire that is the word of God in all those who are His. A blue flame is what a welder wants because it is so hot.

11) The wheels being “full of eyes round about” is in both chapters.

These eyes signify the spiritual understanding and spiritually seeing the things of the spirit. Seeing and understanding that “all things are ours” is seeing everything by being “full of eyes round about.”

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

It requires being “full of eyes round about” to see and to understand that “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Very few have eyes to see or ears to hear those words:

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

12) The firmament above the four creatures is under the throne in both chapters.

This ‘firmament’ signifies the time and work in which we are  hammered out and conformed by the Lord and His Word into the image of His Son. The root of the word firmament means to hammer out.

Gen 1:7  And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Gen 1:8  And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

The color of the firmament is blue, like the color of the throne above the firmament. Both signify the heavens of our hearts and minds but the one is below the other, as we are the progressive work of our Savior who is above us, as the head is above the body.

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

13) The sound of the wings is as the sound of many waters and as the voice of the Almighty is common to both chapters.

Eze 1:24  And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

Eze 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.

The sound of the wings of the four living creatures is the word of God in these cherubims who are the figures of the true heavens which ‘true heavens’ speak forth the truths of the king of the kingdom of the heavens.

14) The blue throne upon the blue firmament is found in both chapters.

This blue throne and blue firmament are the figure of the heavens themselves where in Christ is king and in whose hearts and minds He rules as sovereign in all things. Christ is said to sit upon both His throne, “clothed with a cloud” (Rev 10:1). This is the throne where we are to reign with Christ. It is the throne in the heavens where Christ and His Father dwell, and it is the throne on which we are seated with both Christ and His Father.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

15) The likeness of a man is the overall description of these four living creatures:

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 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.

16) Our final figure of the things of the true heavens which is common to both chapter 1 and chapter 10 of Ezekiel is “the glory of the Lord.”

We are the true heavens and we are that glory.  It is in us that He is glorified, and we glory in Him:

1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

2Co 10:17  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

2Th 1:10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

This concludes our study of the throne of God as described to us in Revelation 4. This is the glory of the place where the Lord and His Father dwell.