spiritual battle, Four Living Creatures (Rev.4)

In chapter 4, we see a description of heaven after the rapture.

The fire (which is burning in the lampstands) is the seven Spirits of God who is the Holy Spirit.

Before the throne are the seven lamps (lampstands), which represents the Church.  Likewise, the sea of glass, like crystal, represents all believers who have just been raptured.

The 24 elders in chapter 4:4 and found below in 4:10 are assumed to be leaders in biblical history, perhaps men like Abraham, Moses, some of the other prophets, as well as the 12 disciples, but we are never told specifically.  We never read anywhere in scriptures that angels will receive crowns, so we can assume that these are believers who have received the highest honors and rewards for their faithful obedience to God's will...

(Revelation 4:5-6a)  Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal...

Around the throne are the four living creatures, which are probably NOT the four angels (cherubim) who are described in Ezekiel;  but are most likely the seraphim described in Isaiah...

(Revelation 4:6b-8)   ...and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

The four living creatures inspire the rest of heaven to worship along with them...

(Revelation 4:9-11)  And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

From this we see:
- the four living creatures who are at the center and around the throne are probably seraphim because...
- each living creature has 6 wings (4:8)
- the four living creatures are full of eyes in front and behind (4:6b)
- each living creature is full of eyes around and within (4:8)
- each living creature looked different.  We are not told if this described their bodies, or only their faces:
   - one looked like a lion
   - one looked like a calf
   - one had the face of a man
   - one looked like a flying eagle (4:7)
- the four living creatures/cherubim are stationed around the throne (4:6b)
- the four living creatures never cease to worship God (4:8)
- the four living creatures inspire the rest of heaven to worship along (4:9-10)

Personal experience:  as the angels will inspire the believers in heaven to give glory to God, so should we inspire each other.

Notice that the 24 elders who have been given crowns as their rewards for faithful obedience, give their crowns back to the Lord!!!  How inspiring for us today!!!

Today's takeaway:  God is so worthy!  So, in everything we say and do, we should be glorifying God...

(1 Corinthians 10:23)  All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 

(1 Corinthians 10:31-33)  Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

(1 Chronicales 16:8-36)  Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.
9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; speak of all His wonders.
10 Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
11 Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.
12 Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel His servant, sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
16 The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac.
17 He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance.”
19 When they were only a few in number, very few, and strangers in it,
20 And they wandered about from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their sakes, saying,
22 “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
24 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the Lord in holy array.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
32 Let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord; for He is coming to judge the earth.
34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
35 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.”
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting.

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.