Revelation 4:8

 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.  And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!”

 

·        The songs heard:  they adore one God, and one only, the Lord God Almighty.  They adore three holies in this one God. (MH)

·        The cherubim constantly repeat the phrase holy, holy, holy. God’s holy nature and character is declared, and emphasized with a three-time repetition.  (DG)

Isaiah 6:3  and one cried to another and said:  “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”

Ezekiel 1:18  As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them.

Revelation 4:7

 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

·        Like a lion . . . like a calf . . . a face like a man . . . like a flying eagle: John describes four cherubim, each with a different face. From comparison with Ezekiel 1:6-10, we can see that each of the cherubim have four faces, and at the moment, John sees each one of the four different faces pointed in his direction. (DG)

·        The four different faces of the cherubim are often taken as symbols of Jesus as represented in each gospel. In classical church architecture, these four “characters” are repeated often as a motif that signifies both heaven and the four gospels. (DG)

Isaiah 6:2  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Ezekiel 1:10  As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

Revelation 4:6

 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.  And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

·        In this all those must be washed that are admitted into the gracious presence of God (MH)

·        Living creatures – four animals – between the throne and the circle of the elders (as seems most probable), standing between God and the people (MH)

Exodus 24:10  and they saw the God of Israel.  And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.

Ezekiel 1:5  Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures.  And this was their appearance:  they had the likeness of a man.

Revelation 4:5

 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.  Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

·        God gave the Law with lightnings and voices; thus the gospel has not less glory and authority than the law (MH)

·        Lamps speak of the various gifts, graces, and operations of the Spirit of God (MH)

Exodus 19:16  Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Zechariah 4:2  And he said to me, “What do you see?”  So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.

Revelation 4:4

 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

·        Some translations don’t include “twenty-four” but only thrones.

·        Twenty-four may be 12 apostles and 12 leaders of tribes of Israel

·        Crown of gold signify the honor and authority given them of God, and the glory they have with Him (MH)

Psalm 21:3-6  For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head…..

Exodus 4:29  Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.

Revelation 4:3

 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

·        God is not described by any human features, so as to be represented by an image, but only by his transcendent brightness (MH)

·        The rainbow was the seal and token of the covenant of providence that God made with Noah (MH)

Ezekiel 1:26  And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.

Daniel 7:9  I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated:  His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.  His throne was a fiery flame.

Revelation 4:2

 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

·        Throne set in heaven – the seat of honor, and authority, and judgment (MH).

·        One sat on the throne – That was God (MH)

Isaiah 6:1  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple

Jeremiah 17:12  A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary