I am currently making my way through Revelation. I was
reticent because of all the imagery and prophecy, but according to John, it is
just as important as the rest of Scripture. After working through the letters
to the churches, John is shown a vision of the throne room. Aside from the 24
elders, it is quite similar to the account in Ezekiel except that it seems to
be from a different perspective. In Ezekiel it seems to be looking up toward
the throne, while John seems to be level with the throne.
There are two things that struck me while reading the two
accounts. One is that there is a separation between the four angels and God,
but the elders are around God. This seems to indicate a place of authority of
believers over even the angels. The second realization was what the four angels
represent. They appear as a man, lion, ox, and eagle, and they worship God for
all eternity. The notes in my Bible indicate they represent the “kings” of
their field, lions over the wild animals, oxen over the domesticated animals,
and eagles over the birds, and of course man over creation. I was trying to
understand, “Why four animals as angels?” Then it hit me; all of creation
glorifies God. Not just Man, but all the animals as well. All of creation is
the manifestation of His glory, and all of it must worship Him.
