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Fulfilling the Mystery
The Book of Revelation is not simply about heaven but about heaven’s invasion of the earth. Since the invasion continues, the truths expressed in John’s visions are applicable to us today and reveal God’s throne (His sovereign rule).
And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 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. And 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!”
In considering the creatures in the throne room, let us first look at their number. Four seems to speak of universality. For example, we think of the four points of the compass. Then when Daniel spoke of events with worldwide impact, he spoke of the four winds of heaven (Daniel 7:2; 8:8; 11:4). Along this line, both Isaiah and the apostle John referred to the four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:12; Revelation 7:1; 20:8). Obviously, the earth does not have four corners. But these men were using prophetic language to describe the earth in its entirety. The number 4 seems to speak of whatever has a universal or worldwide impact.
God determined long ago to reveal the earthly life of His Son throughout Church history through the writings of four men. Those four were Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Notice that He did not choose three men or five. God was aiming for worldwide impact. In these four gospels we see Christ revealed as the lion, the ox, the man, and the flying eagle. In referring to the four creatures, Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown have this to say.
The Fathers identified them with the four Gospels, Matthew the lion, Mark the ox, Luke the man, John the eagle: these symbols, thus viewed, express not the personal character of the Evangelists, but the manifold aspect of Christ in relation to the world (four being the number significant of worldwide extension, e.g., the four quarters of the world) presented by them severally.[6]
Since his gospel was aimed at Jewish readers, it was fitting for Matthew to reveal Jesus as the Lion of Judah. He took great care to both present Christ as royalty and to begin His genealogy with Abraham the first Jew. Accordingly, he consistently used the phrase “Kingdom of heaven” instead of “Kingdom of God” because the Jews were careful to not use God’s name in vain and would speak of heaven when referring to Him.
Secondly, Mark revealed Christ as the calf or the ox, i.e., a beast of burden signifying His servant-hood. Since a servant would have no need of a listed genealogy, Mark gives none. A servant simply appears in order to serve. Throughout Mark’s gospel we see the term “immediately” or “straightway.” Jesus would immediately respond to the command of His Father, and diseases and demons would immediately respond to Him.
But when you get to Luke, you see Christ uniquely revealed as the man. His genealogy begins with Adam, the first man. And all throughout Luke’s gospel, Jesus refers to himself primarily as the Son of Man.
Finally, when you get to John, you see the one creature of the four that is of the heavens. You see the flying eagle – i.e., Jesus revealed in His deity. John starts his gospel with the startling statement: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then all through this gospel Jesus uses the phrase, “I am”. “I am the bread of life. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the way, the truth and the life. Before Abraham was born, I AM.” YHWH, the “I AM” of all eternity was walking among men in a body of flesh.
The four creatures in John’s vision speak of Christ revealed through a diverse plurality of people. Similarly, the gospels reveal Christ on paper through four men’s writings. So how do these thoughts apply to us today? God wants to manifest the fourfold revelation of Christ not just on paper, but through people in our generation. He wants to take the four, blend them together, and reveal His Son through a corporate body.
For example, in the Church we see believers who fit into the various ox, eagle, man, and lion categories. When those who are lion-like speak, they do so with authority and generally reign victoriously in life’s circumstances. Nothing seems to get them down. These are the encouragers and exhorters. While they have some significant areas of spiritual strength, they also have some weaknesses.
They need “oxen” walking beside them. God bless the believers who bear this likeness in the Spirit. They just put their heads down and serve. It does not matter if anybody remembers their names or their works. They are not looking to be noticed. They just want to serve. It is people like this that make the local church effective in practical terms. How we need the oxen.
Then there is the man. In this category there are many believers who have grace to persuasively connect with other people in the gospel. One category would be apologists. One thinks of men such as Derek Prince, Ravi Zacharias, and C.S. Lewis. Readers find it difficult to disagree when confronted with the writings of these men. Why? They connect so well with others on the level of the human mind. But this category has more to it than mere intellectual persuasiveness. It identifies with people in their humanity. For example, pastors are uniquely “people lovers”. Then there are those who excel in the gift of hospitality. And of course, we cannot forget those who consistently reach out to the poor, the prisoners, etc., and identify with them right in the midst of their circumstances.
Finally, there are the eagles. An eagle will see things from its vantage of flight that an ox will miss. And vice-versa. How we need the prophetic folks who seem to soar in the realms of the Spirit with different insight than many others in the local church. Such perspective does not mean they are necessarily more spiritual or closer to God. But they have been spiritually gifted to serve in a unique capacity. To be properly cared for they need to submit to the overseers of the church like everybody else. They may have divine insight (discernment about the roots of certain problems in either specific individuals or the local congregation) that mature leaders do not have. Wise shepherds will work with prophetic people by both listening to them and then helping them to handle what they see. Often, God’s gift of insight into certain local problems is His call to intercede for those very needs. The prophetic and intercessory ministries in the local church are closely intertwined, and each local congregation needs them functioning in a submitted revelatory manner.
To be clear, all believers express primarily one of the four categories in their lives and ministries. And yet in a very real sense, all believers will also bear some aspect of all of them. Indeed, all are called to serve, to reign in life, to soar in the Spirit, and to identify with people in their circumstances.
In the Old Testament, Ezekiel had a vision similar to John’s. He saw creatures each with the face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (Ezekiel 1). Scripture tells us that they were cherubim, i.e., angels (Ezekiel 10:15 - 20). These angels each had all four faces. Accordingly, each would not have to turn but would just go straight in any of four directions as the Spirit moved. As soon as the Spirit indicated, the angels would immediately respond.
As believers, our problem is that we do not have all four faces; we all have but one. The angels may be able to move without turning, but we cannot. Since God’s purpose is that His will be done among us as it is among the angels (Matthew 6:9-10), we must have people around us who can see what we cannot. If I am an ox, I need men, eagles, and lions. If I am a man, I need lions, eagles, and oxen around me. Each of us needs believers surrounding us who love God, are uniquely called by Him, and are yet quite different from us. Herein lies the mystery – it is Christ, revealed in a Body. When God’s diverse people stand together before His throne, His power is released to change the nations.
The truth is, we simply cannot succeed in God’s purpose without having a submissive heart. Others will see what we cannot. That does not mean they are necessarily any more holy or mature than we are. It just underscores our need for them. It is helpful to consistently ask those around us what they see. The truth is: we desperately need each other. Our individual perspectives alone cannot comprise the complete picture.
In John’s vision, the four throne room creatures were full of eyes in front. This could speak of having fullness of vision concerning things to come. In our day, many in the Church have predicted future events either wrongly or with substantial mixture and have brought confusion. One reason for such failure is a lack of apostolic teaching that defines our need to be submissively connected to others different from us in Christ’s body.
Prophets need teachers walking with them who are equally as strong and mature in ministry as they are. And vice-versa. But many times it is just easier to separate from one another when there is a diversity of viewpoints. Some have taken their prophetic ministry (or teaching ministry, etc.), opened an office, hired a secretary and have gone “on the road” with their perspective. But such an approach will never establish the apostolic vision that was revealed when Paul and Barnabas, two very different and powerful men in the Spirit, traveled together through the Roman Empire.
Often God’s testing of such powerful ministries will expose wrong heart attitudes and men will sometimes fail the test (See Acts 15:39). Further study of Paul and Barnabas’ lives reveals God’s faithfulness to heal torn relationships (1Corinthians 9:6). But if we do not see our need for diverse submitted plurality, our perspectives and predictions will be partial and limited. However, if we will submit to one another and walk in the diversity of the “four”, God will begin to give to us “fullness of eyes” looking forward. As He does so, we will begin to more accurately see what is coming on the earth. Indeed, there will come a day when world governments will again pay close attention to the prophets of God.
Secondly, the four creatures had fullness of eyes in back. How we need Christian historians who can accurately tell us what was going on in our past. For example, secular historians will tell us about the many military victories of Alexander the Great. “He was simply a superior military strategist!” But Alexander’s many victories against the Persians were due to much more than his great military tactics. The Book of Daniel reveals that God was shifting principalities in the heavens (Daniel 10:20). The fallen angelic power operating through Greece was going to displace the one operating through Persia. As a result, history reveals that Alexander the Great conquered a vastly larger Persian army with a much smaller one. A prophetically accurate view of history acknowledges the throne at the center of the universe, and inspires obedience in the present. Secular historians miss the throne. How then can their perspective accurately convey history? The psalmist David’s recognition of God’s past disciplines and deliverances of Israel brought him encouragement and hope for the future. We are no less needy than David for such a view of God’s faithful interventions in our lives and in the life of His Church. We need fullness of eyes in back of us. We need Christian historians. We need to understand where we have been so that we can learn from past generations.
Third, the creatures had fullness of eyes around them. This probably indicates the ability to look around and understand what is occurring in the present. While it is imperative to see into the future and also to understand the past, we must gain insight into God’s work in our own generation. Some say that God is not doing anything in their lives, their church, or their region. But unless one wants to describe himself as a Deist (one who holds to the view that God is not active in this world. He just set it up to run on its own according to a set of scientific principles), then the inactivity of God is simply not a theological option.[7] The problem is not an inactive God, but our own unfocused eyes. Our problem is limited vision. The solution lies in being connected and submitted to one another in Christ’s Body while we stand in the presence of God. It was the four creatures together as they stood in the throne room that had fullness of eyes around them.
Finally, the creatures had fullness of eyes within. This truth can be a little unnerving. Just when I think I understand my own heart, someone will come and tell me that they perceived a wrong attitude when I ministered God’s word. My first reaction might be to rebuke them. But truthfully, the fullness of eyes only comes in the togetherness of “the four”. None of us will ever gain fullness of vision into our hearts by standing alone. In other words, God will speak to us about each other. A brother will come to you and put his arm around you and say, “You know, when you spoke to your wife just now, I think it came across in a harsh manner.” “Really? I didn’t realize that.” “Yeah, bro, I could see it plain as day.” Friends should lovingly speak the truth to each other (Proverbs 27:6). Again, it is in the integrated togetherness of “the four” that there is fullness of eyes within. Over time, as believers spend time together, each one will begin to understand their own hearts. That can be a little scary when we see the approaching brethren who look like they might want to address what we just said.
Note the primary ministry of the four creatures.
...they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
When believers proclaim the holiness of He who was, they are looking back in history and announcing the absolute perfection of His dealing with the nations. “Lord, You have been totally holy in what you have done.” Then when they proclaim the holiness of He who is, they are declaring the beauty of His present work among the nations. Again, such worship must come from informed insight. Thirdly, they broadcast the holiness of He who is to come – the splendor of Him in His coming work on the earth.
As we look to the future, we can be assured that our holy God will do all things well. He will be holy in all that He does in dealing with our nation, our families, and our churches. With such an assurance we are able to stand and sing, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.” Our primary calling is to worship God. It is not primarily to evangelize the lost; it is primarily to worship, out of which will come insight into His heart for the lost. Our primary calling is not shepherding; it is primarily worship, out of which will come insight into His heart for His flock. It is in beholding Him and His awesome, holy majesty that we are changed.
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
Notice that when the creatures worship, the elders do not put on clerical robes and sit on a raised platform. In fact, they do just the opposite. They fall down before Him who sits on the throne, they worship Him, and they cast their crowns down before Him. This is what elders do. The whole point of eldership is not to become the focus of the Church, but to disappear as Jesus comes increasingly into view. Leaders do not have to make sure everyone knows who they are unless something occurs that distracts corporate attention from the Lord. Eldership is to equip the saints, to assist in the integrating of the congregation, so that the “four creatures” are worshipping God. Out of such diversity, Jesus will be revealed. And when the Church is making Him known, she is functioning properly. When the people are submitted to each other and worship is ascending to the Lamb, the elders can say as a team, “It is working”. They can then take their crowns (symbols of authority), cast them before the Lord, get down into the midst of the people, and worship Jesus. Simply put, He is the point; we’re not. Proper church order is not about the people gathering to leaders or even to Christ as He is interpreted through those leaders. We are simply gathering to Him; He alone is our focus.
In the next chapter, we will look at the fact that God’s Kingdom is a mystery. Without revelation, we will never understand His work or His ways. Praise God that it is not His intent to leave us in the dark but to open up to us the mysteries of eternity. In fact, His gracious desire to reveal to us His ways is one of the main reasons He went to the cross.
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