Who are the four living creatures and what do they do?

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Rev 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. 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. 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: NKJV

There is much speculation about what these 4 creatures are and what they do. Notice that in verse 6 and verse 8 eyes are mentioned.

Dan 4:13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. NKJV

Dan 4:17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, NKJV

Daniel made mention of a class of holy ones, possibly angels, that made decisions concerning mankind. It sounds like they were an high order of angels to be able to pass sentences on man. Maybe high enough to be next to His Throne.

Rev 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. NKJV

Notice that in the opening of seals 1 to 4 one of the 4 living creatures beckoned John to look at what was under the seal. The seals 1 to 4 have to do with things happening on the earth. Things on earth are what the creatures seem to keep track of. Maybe it was the watchers that brought to the attention of God the wickedness of man prior to the flood. Maybe it was the watchers that raised the outcry against Sodom. We know that the watchers were actively involved in the affairs of Babylon.

I submit that the 4 creatures are the watchers that Daniel mentioned in his book.

[Charles Martel]

bye

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This is a good page on the subject...

The word translated "Beasts" should be translated "LIVING CREATURES," as in the Revised Version. The word here translated "beast" (Zoon), is not the same as the one translated "beast" (Therion) in chapters eleven, thirteen, and seventeen. The word here used means a "living being" or "creature," while the word used in chapters eleven, thirteen, and seventeen, means a wild, untamed animal. They are not angelic beings, for they are distinguished from the angels, who are mentioned as a class by themselves in Rev. 5:11. Neither are they representative of redeemed human beings, for they do not join in the Redemption Song. Rev. 5:8-10. The word "they" in this passage does not refer to the "Four Living Creatures," but to the "Four and Twenty Elders."

The "Four Living Creatures" are not in the same class with the "Elders," for they have no "thrones" or "crowns" or "harps" or "golden vials." They are the "Guardians" of the Throne of God, and accompany it wherever it goes. Ez. 1:24-28. They are four in number, which is the "earth number," and therefore have something to do with the earth. That is, they are interested in the "re-genesis" of the earth to its former glory before the Fall. They have eyes before and behind and within, which reveals their intelligence and spiritual insight of things past, present, and to come, and they are tireless in their service, for they rest not day nor night, saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

The first time these "Living Creatures" are mentioned in the Bible is in Gen. 3:24, where they are called "CHERUBIM," but are not described. They were placed at the entrance to the "Garden of Eden" to prevent the re-entrance of Adam and Eve, and to keep the way of the "Tree of Life." It would appear as if at the place where they were stationed there was a Tabernacle, a place of worship to which Cain and Abel resorted to make their offerings, and that it was from there that Cain went out from the "PRESENCE OF THE LORD." Gen. 4:16.

When Moses was given on the Holy Mount the pattern of the Tabernacle, he was instructed to make the "Ark of the Covenant" with two Cherubim upon it. Ex. 25:10-22. These Cherubim were guardians of the "Mercy Seat," or the place of God's PRESENCE when He in His "Shekinah Glory" visited the Tabernacle. But it is not until Ezekiel had his vision of the Cherubim (Ez. 1:1-28; 10:1-22), that we have a description of what they are like. See the the next page.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/tbr/tbr023.htm

I agree they are cherubim. I believe that the eyes tell use their purpose that is  why I went with watchers. This is just one of those questionable issues that really doesn't matter much. Thanks for the reply.