The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

7. and the first living creature like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature having the face as of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.

The first living creature is a lion. The lion is a parable representing all the wild beasts of the world. It is “full of eyes” to represent the eyes of every wild beast that lives. God, through the Holy Spirit, is in touch with every living being in the world. If the lion, the bear, the tiger, the wolf, the rabbit, the squirrel, any wild animal sees something, God sees it.
The second living creature is a calf. The “calf” is a parable of every living domesticated animal in the world. If the calf, the foal, the donkey, the dog, the cat, the chickens, see something, God sees it. All of their eyes are His.
The third living creature has the face of a man. Man is a parable for every human on the face of the Earth. If someone sees you do something, including yourself, God sees it.
The fourth living creature is like a flying eagle. The eagle is a parable for every bird in the world. If a flying eagle, a swan, a pigeon, a robin, a sparrow, or a hummingbird, sees you doing something, God sees it.
There is nothing that can be done, anywhere in the world, that God will not see and know.
And in God’s time, you will reap, what you have sown.

<><=======><>
Gary Sechler
The fish is an ancient symbol for a Christian.
A Christian should go anywhere God leads
and leave behind a trail of fairness and equality

are you implying that if any of the creatures don't see something then God doesn't either?

are you saying God is Constrained by what other beings see?

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

paco - You asked: "are you implying that if any of the creatures don't see something then God doesn't either?"

Hardly, If you remember the setting in Rev 4, John has given us a mental picture of God seated on his throne in heaven with the 24 elders seated on their thrones in His presence. I believe that that would best be pictured as a large circle, with God being the beginning and the end of that circle. They are, according to John supported by a "crystal" or "glass" sea. The main reason for "glass" is to be able to see through it. So we have a scene of God and all 24 elders looking down upon the earth. The 4 living creatures are posted at the 4 corners of God's throne. It actually says, "in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne," In Ezekiel 1 they are posted at the 4 corners. I take the "midst" to mean that they were close about the throne. The idea is that if God is looking down at earth, the 4 living creatures are covering anything that God and the elders do not see. The idea was to get across the point that there is nothing happening upon this earth, at any place, at any time, under any conditions, that would not be known by God. The key point is the living creature with the face of a man. Those who think they can do something that will go unseen are represented by all the eyes of this living creature. If they do something, they, of course, see what they have done, if they see it, God sees it. When they face God, they become witnesses for the prosecution, against themselves.
John and Ezekiel both left off one of the most important parables of the power of God to know what is going on here on earth. They both fill the creatures with eyes, but they should have also have been covered with ears. If you have ever prayed a silent prayer and knew that God heard it, you should understand the parable of the ears. God hears the thoughts of all as well as seeing the actions of all. That is what Jesus was referring to in Matt. 5:27. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
He was warning the people of that time as well as everyone who has read or was taught that, that God knew their thoughts.

You continue, "are you saying God is Constrained by what other beings see?"

The only thing that constrains God, is God.

Thank you, paco, for the opportunity.

<><=======><>
Gary Sechler
The fish is an ancient symbol for a Christian.
A Christian should go anywhere God leads
and leave behind a trail of fairness and equality

Dailybread - There are many traditions of the church that are incorrect, but do no harm, the ones you cite are worthy of noting, they add to the glory of God, and do no harm.

<><===><>
Gary

Humm.

I suppose this answers the age old question - - - . If a Tree falls in the forest, and no one is near, and no one hears it fall, then it makes no noise.

Was perhaps a monk, who thought up this riddle - - - after studying Rev 4:7?

Bert

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

the 4 living creatures are best seen imo as 4 cherubim -- there may well indeed be secondary levels of meaning encapsulated here but the most obvious starting pt in understanding is that these are 4 of the 7 Mentioned cherubim

DB -- are you sure you've got the animals associated with the correct Gospels?

Matthew -- lion -- Jesus as the Messiah -- the lion of the tribe of Judah -- what Jesus Said...
Mark -- ox -- Jesus as the Servant -- what Jesus Did...
Luke -- man -- Jesus as the Son of Man -- what Jesus Became...
John -- eagle -- Jesus as the Son of God -- who Jesus Was/Is...

it is also interesting that these were the 4 ensigns used by the 12 tribes

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

DB -- despite the beauty of the stained glass, the associations i listed make more sense to me

from "your" presentation:
Matthew -- human -- this is weak but ok imo -- sure there's the geneology bit but that pts to Jesus as Messiah -- lion of the tribe of Judah...
Mark -- lion -- this 1 makes zero sense -- you say Mark deals with the Resurrection yet i'm not sure you could make that case vs. the other 3
Luke -- ox -- this 1 is weak but ok imo -- still, the tie to Adam in the geneology reveals this is about His Humanity
John -- eagle - we agree on the tie-in -- clearly the focus of John speaks to Jesus as God

the above associations aren't necessarily incorrect (well, not sure about Mark's) -- still, they lack, comparatively speaking, with the 1s i shared -- they seem to lack the proper scope -- i dunno -- i'd not heard your version before -- who came up with this? -- Irenaeus?

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

DB -- the view you shared is interesting though i still see it as less encompassing in capturing the Gospels -- your last explanation helps me to better see how the associations were derived (i.e., from the openings of each Book) -- of course, the minute you mention "Matthew begins w/ the human genealogy" i'm thinking "but compare that w/ Luke's genealogy!" (i.e., it ends w/ Adam)

focusing on how the Gospels begin is legit tho i'd rather examine the theme of each Book to assign meaning & analogy -- it's simply my choice vs. something that's right or wrong

you say this dates possibly to the Apostles -- interesting -- i'll have to investigate that later next month when i am freed from my time constraint chains unless you have something handy...

another interesting claim -- the link may have credence @ 1 level but it seems to me that the Word Tells us of a more direct meaning, that they were actual beings -- so i'd take a more literal view of Rev 4 -- the focus would then be less on a couple honored individuals & more on God imo -- besides, the Apostles already have honor Given (Rev. 21:14) -- so i would discount this ECF view as probably erroneous, however well-intentioned

"Church history" has its place & should be examined & esteemed -- however, it's my understanding the Catholic Church elevates this on par with the Word -- i find that action w/o merit & fraught with peril -- the Church was jacked up in Rev 2-3, let alone the problems that crept up in Gal. 2 when Peter was in error -- so why on earth would 1 elevate the words of, say, Origin, (aka Mr. anti-literalist) with those we have Recorded by John, Paul, Daniel, Moses, etc -- may it not be!

_________________
The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.