What Do the Four Living Creatures
Based on Genesis, “The 4 Living Creatures” clearly represent God’s first covenant, after the Flood, made with all humans and animals, guaranteeing their preservation for generations to come.
In Revelation, that first covenant with Noah, represented by “The 4 Living Creatures,” gave way and was replaced by a new and better covenant.
How do we know this? Because Revelation 5:6-10 proves it.
Note carefully the figurative act “The 4 Living Creatures” perform as soon as the slain Lamb ( Jesus Christ ) appears with new scrolls,
“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.. Now, when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals;
for You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:6-10) NKJV
Let me explain and clarify the scene above:
“And in the midst of the throne…stood a Lamb.” (verse 6)
Although the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures surround the throne, they are overshadowed by the appearance of the “slain Lamb” as He takes centre stage. The Lamb, by His death, proved his superiority in preserving life over any other covenant. Since then, the eyes of the people in previous covenants (Gentiles & Israel) were fixed on Him.
“The four living creatures . . . fell down before the Lamb.” (verse 8)
This act of “falling down before the Lamb” is a clear indication that the first covenant (with all humans) has been superseded and surrendered "before the slain Lamb” and His new and better covenant to preserve humans, not for a short time, but forever!
"To surrender (fall down) to the Lamb" has been the message preached in the first century. For example, Paul, speaking to Athenian Gentiles, urged them to repent and surrender to God’s appointed Judge, Jesus Christ, saying:
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31) NKJV
“And have redeemed us to God…And have made us kings and priests to our God.” (verses 9,10)
Some translations render these verses as “redeemed us” and “made us”. Now, if this is correct, we have further proof that “the 4 living creatures” ( or the covenant with Noah ) represents all humans ( Gentile nations ), who can finally sing praises for being themselves “redeemed to God” and “made kings and priests”, all because of the “slain Lamb”!
Symbolize all Gentile Nations!
The two previous covenants, either with Noah or Israel, served a purpose but proved to be insufficient in saving humans permanently from sin and death. Only the Lamb and His New Covenant can! Hence, their submission and surrender.
Since His resurrection, the whole earth and all humans are under the authority and dominion of God's chosen King, Jesus Christ, who continues to redeem to God, by His blood, "People out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation". ( Rev 5:10 )
( For more, please see 1 Peter 3:18-22, comparing God’s saving act during the flood with His permanent saving act through the death and resurrection of His Son. ) For a clarification of this hard-to-understand passage, check my article Preaching to the Spirits in Prison is Not What You Think!
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