We proceed in our study with a verse by verse look at Revelation 4:5-8: “From the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices” (NKJV).

         The throne of God is an active place! In Psalm 97:4, we are told that the Lord’s lightning lights up the world. This is usually symbolic of revelation that goes forth from the throne of God, or by His authority. Thunder is the audible response to lightning. Likewise, whenever there is a revelation given from the throne of God, there will be a great sound upon the earth. There will also be “voices,” or those raised up to carry the revelation.

         Next are the “seven lamps of fire [that] were burning before the throne that are the seven Spirits of God” (verse 5b NKJV). Seven is the number for completion in Scripture, and many consider this to be the complete revelation of the nature of God. These are what the lampstand in the Tabernacle of Moses and Temple of Solomon represented, as well as the seven churches addressed by the Lord at the beginning of Revelation. Each church had a unique revelation of Christ, who John wrote is revealed “in their midst.”

         Christ Jesus is also the exact representation of God the Father to the degree that if we see Jesus, we have seen the Father. We must therefore keep this warning in mind: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3). Christ Jesus is the full revelation of God.

         Next we read, “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal” (NKJV). Crystal is the highest quality glass and the weightiest. This speaks of transparency before the throne, and that which is of high value. To be included in the events and conversations around the throne of God is the most honored privilege one could have. This is open and available to all of God’s children. Anyone can come boldly before His throne by the blood of Jesus. However, because there is such open access, it is a very weighty matter, just like crystal.

        Next we have an incredible description of the “four living beings:

         And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living beings full of eyes in front and in back.

         The first living being was like a lion, the second living being like a calf, the third living being had a face like a man, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle.

         The four living beings, 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!” (NKJV)

         Some translated the word for these beings as “beasts” or “creatures,” but they are of more dignity than that. Of course, all beasts and creatures are to be honored as creations of God, but there are higher forms of life. These that are so intimately associated with the throne of God are higher forms of life, even higher than man.

         As Psalm 8 tells us, man was made “lower than the angels.” Angels were created with different levels of authority and power. Many seem to assume that all spiritual beings are angels, but there is a diversity of spiritual beings in Scripture. These seem to be just a glimpse of the multitude of spiritual species.

         I have had many experiences where I was caught up into the heavenly realm. It seemed to me that the diversity of spiritual species is even more diverse than those on earth. These spoken of here are an intimate part of the throne of God, yet all have resemblances to earthly species—the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle. I think when we fully experience the spiritual realm in our “next” life we will find that all earthly species resemble heavenly ones. Remember, the whole physical universe is but “a shadow” of the heavenly one.

         These four beings are like the ones Ezekiel saw in chapters 1 and 10 of his prophecy. These four also parallel the basic messages of the four Gospels. One of these emphasizes Jesus’ nature as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (His sacrificial nature), the calf or ox in Ezekiel (His humanity as the “Son of man”), and the eagle (His spiritual nature). That these are all revealed here as part of His throne indicates that these are foundational to the authority He will exercise upon the earth.

         That these beings are continually crying “Holy, holy, holy” is a powerful statement of how the Lord’s sanctification—His devotion to total obedience and the rejection of sin in any form—are basic to seeing Him as He is. The holiness of God, and the holiness we are called to, is rarely taught in these times, but we must see this to see Him as He is. This it will be a major subject of the last great move of God on the earth.