The four living creatures are mysterious beings described in the book of Revelation in the Bible. They appear near God’s throne and lead the praise and worship of God in heaven. Though their descriptions seem symbolic and mysterious, they likely represent all of creation worshipping God.
The four living creatures first appear in Revelation 4:6-8:
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:6-8 ESV)
This passage describes four angelic beings near the throne of God in heaven. Each has a different appearance:
- The first is like a lion
- The second is like an ox
- The third has a face like a man
- The fourth is like an eagle in flight
They all have six wings and are covered with eyes all over. These creatures “never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.'” So their main activity seems to be worshipping and praising God.
The four living creatures appear again in Revelation 5:6-14 as part of the scene of Christ, the Lamb, receiving the scroll with seven seals:
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:6-14 ESV)
Here the four living creatures are worshipping along with the 24 elders and myriads of angels around God’s throne. When Christ takes the scroll, they fall down and worship him, singing a new song about how he ransomed people for God and made them a kingdom of priests. They say “Amen” after a declaration of blessing and honor to the Lamb. So again, their role is praising Christ and God on the throne.
Revelation 6:1-7 describes the four living creatures summoning the four horsemen of the apocalypse after each of the first four seals is opened:
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. […] When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:1-8 ESV)
Each time a seal is opened, one of the four living creatures summons a horse and rider representing conquest, war, famine, and death. So they have a role in releasing the judgments of the apocalyptic seals.
Revelation 7:11 mentions the creatures worshipping God again:
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God (Revelation 7:11 ESV)
In Revelation 14:3, the four living creatures are singing a new song again:
And they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:3 ESV)
Revelation 15:7 states:
And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever (Revelation 15:7 ESV)
Here, the creatures distribute bowls of God’s wrath, so they have a role in the coming judgments on the earth.
The final mention is Revelation 19:4:
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” (Revelation 19:4 ESV)
They are worshipping God on his throne again as he prepares to judge the earth.
So in summary, the four living creatures:
- Appear near the throne of God in heaven
- Lead worship and praise of God day and night
- Distribute bowls of God’s wrath
- Summon the four horsemen after the first seals are opened
- Sing new songs to God
These mysterious creatures seem to represent all of creation praising God and carrying out his will. Their lion, ox, man, and eagle features signify power, service, reason, and swiftness. So they may represent the variety of God’s creation and how all things were made for his glory. Other key points about the four living creatures:
- They appear similar to the cherubim angels described in the Old Testament that guarded Eden and the ark of the covenant.
- Their number four may connect to the four corners of the earth, signifying all the earth giving praise to God.
- They’re covered with eyes, denoting God’s omniscience seeing all.
- Their six wings could represent the seraphim angels, who had six wings in Isaiah’s vision (Isaiah 6:2).
- Their faces connect to the standards of the four camps of Israel during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 2).
While many details about the four living creatures remain mysterious, they symbolize the worship and mission of all creation under God’s authority. Though fantastic in description, their purpose is clear – ceaselessly praising the Lord of all.