Then, stretching out before the throne, John describes a great expanse, a pavement, as it were, a sea of glass, clear as crystal, flashing back the light that falls upon it [verse 6: “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.”]. Perhaps, we might imagine a calm sea reflecting back the sunlight. The brilliance of the pavement suggests the glory of God, as well as the separation that existed between John and the glorious throne of God. He did not approach. He could not come near. He was viewing the scene from a distance—from afar.

I think about the very cavalier, the very mundane expressions, that I hear people use sometimes when they speak about being in the presence of God, being in the presence of Christ. I don’t mean “literally” in the presence of God or Christ. But I’ve heard people say, “When I get to heaven, I’m going to just run right up, and I’m gonna grab ahold of the Lord and I’m gonna give Him a big high five.” Or, I’m gonna do this, or, I’m gonna do that. We’ll…fall…on…our…face!!We won’t approach Him, because of His glory. Even John could not, would not approach.

The Four Living Creatures

In verse 6, there is an expression that says, “in the midst of the throne, and around the throne (on each side of the throne)….” This can possibly be understood as meaning, “in the middle of each of the four sides, yet between the throne and the larger circle made by the twenty-four thrones.” As I was reading this, I was trying to picture the placement in my mind. I would have liked to have found a portrayal, a graphic that would have shown this, but try to picture this scene in your mind.

Well, in the midst of that, there were four living creatures, John says, covered with eyes. [Verse 6b: “and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”] Ezekiel, Chapter 1 speaks about there being an existence of these living creatures. The description is quite similar to this, although not exactly. [Ezekiel 1:5-14: “Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.

10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.

13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.”]

In addition to having eyes in front and in back, there are four faces represented in this picture. One face is of a lion, one is of an eagle, one is of a man and one is of a calf. There are many, many ideas about what these faces represent. Are these actually heavenly creatures of a special sort? It’s a little difficult to say. You might do a little research about that yourself. [Revelation 4:6b-8b: “And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷The 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. ⁸The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.”]

What I think, in regard to what I’ve read about these faces, is that the faces are a representation of all of creation. In a general, broad sense, all of creation (living creation) is represented by these creatures. The beast of the field, so to speak, the wild animal kingdom represented in the face of the lion; the domesticated animals represented in the face of the calf; mankind represented in the face of man; and the birds of the air represented in the flying eagle. All of God’s living creation is represented here. For what purpose? To what end? Well, what are they doing? God has created all things. All things owe Him glory, honor and praise. They are worshiping God. They are glorifying God. They are bowing themselves low before God in this scene.