[A brother writes begging the insertion of the following remarks as helpful, in his judgment, to show, first, that the Church is in heaven, from Rev. 4; and secondly, that the living creatures are "seraphim.' —ED.]
LET us compare the description given of these "living creatures" in Rev. 4:7, 87And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:7‑8) with that which is given in Ezek. 1:5-105Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. 8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. (Ezekiel 1:5‑10), and in Ezek. 10, where they are several times called "cherubim." Also with Isa. 6: 2, 3, where they are called "seraphim."
And it is a question which we shall now inquire into, whether "cherubim" and "seraphim" are not two distinct orders of angelic beings.
I desire very briefly to notice one or two points of similarity and dissimilarity.
In Rev. 4. it would seem that each "living creature" had but one face; "the first like a lion, the second like a calf," &c. But in Ezek. i. it says distinctly, "every one had four faces."
Again, in Rev. 4. it is said, "each had six wings." But in Ezek. 1. it says, “every one had four wings."
Now, in Isa. 6., of the "seraphim" it is said, " each one had six wings," corresponding with the description in Rev. 4.
And again, in Rev. 4. it is said, " they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty;" and in Isa. 6. the " seraphim" cry, " Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts," marking another correspondence between them and the "living creatures" of Rev. 4.
Thus then it stands: the angelic beings of Rev. 4. are called "four living creatures," and the "cherubim" of Ezek. 1. and 10.are also called "four living creatures." But there is not, as we have seen, an exact correspondence in the further description given of them.
In Isa. 6. the "seraphim" are not minutely described, but what is said of them corresponds exactly with what we find in Rev. 4.; each having "six wings," and their cry in each place being, "Holy, holy, holy."
Hence I conclude that "the four living creatures" of Rev. 4. are "seraphim," an order of angelic beings somewhat similar to " cherubim."
The difference marked in Scripture, as far as I can yet see, between the "cherubim" and the "seraphim” (i.e. cherubs and seraphs) is this: the “cherubim" are spoken of as acting for God on earth, providentially as we may say. They are first spoken of in Gen. 3. as guarding the way to the tree of life, after man's sin; then, when the tabernacle in the wilderness was built, figures of them are formed of gold (observe, according to God's command, otherwise it would have been idolatry-see Exod. 20:44Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (Exodus 20:4)), and their wings covered the mercy-seat. In the Psalms it is said of Jehovah, evidently alluding to the mercy-seat, He sitteth " between the cherubim" (Ps. 80:1; 99:1); and in Ps. 18:10, " He rode upon a cherub;" denoting, as I conceive, a manifestation in providential deliverance (see verse 17), in which deliverances angelic that the "four living creatures that the "four living creatures that the "four living creatures that the "four living creatures that the "four living creatures beings have much more to do than many of us imagine. (See, Heb. 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14), which may be applied to any order of angelic beings, except the fallen ones'. And in Ezek. 1:1010As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. (Ezekiel 1:10). the "cherubim," as I judge, are spoken of in connection with God's providential dealings with Israel.
See verses 14, 15, 17: "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth ... . Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee ... . Thine heart was lifted up because of thy that the "four living creatures beauty; thou hath corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness," &c.
By carefully reading the whole passage, it will be clearly seen that it has primarily direct reference to the king of Tyre, who had lived apparently in all eastern magnificence; but I think that there is also direct reference to the fall of Satan, as a fall without temptation, corrupted by his own beauty and brightness.
And this is by no means an uncommon method of speaking in the Scriptures; as for instance, "Out of Egypt have I called my son” refers primarily in the prophecy of Hosea, to Israel, but in the gospel by Matthew we find it applied to Christ.
So Ezek. 28. refers, I judge, primarily to the king of Tyre, but is in its chief points applicable to Satan.)
The "seraphim," from what we find recorded in Isa. 6. concerning them, seem to be more engaged in adoration than active service on earth. Their continual cry is, "Holy, holy, holy."
I think that this will be satisfactory proof to most minds “of Rev. 4 do not represent "the Church." But that the "four-and-twenty elders" do, I feel fully persuaded. Their clothing ("white raiment "), their title ("kings and priests "), their song (redemption by blood), and their number (" twenty-four "), as we shall see, all prove it.
The Church's song on earth, in Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6), harmonizes exactly with the elders' song in heaven. (Rev. 5:9, 109And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9‑10).) This of itself is sufficient to establish their identity. But there are one or two more considerations which I think are weighty.
The first is this: it cannot mean that exactly twenty-four redeemed ones are to be in glory; for they say in their song, "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation." Now this corresponds precisely with the elect character of “the Church," as gathered out of all nations, &c. It is therefore a symbolical number, and represents the whole Church.
And this is further corroborated by the fact that this number, “twenty-four," is composed of two twelves. Now we are all aware that in Scripture language twelve is a perfect or complete number. The symbol then is easy: a per feet number from among the Jews, and a poled number from among the Gentiles (two twelves), form the one Church. And thus we have it represented in the "four-and-twenty elders."
And this interpretation is, I think, strengthened by Rev. 21:12, 1412And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (Revelation 21:12)
14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14), where the twelve gates of the “New Jerusalem " are spoken of as having on them the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the twelve foundations as having in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.