These are not beasts, but living creatures, combining the six wings and the cry of “Holy, holy, holy” of the seraphim in Isa. 6 with the four appearances and the eyes of the cherubim of Ezek. 1 The four faces embrace all creation—man, cattle, beasts of the field, and fowls of the air. They are the executive instruments of the throne of God, combining intelligence, firmness, power and rapidity. They are an instance of what is often found in Scripture: the combination of two things after the cross that are separate before.