This is a true account of an experience that happened to me. Once again, the angel of the Lord came to me and said, "Behold the glory of your God." I was taken up instantly into the heaven lies and through one of the gates into heaven. Each gate was made of an exquisite pearl, with designs in it. The beauty of heaven is stunning! We passed the River of Life, and I could hear people shouting on the banks of the river and praising God.
I was taken before the throne of God as it is described in the fourth chapter of Revelation. Oh, what shouts and what worship! Saints, I saw the throne of God just like Holy Scripture says. It has a rainbow around it. It is overshadowed with the cloud of glory and the brilliance of the power of God. I heard voices, saw lightning, and heard thunder. I saw the divine manifestations of the power of God!
And from the throne proceeded
lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before
the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a
sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the
throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. Revelation 4:5-6
As I looked, I heard the multiplied voices of many angels
around the throne. The number of angels there was inestimable. Then I saw the
heavenly creatures and the elders. There were four of the heavenly creatures
and twenty-four elders. This scene was also described by John in Revelation:
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of
many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Revelation 5:11
All the angels stood around the throne
and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces be fore
the throne and worshiped God.Revelation 7:11
THE LIVING CREATURES
On this particular trip to the throne of God, I saw the
four living creatures that were before the throne of God. These creatures I saw
around the throne were the ones written about in the Word of God. All of the heavenly creatures had large eyes, some in the
front and some in the back. They could see in the front of them and behind
them. They were very large and unlike anything I have ever seen on earth.
Each of them had six wings. One had the face of a lion.
The second had a face like a calf.
The third living creature had a face like a man. Imagine,
if you can, a very tall creature with six wings. It has the face of a man. The
fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
All of these fascinating creatures were constantly crying
out, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty."
Since I had never before seen any creature that resembled
them in appearance, they looked very strange to me. I knew, however, that God
had created these holy creatures in heaven. I praise God for His mighty acts
and His mighty power. God is an awesome God! As I watched these creatures, they
began to praise and worship God Almighty. I want you to understand that after I saw the heavenly
creatures of God in my vision, I made a study about them and discovered John’s
amazing description of what I had witnessed in the book of Revelation. Here is
how John described them:
Before the throne there was a sea of
glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne,
were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The 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. The four living creatures, 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!" Revelation 4:6-8
THE DUTIES OF THE LIVING CREATURES
The Bible tells us about these living creatures and their
duties. They continuously give God praise and honor. Along with the twenty-
four elders, worshipping the Lord is their main occupation:
The four living creatures. . . do not
rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was
and is and is to come!" Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor
and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the
twenty-four elders fall down be fore Him who sits on the throne and worship Him
who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You
created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." Revelation 4:8-11
And they [ four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders] sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you
purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they
will reign on the earth." Revelation 5:9-10 NIV
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of
many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thou
sands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to
receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and
blessing!" every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under
the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
"Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Then the four living creatures said,
"Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who
lives forever and ever. Revelation 5:11-14
All the angels stood around the throne
and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces be fore
the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and
wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and
ever. Amen."
And the twenty-four elders and the four
living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying,
"Amen! Alleluia!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying,
"Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small
and great!" And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as
the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying,
"Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" Revelation 19:4-6
Other duties of the living creatures are also
described in Revelation:
when He had taken the scroll, the four
living creatures and the twenty- four elders fell down before the Lamb, each
having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the
saints.
Revelation 5:8
Revelation 5:8
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of
the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice
like thunder, "Come and see." Revelation 6:1
And out of the temple came the seven
angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their
chests girded with golden bands. Then 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. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His
power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the
seven angels were completed. Revelation 15:6-8
I saw an innumerable multitude of angels as they began to
worship the Lord. I heard and experienced the unforgettable scene as the elders
around the throne joined in. I, too, joined in worshipping the King, as I
thought, "Oh, how glorious to see the power of Almighty God!"
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