Who are the four living creatures in Revelation?

The four living creatures are found in Revelation 4:6–9; 5:6–14; 6:1–8; 14:3; 15:7; and 19:4. The texts that describe these creatures indicate that they are real, actual beings. The four living creatures (literally, “beings”) are a special, exalted order of angelic being, probably cherubim. They stand close to the throne of God. Ezekiel 1:12–20 depicts what are likely the same creatures moving or standing still as they follow the promptings of the Spirit of God.

Revelation 5:6–14 describes the duties or purposes of the four living creatures. They fall down and worship the Lamb, Jesus Christ, offering the same reverence to Him that they did to the Father (Revelation 4:6–9), proof positive of the deity of Jesus Christ. Along with the twenty-four elders, they have harps and “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (Revelation 5:8). Harps are frequently associated with both worship and prophecy in the Old Testament (2 Kings 3:15; 1 Chronicles 25:1). The burning incense is identified as representing the prayers of the saints ascending toward God. So, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders hold in their hands all that prophets ever prophesied and believers ever prayed—and it’s all about to come to pass.

The four living creatures also declare the holiness of God and lead in worship and adoration of God. In addition, they seem to be involved in some way with God’s justice, for when the Lamb opens the first four seals, releasing the four horsemen, the powerful voices of the living creatures issue a thunderous command to “come” (Revelation 6:1–8). The horsemen respond to the summons and go forth to accomplish their tasks in the world. The power of the four living creatures is seen again in Revelation 15:7 when one of them unleashes the last seven plagues of God’s wrath on mankind.

The four living creatures are similar to the cherubim described in Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10. In both Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4, the number of the creatures is four. They are “covered with eyes” (Revelation 4:6; cf. Ezekiel 1:18; 10:12). They have faces appearing like those of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle (Ezekiel 1:10–11; cf. Revelation 4:7).

At the same time, the living creatures in Revelation 4 are similar to the seraphim described in Isaiah 6. They have six wings (Revelation 4:8; cf. Isaiah 6:2), and their words of praise emphasize God’s holiness (Revelation 4:8; cf. Isaiah 6:3).

In summary, the living creatures of Revelation 4 are an exalted order of angels whose purpose is primarily to worship the Lord (Revelation 19:4). They are similar to the beings in Ezekiel 1 and 10 and Isaiah 6:1–3, and they are somehow involved in God’s divine justice.