AR 239 - Four Living Creatures

AR 239

And in the midst of the throne,
and around the throne,
were four living creatures.
(Revelation 4:6)

This symbolizes the Word of the Lord
from the firsts of it in its lasts,
and its protections.

I know people will be surprised at my saying
that the four living creatures symbolize the Word.
This is nevertheless their symbolic meaning . . ..

The four living creatures here
are the same as the cherubim in Ezekiel.
In chapter 1 there they are called likewise living creatures,
but cherubim in chapter 10, and they were, as here,
a lion, an ox, a human being, and an eagle.

It does not matter that the Word is described by creatures,
since the Lord Himself
is sometimes called in the Word a lion, and often a lamb,
and people possessing charity from the Lord
are called sheep.
Moreover, an understanding of the Word, too,
is in subsequent chapters called a horse.

It is apparent that these living creatures or cherubim
symbolize the Word from the fact
that they were seen in the midst of the throne
and around the throne.
The Lord was in the midst of the throne,
and because the Lord embodies the Word,
it could not appear elsewhere.
They were also seen around the throne,
because they were seen in the angelic heaven,
where the Word exists also.