Ministrymaker Magazine

One of our Pastors from Pakistan emailed me and asked what the four beasts were in Revelation 5:14. It had been a while since I studied Revelation so I procrastinated in answering. When I finally got around to answering his question, the Holy Spirit began to stir a message in my heart. Below is both the answer to his question and the message God gave me.

What are the four beast (living creatures) of Revelation 5:14? Below are four possible answers.

1. A type of angelic beings like those in Isaiah 6:2-3 & Ezekiel 1 & 10, possibly Cherubims or Seraphims.
2. They represent or symbolize the attributes of God – full of eyes within and without, the omniscience and omnipresence of God.
1. Lion: King of beasts, majesty and omnipotence.
2. Ox: Patience and continuous labor.
3. Man: Intelligence and rational power.
4. Eagle: Sovereignty and supremacy, the greatest of birds.
3. Four aspects of Jesus in the Gospels.
1. Lion: Lion of the tribe of Judah. The gospel of Matthew was written to the Jews concerning the king of the Jews.
2. Ox (calf): Servant of Mark. The gospel of Mark was written or directed to the Romans concerning Jesus as the conquering servant.
3. Man: The gospel of Luke was written concerning and emphasizing the humanity of Jesus.
4. Eagle: The Son of God in John. The gospel of John was written near the end of the first century when there were heresies beginning to arise denying the divinity of Christ. He wrote about the Son of God, emphasizing the divinity of Jesus.
4. In the wilderness the tribes of Israel pitched their tents in the same order, on four sides.
1. Lion: Represents the tribe of Judah.
2. Ox (calf): Represents the tribe of Ephraim.
3. Man: Represents the tribe of Reuben.
4. Eagle: Represents the tribe of Dan.

The real question is not what the beasts or living creatures are, but that of the person of Christ as the lamb of God that suffered, died and is being worship as the eternal one that lives forever and ever. The point here is that they were all worshiping. One day all will worship the lamb (Jesus) as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We will either do so now of free will or one day by force when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11). All true born again believers worship Him as Lord of their lives now of their own volition. One day all unbelievers, demons and the Devil himself will bow their knees in worship of Jesus as Lord, just before being cast into the lake of fire (Philippians 2:5-11 and Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8).

If you have not turned your life over to Jesus and made Him your Lord and Savior let me invite you to do so right now. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” out side of Christ (Hebrews 10:31). All who reject Christ and His gospel of grace will be punished with everlasting destruction (fire) from the presence of Lord, and from the glory of His power (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Read also Romans 1:18 and Matthew 25:41. Pray right now to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and he will prepare a place for you in heaven (John 14:1-6) and all your sins will be forgiven, cleansed and washed away forever (Psalms 103:12; Romans 10:8-13 and 1 John 1: 7 and 9).

Prayer: Jesus, I accept you as my only Lord and Savior. I ask you to come into my heart, forgive me of all my sins and I choose to make you Lord of my life from now on and forever.

Advice for Christians (Believers):

Worship Him. “The Father seeks such to worship Him” (John 4:23). God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). We were created to worship and bring Him pleasure (Revelation 4:10-11 KJV). The one major need God has from us is worship. Set apart and spend time worshiping Him daily and throughout your days. You will be blessed by doing so and so will He (Psalms 103:1-2).

Witness for Him. The minute He calls you to be his own and you are born again, you are called to be witnesses (Matthew 4:19). The reality of the eternal destiny of those who reject Christ should forever motivate us to share Jesus with the lost and bring them to a relationship with Jesus. Their destiny hangs in the balance. You could be the deciding factor of which way the scales are tipped. Paul said, “knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11a). Don’t merely witness to them alone, but persuade them to invite Jesus into their hearts, making Him their Lord (Revelation 3:20 and Romans 10:9-10). Prepare yourself and “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Now may the Holy Spirit empower you to be His witnesses, like He did those in the beginning (Acts 1:8).