Fathers

Revelation 4

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After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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What the Fathers say

Revelation 4:7

Eastern Fathers

Oecumenius

Each of the animals is associated with one of these elements: the lion with fire, due to the animal's warmth and spirited nature; the calf with the earth, because the calf's work is connected to the soil; the man with the air, as humans are celestial and transcendent beings due to the artfulness [λεπτότητα] of the mind; and the eagle with water, since birds originate from water. Around the throne of God are seen those deemed worthy of care and providence, signified through living beings, that is, those on earth.

Commentary on Revelation ↗

Dionysius bar Salibi

The first living creature like a lion—By this he shows the kingdom and sovereignty of the lion who has arisen from the tribe of Judah; Matthew shows this. The second living creature like a calf—The bull signifies the priestly glory of Christ, of which Luke tells. The third living creature has the face of a man—He shows the passibility of the Son and the lowly condition of the Son of Man who was among men, of which Mark tells. …

Commentary On The Apocalypse 4:7 ↗

Western Saints

Bede

And the first living creature was like a lion, etc. These living creatures are interpreted in various ways. But blessed Augustine, according to the order of this book, says that Matthew is understood in the lion, who narrates the royal lineage of Christ, who also conquered as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. For the cub of the lion is Judah (Gen. 49). And in whom, as a king, he is feared by a king, worshipped by the magi. …

Commentary on Revelation ↗

Bonaventure

John says in the Apocalypse that the four living creatures stood around God's throne, and that the first had the face of a lion, the second that of an ox, the third that of a man, and the fourth that of an eagle: but he does not say that each one had four faces. While Ezechiel says that the living creatures "moved," John says that they "stood." Ezechiel says that the first living creature had the face of a man; John, that it had the face of a lion. Wherefore John seems to comprise the visions both of Isaiah and of Ezechiel. …

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 13 ↗

Alcuin of York

And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. We should ask the question of why John said that the first living creature was like a lion while Ezekiel says that the appearance of man was in the first animal. …

Commentary On Revelation ↗