The Four Living Creatures and the Noahic Covenant Part 1
The Four Living Creatures
You have heard about the Four Living Creatures in the Bible Right?
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’who was, and is, and is to come.” [Rev 4:4-8]
Who are these creatures? Why the four faces of a Lion, Eagle, Man and Ox? Where did that concept come from?
It is helpful to start from the beginning.
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The Noahic Covenant
Gen 9:8-9 "Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you (MAN) and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds (King of the Birds -> Eagle), the livestock (King-> Ox) and all the wild animals(King -> Lion), all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth."
Notice who were the recipients of this covenant: Every Living Creature that is
- You [Noah], representing Man
- Birds, whose archtype and representative is the Eagle.
- Livestock, whose archtype and representative is the Ox.
- Wild Animals, whose archtype and representative is the Lion, the King of the Beasts.
Theses four represent all living creatures and all of creation, and further more, creation, untainted and full of God's glory. The four faces are Lion, Eagle, Man and Ox. Those were the emblems of the four head tribes: Judah (Lion), Eagle (Dan), Reuben (Man) and Ephraim (Ox). There were witnesses to the Noahic Covenant were God said that he would never destroy the world again.
The four living creatures represent all creation redeemed and set at liberty from the futility it found itself in. (Note though, the creatures of the sea were exempted. And in Revelation there is no more sea. But that is for another note :-) )
The rainbow is not a sign of gay pride, but of a covenant of reconciliation with all living creatures, that God will reconcile all things by Himself, to Him. All creation would be set at liberty from the futility it found itself in, from its bondage to decay, exactly as Paul
... the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. [Rom 8:20-21]
This
is what the four living creatures represent, all creation, not
destroyed, but set at liberty from the futility it found itself in, from
the effects of sin and death.
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The Four Living Creatures Throughout Scripture
As you know with God there is more than meets the eye. Just like when he gave the covenant to Abraham, this covenant is more than what was just recorded in words. There is a prophetic frequency that one must tuned into. As an example, even though Abraham’s covenant was to his seed, his offspring, we all know that the seed was actually Christ.
Summarily with the covenant to Moses, yes it was the law given but we all know it pointed to the law being fulfilled in Christ and placed into our hearts. So just like Paul, you look at what God said and also how he uses what He said to build a pattern throughout the ages.
Let's look at the astounding pattern throughout scripture.
- Noah's
flood occurred because he swore he [his Spirit] will not fight with
man [Gen 6:3]. So he destroyed all flesh. After the flood he decreed a
reconciliation, a peace treaty among enemies. It is a covenant with
every living creature represented by four categories: Noah's flood
occurred because he swore he [his Spirit] will not fight with man [Gen
6:3]. So he destroyed all flesh. After the flood he decreed a
reconciliation, a peace treaty among enemies. It is a covenant with
every living creature represented by four categories: Man, Birds, Cattle, Beasts
- The
four categories specifically mentioned each have a head, or leading
creature. Noah and sons represent MAN in general; the king of the birds
is the EAGLE; the king of the cattle is the OX; and the king of the
beasts is the LION.
- These creatures, then, appear as representatives of creation surrounding the throne of God in Rev. 4:7 "And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.”
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They were also the Flags/Banners of Israel
- It was anciently understood also that these were the banners (Num. 2:2) of the four leading tribes of Israel surrounding the tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness. To the east was Judah, the lion (Gen. 49:9; Num. 2:3). To the west was Ephraim, the ox (Deut. 33:17; Num. 2:18); to the south was Reuben, the man (Gen. 49:3; Num. 2:10); and to the north was Dan, the flying eagle carrying away a serpent (Gen. 49:17; Num. 2:25).
- Ezekiel also saw this in his vision of living creatures: Ezekiel also saw this in his vision of living creatures: "And for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man (Reuben), all four had the face of a lion on the right (Judah on the east as one faces north) and the face of a bull on the left (Ephraim on the west), and all four had the face of an eagle (Dan)." [Ezek 1:10]
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More on the Lion [Judah] and the Ox [Ephraim]
The Birthright: Lion and Ox
When Adam was formed, He was given the birthright, which had two components:
- Rulership/ Dominion (Lion)
- Fruitfulness (Ox)
It came down to Esau. He abdicated His Birthright for a bowl of lentil soup (which I must admit is quite delicious)
When Jacob performed the crossed arm blessing of the sons of Joseph, he declared that His name "Israel" was Ephraim's right. Remember this.
The Birthright was then split between Judah and Joseph when Reuben fell because of a sexual sin (nothing new under the sun).
1 Chron 5:1-2 "The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)"
New Birthright Assignment:
- Rulership -> Judah (Lion)
- Fruitfulness -> Ephraim (Ox)
This is why when the House of Israel split, the name of Israel went with the 10 northern tribes of which Ephraim was the main tribe, and the name Judah stuck with the 2 tribes and Levi, of which Judah was the main tribe. So the natural name of Israel can only be applied when Ephraim is around. Ephraim was deported along with the 12 tribes to Assyria and never returned. They got intermingled with all the nations. They are "lost". [So who are those folks in the middle east?]
How are they found? Through Christ the Repairer of the Breech.
He came through from the tribe of Judah, and legally received the Kingship.
Then He baptizes nations in the Laver of His Word, and sometimes in Molten Fire, to turn these oxen into sheep.
His Kingdom (Fruitfulness) is growing like leaven covering all of the earth. His Kingdom is the fruitful bow/ vine, the blessing to Joseph/ Ephraim.
When He returns His robe is dipped in blood just like Joseph's multi colored robe was dipped in blood when he was lost.
Christ comes in the image of Joseph, to receive His Kingdom. He put His Name upon us (like Jacob did upon Ephraim). We are Israel because He was Israel.
The 12 oxen under the Molten Sea, are all the nations who were lost, but now are being wash in His word and purified in refiners fire.
Malachi 3:2-4 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Final Birthright Assignment:
- Rulership -> Christ the King of Kings from the Tribe of Judah
- Fruitfulness -> Christ receiving the Kingdom, All Nations come to worship Him, All Lost ones Found in Him. Every knee bowing (worshipping) in Heaven, Earth and under the Earth.
in the end.... God All in All.
More on the Eagle [Dan]
Please see all Blog readings in the Full Series: Jesus is Greater than the 10 Commandments Series
Previous:
- The Ten Commandments: Veil vs Mirror
- Are the Ten Commandments for Today?
- Shadow Fulfilled: Old vs. New Covenant
- Types and Shadows in Revelation - Brazen Laver
Written, Aug, 2015
Pictures from http://www.nuggetnetreview.com/m-four-living-creatures.htm
http://s31.photobucket.com/user/JP888/media/Outlines-Timelines/CampIsrael1.jpg.html
(Credit also to Dr. Stephen Jones for the foundation)
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