John has been describing for us what he saw in the heavenly throne room—wonderful things almost impossible to describe. But John's gaze is drawn even more comprehensive, and we are looking along. What else do we see? We hear about four animals around the throne. They stand between the 24 elders, who are reigning, and Him, who sits on the throne.
It is again wonderful what we read about these four beasts: “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 Revelation."
Again, the interpreters' opinions vary. But again, it doesn't matter so much what exactly we understand here. But what we can understand is so comforting to the church that can have such a hard time here and have so little strength. The first thing we must be clear about is that John uses figurative language here. We read, “Like a lion, like a calf, as a man, like an eagle.” John, like us, cannot quite grasp what he sees. Later, we will understand; now, we may take comfort from it. What consolation?
First of all, the number has a meaning. We read about four animals. All numbers in the book of Revelation have a meaning. We heard, for example, about the seven churches that represent the fullness of the church. We think of the four winds and the four seasons with the number four. In these four animals, we encounter the entire creation. They somehow represent all of God's work of creation. And they stand before the throne! God does not let go of His creation and His creature! That is the message. He cares for His creation. Creation and creature are dear to Him; therefore, these four animals stand in the first circle around the throne.
Then, the four animals themselves—actually, it says in Greek, “four creatures”—represent the best and noblest of creation: the strength of the lion, the fertility of the calf, the sharpness and speed of the eagle, and man as the crown of creation. They are full of eyes, front and back, even within. They see everything and thus represent that God sees everything that happens in creation. Creation is meant to be God's eye, God's image. Creation comes forth from His hand. The four animals have six wings. They can fly in all directions, trouble-free.
Let's take the image as a whole. God created heaven and earth, and His creation is continually before Him. These four animals represent His creation. What a comfort, especially in our times when we hear about climate change, pollution, a diminishing number of species, etc. But we have this comfort: God will not let go of the works of His hands. He, therefore, gave His only begotten Son; in Him is our hope and comfort. In Him is a new creature and a new creation.