Who Are These Beasts? What Is The Sea Of Glass?

And before the throne there was a sea of glass 

like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne,

 and round abut 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 beast 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.

Revelation 4:6-8

     As a student we must be much like Socrates and his constantly asking the question: why. So then why should we study and be so concerned about these symbols such as these beasts? Well, words do have meanings and we must look at the meaning in the language that the word was translated from so that we get a good understanding for the word "beast" in our English means a terrible nonhuman being, crude in nature, cruel, coarse, and filthy. The Greek word: "ζώον" denotes a living creature and the equivalent in English is "animal" and these "living animals" are standing before the throne and this gives a larger and wider meaning. These "living animals", "beasts," give glory and honor always to God their creator and due to their standing before the throne and praising God this signifies that they have a high position and as we will learn they will be used  to fulfill a prophesy concerning everyone on earth. The sea of glass is mentioned twice in Revelation and in 4:6 this sea of glass is before the throne of God so it has a meaning that we must ferret out so as to understand why God had this included in John's vision. This sea of glass was "like crystal" that is, it was pure so it represents purity. This analogy of this sea of glass is that God is pure and the fact that is a sea, that it, it has waters, we will find out as we study this book that this sea is a sea of "living waters." The word "sea" can also be used metaphorically of people: "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glass" (Revelation 15:2 KJV). Fire is a cleansing agent and a destroyer, and for an Authentic Christian they are cleansed as with fire all the impurities of sin and become clean, ready to do battle with Satan. So then, the "sea of glass" is an analogy, or a metaphor of God's people, and of God's living waters that give life, life eternal for it never ceases to flow, flow into His children. You can now be a source of "living water" to anyone who will listen to you and for them to listen to you, you must be speaking, speaking the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You do not have to wait until you get to heaven to praise God: you can now, in the present time praise God and allow God to cleanse you; make you fully whole. 

     These "beasts," "living animals," have eyes, eyes everywhere and they did not rest day or night, always ready to do the will of God, to always give praises to God. We are also "living animals," who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and by this indwelling we have all the power of God to be used by God for His purpose and by His will. We have eyes, we can see both good and bad, that is, if we look at things through the eyes of Jesus Christ. How do we do this? Learn Scripture! Apply Scripture! This first beast was like a lion. We know something about lions, do we not? Yes, and we know that they are fierce, courageous. The second "beast" was seen as an "ox," although the Greek word carries the meaning of a young calf and this is important for us so that we are not carried away by the use of "ox" which has a different meaning in English. A calf is young, tender, delicate, but and this is important a young full of vitality, reading to do whatever needs to be done and whatever they do they do it with diligence. The third "beast," "living animal," had a face like a man and this denotes something that man has that no other creature has; the ability to know right from wrong, to desire God, to take time to meditate upon God, to be prudent and contemplative. Man is said to be able to rise up on wings of eagles, man acts with knowledge and can be acquainted with their own souls: man knows if he/she is honest what is in their souls even if they do not act upon what they know. In this scenario man is before the throne of God and they do know that they have been washed clean of sin and they do know that that they have been sanctified by God and they praise God day and night. A person who knows what they are, and unless a person is mentally ill to the point of not know right from wrong, man knows and are guilty of not acting upon what they know to be right. The fourth "beast," "living animal," was like a flying eagle, and this does represent that man will fly like an eagle. How is that possible? An eagle is such a special bird and can see the smallest thing on earth from such a high altitude. An eagle is swift, quick to act, and is decisive. An eagle' claw can grip with such tightness as to not let go of its prey. The eagle has such value as to be the national bird of the United States. The eagle has been throughout history a special bird and can be seen on many artifacts, both secular and religious. As an Authentic Christian you too have eyes like and eagle and can be swift in your everyday life to be able to grip tightly the word of God in your life that give to you vitality and life eternal. 

     Like the four "beast," "living animals," you can now, and forever give praise to God, to be the sea that goes forth now to spread the Gospel, to be there when God destroys all sin, including Satan the one who brought sin into the world. You give glory to God, the One who is, Who was, and Who is to come. Can you see here in this verse that Jesus is the One who was, Who was in the beginning, the One Who created all things, and He is now the One Who gives to you Himself, the Holy Spirit, and Who is the One Who is to come. God the Father, a Person of the Godhead comes to earth once again and does so by means of the One Whom He sent, His Wisdom, Jesus Christ. We have every reason to praise Him: praise Him now!

Let the people praise Thee, O God;

     let all the people praise Thee.

                         Psalm 67:3

Let your way be known

Richard L. Crumb