Sapphire Throne and the Four Living Creatures of Ezekiel and Revelation 

The Book of Ezekiel starts with a visions of God being given unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi (1:1). In the vision, Ezekiel saw “the likeness of four living creatures” that had the “likeness of a man” (1:5), each one having “four faces” and “four wings” (1:6).

These “living creatures” bear a striking resemblance to the “four beasts” first mentioned in Revelation 4:6-9:

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 …

While the “four living creatures” of Ezekiel do not exactly resemble the “four beasts” in Revelation, similarities abound. For example, while Ezekiel’s four living creatures have four wings, the beasts in Revelation have six wings. However, both creatures or “beasts” have similar faces. Ezekiel’s creatures have the face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. The faces of the four beasts in Revelation are individually described as that of a lion, a man, a calf, and an eagle.

Ezekiel describes these living creatures as cherubims (plural form) or cherub (singular). There is no reason not to believe that the four beasts in Revelation are also cherubims who are in the presence of the throne of the Lamb of God.

What Ezekiel sees next is the firmament over the heads of the four living creatures that it was the “likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone” (1:26). Ezekiel continues: “and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.” Ezekiel was seeing none other than Jesus Christ at the end of the age. He is clearly seeing the same place that John the Apostle saw, which he described in the book of Revelation.

If you compare Ezekiel’s vision of the four living creatures and the sapphire throne in heaven, the Book of Revelation could almost be a companion book. Ezekiel was seeing the very same throne where Jesus is enthroned as the Lamb of God as John saw concerning the end of the world. You can see the same scene in Revelation 4:6-9 referenced above. The description is strikingly similar.

Ezekiel also mentions the “crystal” above the four living creatures’ heads:

“And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above” (1:22).

Revelation also describes “a sea of glass like unto crystal”:

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 (4:6).

These are parallel verses that give us clues as to the living creatures of both Ezekiel and Revelation and the scene in the throne room of God!

Category: Jewelry in the Bible