What Does Revelation 4:8 Mean?

And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

Revelation 4:8(NASB)

Verse of the Day

How blessed was the apostle John, who was the chosen witness to write of the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him to show His servant what was soon to happen. And how blessed are we to receive it, for this is the eternal God and great Creator of the universe, Who has deigned to tell us ahead of time, details of His glorious plan for us and perfect purposes for the world in which we live.

Having been given the seven letters to the churches, the aged John was raptured into heaven of heavens and witnessed sights of great wonderment and awe. At the start of chapter 4, he was transported into the majestic and magnificent throne room of God, where he would be told to record things that would take place after these things - in future days. John's attention was initially drawn towards the awe-inspiring throne of God from which judgement for an unbelieving world was being prepared. 

John had to understand that the period of God's grace during the Church dispensation must at some point arrive at a point in God's plan of redemption, where judgement must fall on those who rejected His offer of salvation. Having been summoned to 'come up' into the throne room of God, John began to be informed of things that must soon take place, after the Church is removed at the Rapture.

As his eyes began to absorb these astonishing, heavenly sights, John saw hosts of ministering angels together with four living creatures that were around the throne. He saw that these four astonishing creatures worshipped the Lord Almighty unceasingly, day and night, lifting up their united voices of praise to the Lord with a never-ending anthem of worship and praise, that will one day be on the lips of every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth: "Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come."

The four living creatures were unlike anything that John had witnessed on earth, although he no doubt recalled the description in Ezekiel which describes some equally astonishing living beings called cherubim. John saw that each creature had six wings, and they were full of eyes - without and within. This massive array of eyes implied that these heavenly creatures had great wisdom, insight, knowledge, and understanding.

The role of these amazing beings was to worship the living God with continuous and incessant praise, as together they sang without ceasing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts - the Almighty God, Who was and Who is and Who is to come." John went on to describe these four living creatures as having different faces - that of a man, a lion, an ox, and a flying eagle.

Eye has not seen, ear heard, nor has it entered into the imagination of man, the wonderful things that God has prepared for all those that love Him. Holy, Holy, Holy is the triune Godhead, and this is the continuous hymn that pours forth from the living creatures. Holy is the one and only Holy Father, Holy is the unique Holy Son of His love, and Holy is the singular Holy Spirit of purity and grace.

He is holy in His majesty, holy in His person, Holy in His office, and Holy in the works of His hand and the words of His mouth. He was holy in eternity past, will be holy in eternity future, and He is holy in the present time and in all the surrounding space.

This One of Whom the choirs of heaven lift up day and night with their never-ending shout of praise, stretched out His holy arms of love on a cruel cross to drink to the dregs full brimming cups of GOD's wrath poured out upon Him, so that all that believe on His name would not be condemned, but have the light of life. Such is the mystery of Godliness.

My Prayer

Holy Lord, there is none like You. You alone are worthy of all glory and praise. Thank You for my salvation and that I have been bought with the precious blood of Christ so that I too can sing with the Cherubim in the eternal ages to come, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come." In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

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