"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 his 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. 4:6-8 NIV)."
The Radiating, Revealing Word in Creation
Beginning with creation, God has initiated his formative revelation to the world by speaking his Word. His interaction with the world and his people comes at his command. At creation he spoke his Word into the void and the cosmos leaped into being (Ps. 33:6-9, 2 Pet. 3:5). His Word commands and sustains the natural forces (Ps. 104:7, Ps. 119:89-90, Heb. 1:3). In the very fabric of this created cosmos, his essence is “manifested” (Rom. 1:19 NIV). He first revealed himself through what he has created. It can be argued that, in his "Revelation", John is describing the revealing creation, represented by the wild creature (lion), the domesticated creature (ox), the human creature (man), and the creature of the heavens (eagle). These are seen at the center, around the throne, looking both ways, to the throne and out to the cosmos, worshipping and speaking (paying attention to the center and proclaiming out to the cosmos):
