Four creatures of Revelation 4 and the four beasts of Revelation 13 & 17

Study:

"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." Revelation 4:6-8

These four creatures, lion, calf, man, and eagle, have four counterparts elsewhere in the book of Revelation.

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." Revelation 13:1,2

"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Revelation 13:11

"And he [the land beast] ... deceiveth ... saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." Revelation 13:14,15

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Revelation 17:3-5

Now note the parallel words, ideas or imagery:

4 Creatures of Rev. 4

"the first beast was like a lion"
 

"the second beast like a calf"
 

"the third beast had a face as a man"
 
 

"the fourth beast was like a flying eagle"
 
 

Connecting Ideas 

 
 
 

an immature sacrificial animal
 
 

"...God said, Let us make man in our image..." "...the Lord God ... breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..." Gen. 1:26; 2:7

"...to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness... Rev. 12:14

4 Beasts of Rev. 13 & 17

"...a beast rise up out of the sea ... and his mouth as the mouth of a lion..." Rev. 13:1,2

"...another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb..." Rev. 13:11

"...he had power to give life [or breath] unto the image of the beast, that the image ... should ... speak..." Rev. 13:15

"...he carried me away ... into the wilderness: ... I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast..." Rev. 17:3

Notice now, that Daniel 7 hints at a relationship between these beasts.

"The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings:..." Daniel 7:4

Rev. 4

lion

calf

man

eagle

Rev. 13 & 17

lion

lamb

image

woman + beast

 

 

one beast

(lamb + image)

 

 

 

Babylon

(lion + eagle)

 

This becomes useful when studying the identity of the angel of Revelation 10 and also reaffirms some previously noted connections, ex. the image with the creation of man.