Revelation 4: 6-11, Around the Throne

The main vision of John begins in chapter 4 of Revelation. After initial messages from Jesus to seven churches, a door opens in Heaven. The throne, and the One sitting on it, are described in dramatic terms. The throne is surrounded by 24 elders and...

Revelation 4: 6-8, The four creatures around the throne

Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 
7 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. 
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy 

is the Lord God Almighty,’ 
who was, and is, 

and is to come.”

There are four creatures before the throne, described as looking like a lion, ox, man and eagle.  Yet they have six wings and numerous eyes!  It is difficult to really imagine what they look like. (Can you draw them?)

These creatures eternally worship God, describing him in a praise chorus as "holy" and eternal in both directions of time: eternal past, eternal future.

Who are the four creatures??  What do they represent?  What do they do?  The Old Testament passage  Ezekiel 1: 4-7 is a vision of similar creatures.  The creatures in Ezekiel have four faces: man, ox, lion, eagle.

Revelation 4: 9-11, The elders join in

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

    and by your will they were created

    and have their being.”

The four living creatures give praise and the elders join in, falling down before the Eternal Creator. The elders apparently have crowns, which they lay before the throne as offering, reciting a chorus emphasizing God characteristic as Creator.

Every time the twenty four elders appear in Revelation, they seem connected with worship. Their "te deum" comes from Psalm 66:2.