6b In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.

8 And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

— Revelation 4:6b-8

And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

— Isaiah 6:3

Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?

–Exodus 15:11

“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed!

— Revelation 15:4

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Bountiful grace and mercy to you from the incarnated God, the Savior Jesus Christ.

According to John’s description, in the innermost circle of God’s throne room, four living creatures surround God’s throne. Each of the four living creatures, one like a lion, one like an ox, one like a man and one like an eagle, has six wings. They are covered with eyes in front and back. The four creatures seem to represent the entire created order, covering the wild, the tame, the sky and humanity. Their eyes see in every direction, reflecting and honoring qualities of God, who sees and knows everything, everywhere, always.

These creatures seem to represent God’s angels, standing closest to His throne and ceaselessly leading in the worship of God. They extol God’s holiness to the superlative degree by repeating the words “holy, holy, holy.” God’s holiness is rooted in His perfect purity and absolute otherness. God exists separate and unique from His creation—intimately involved with all He has made yet far above everyone and everything. God’s holiness envelops all He is. His love is holy. His wrath is holy. Every aspect of God’s nature is holy. God is so holy that the gulf between His sacred perfection and our sinfulness could only be bridged when the Son of God became perfect man.