May 25: HOLY TERMS
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 4:8
The prophet Isaiah was shown similar visions: I saw the LORD sitting on a throne…Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings…[they] cried “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:1-3) Ezekiel also provides a description of God’s throne and the beings that surround it: the likeness of four living creatures…As for the likeness of their faces…the face of a man…the face of a lion…the face of an ox…the face of an eagle (Ezekiel 1:5,10).
Comparing these similar descriptions to John’s serves as confirmation that the prophecies of the ancient Hebrew prophets will find fulfillment in time, before the close of earth’s history. And, rather than believe that a strange menagerie attends our heavenly Father, these exalted angels are described in order to show us things about God’s nature. The words full of eyes around and within is a reminder of God’s all-knowing and all-seeing omniscience (see 2 Chronicles 16:9). The fact that these creatures . . . do not rest brings to mind the assurance that our all-powerful God is never fatigued and is always available to provide grace to those who turn to Him: My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:2-4)
“Holy, holy, holy!” Both John and Isaiah heard this declaration by the four living creatures about the Lord. Also in chapter six of Isaiah, the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” (v.8) The divine Us is an explicit reference to the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus prayed on our behalf, saying Holy Father, keep through Your name those who You have given Me, that they may be one as We are (John 17:11). The angel told Mary, “that the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35b). And it is God’s Holy Spirit who is our Helper who will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I [Jesus] said to you (John 14:26). Each person of the trinity is holy.
Our God—Who was and is and is to come—is eternal. He has expressed in every way possible His desire for us to also live eternally. We must be made holy. Life under His Kingship is granted on His terms, as laid out in His word. The only alternative is death. If you think you can be saved on your own terms, you will die. Do you love Him enough to believe all that He says? Do you trust that He knows best? Those originally entrusted with His word, as a nation, departed from that word (Acts 7:57—see also Jeremiah 6:17 & 11:10). This pattern is being repeated. Access to God’s word does not guarantee everlasting life, but belief demonstrated by obedience is required. Paul had this to say to his beloved Jewish brethren:
“It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46
See also: Ezekiel 18:4,20,23; Matthew 7:21; Romans 2:13; James 1:21-22