Six Wings and Eyes In The Back of Their Heads?

November 18, 2020

From today’s reading…

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was studded with eyes all the way round as well as inside; and day and night they never stopped singing: ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty; who was, and is and is to come.’” Revelation 4:8

Why do we think Revelation is “weird” but Isaiah 6:2-3 isn’t?

Why four living creatures?

Maybe it’s the four corners of a (holy) room which they have secured or are guarding. Maybe it’s the four points on a compass meaning they can cover the earth. Both indicate breadth, width, completeness, totality of coverage and support.

Why six wings?

We know three is an important number in the Bible, i.e. Father-Son-Holy Spirit, Jesus was raised on the third day, etc. Since you need two wings to fly, what the seraphs have is three sets of two wings. as all New Testament works tie back to the Old Testament, this verse in Revelation is tying back to Isaiah 6.

With two of their wings the seraphs in Isaiah cover their faces. Why? Maybe to protect their eyes from the bright purity of God as they go about doing His will.

With two of their wings they cover their feet. Why? Maybe as a sign of reverence and humility. Many in that time and place wore long robes that covered their entire bodies and even to this day in the Middle East you do not cross your legs and point the bottom of your shoes/feet towards anyone.

These creatures have a lot of eyes. Why?

Humans have great vision compared to most creatures on earth, and we’re one of the few who can see in color. Having your eyes opened is a key to both living and dying. (Adam and Eve had their eyes opened when they ate the apple, which brought death into the world.) So having eyes literally in the back of your head comes in quite handy when you are serving the Lord and doing battle with the most powerful of all enemies, Lucifer.

And these creatures never stop singing—which is praying twice, by the way—so they are filled with love, hope, and reverence for God even as the battle rages on because they know they are on the side of Good, the side that will win.

So don’t be afraid of Revelation. Embrace it as you do every other book of the Bible, because it has for us the Word and the Wisdom of God, which tells us exactly how and why we need to…

Stay the course.Keep the faith.Endure.

Now go sell something.