Nope! And the 4 creatures around God’s throne aren’t the same as the 4 creatures roving around the earth. But read on to learn more about what the Beasts really are…
Four creatures around God’s throne (Revelation 4:6):
And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
The four creatures each look different from the others…
Similarities:
– eyes in front, behind, and within
– six wings
– always singing
Uniqueness:
* creature 1. looked like a lion
* creature 2. looked like an ox
* creature 3. face of man
* creature 4. looked like a flying eagle
The four creatures roving around the earth (Ezekiel 1:4):
4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness round about it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming bronze. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the form of men, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another; they went every one straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man in front;[a] the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle at the back.[b] 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of[c] the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning.
Four creatures that all looked the same:
– the form of men
– four faces: of a man in front, lion on right, ox on left, eagle in back
– four wings, under which were human hands
– straight legs
– soles of feet like a calf
– sparkled like burnished bronze
The three Beasts (Revelation 12:17):
The dragon stood on the sand of the sea.
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth followed the beast with wonder.
Then I saw another beast which rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
…the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to perdition. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind and give over their power and authority to the beast
The interpretation indicates the beasts are kingdoms/governments. But if “beast” was not a figurative word, they would be:
Beast 1:
* like a leopard
* feet like a bear
* mouth like a lion
Beast 2:
* two horns like a lamb
* spoke like a dragon
Beast 3:
* scarlet
* full of blasphemous names
* seven heads
* ten horns