Again, John needs earthly comparisons to give his readers some indication of their appearance. The first reminded John of a lion, full of wild power and majesty. The second reminded him of an ox, the picture of domesticated power. The third had a face with human features (the creature to whom God had given dominion over creation (Genesis 1:26–28; Psalm 8:6). And the last reminded John of an eagle in flight: majestic. Ezekiel used the same four comparatives to describe the cherubim he saw (be it that all four comparatives belonged to each cherub; Ezekiel 1:10). These four represent the best of the creaturely world. With this description John makes clear that they capably serve as guards around God’s throne (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:20).
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 an eagle in flight.