Mar Mari Emmanuel reveals the profound symbolism of Ezekiel's vision and the four living creatures as the four gospels, illustrating the unity of Christ's humanity, divinity, kingship, and servanthood.
In this insightful sermon, Mar Mari Emmanuel explores the hidden meaning behind Ezekiel's vision and its connection to the book of Revelation. He explains the symbolic significance of the four living creatures as the four gospel writers and the 24 elders as representing the unity of the Old and New Testament believers. The message calls listeners to understand Christ's nature fully and to live faithfully under His kingship, promising eternal reward for those who adhere to God's word.
Full Transcript
When we read in Revelation chapter 4 talking about the 24 elders and the four living creatures, it was mentioned the other way around to chapter 19 verse 4. So in chapter 19 verse 4 it says, and the 24 elders then the four living creatures. So look in verse 4 it puts the 24 elders first then the four living creatures. But when you read it in chapter 4, it puts the four living creatures first then the 24 elders second.
Now why exactly? Somebody said why? Why? Because here it's talking about the second coming of the heaven. Chapter 4 talking about earth. When we are living on earth the four living creatures are first then the 24 elders.
But in heaven it will be the 24 elders first then the four living creatures the other way around. On earth the four creatures first then the 24 elders. In heaven the elders first then the four living creatures.
Now what are the four living creatures? When you read in Revelation 4 7 in Ezekiel the prophet of the old testament, Ezekiel chapter 1 verse 10, it talks about these four living creatures. It mentions them as the following symbolically. It says one of them looks like the son of man, the other one like a calf, the other one like a lion, the other one like an eagle.
Son of man, lion, calf, eagle. Who are these four living creatures? Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the four gospel writers. These are the four living creatures.
So what are the four living creatures? The four gospels. What are the four gospels? The word of God. It's the word of God.
So on earth the four living creatures first then the 24 elders. Who are the 24 elders? 12 of the old testament and 12 of the new testament. The Lord Jesus is the good shepherd to both branches of his beloved church.
The old testament branch and the new testament branch. What was the old testament branch church made out of? 12 tribes of Israel. And what is the new testament branch church of Christ made out of? 12 apostles.
So 12 and 12, 24. And these are the 24 elders sitting around the throne of the lamb of God who is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. God revealed in the flesh.
Both old and new got together at the end. So on earth the 24 elders are first, then the four living creatures. Meaning when we are still living on earth, the word of God need to be our guidance, our sense of direction, our shepherd.
We need to follow the word of God while on earth. That's why on earth the four living creatures come first, then the 24 elders. We need to follow the word of God in order to make it to heaven.
And when we were faithful, loyal, steadfast in the path of the Lord, holding on to his holy and divine word, adhering to his word which is his commandments, love one another. The way I loved you, I want you to love one another. When we adhere to his word on earth, when we go to heaven, we will be first, then the word second.
Why? Because we'll be standing before the Lord Jesus and the word which we fulfilled on earth and adhere to will testify for us before the Lord and everyone. On earth we followed the word, in heaven the word testified that we followed the word while on earth. Yes? You made it to heaven because you listened to the word of the Lord.
So the word will testify and say they were faithful servants. That's why they are in heaven. And the four living creatures, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Matthew, the son of man, that's the symbol. Read Revelation 4 7 and Ezekiel 1 10. The son of man is the gospel of Matthew.
The lion gospel according to Saint Mark. The calf according to Saint Luke, symbolic. And the eagle represents the gospel according to Saint John.
Son of man, Matthew, lion, Mark, calf, Luke, eagle, John. Son of man, humanity. Eagle is the gospel of John, divinity.
You will see the title son of man mentioned so many times in the gospel according to Saint Matthew more than all the other gospels put together. Because his representation is that creature like the son of man. That is the gospel according to Saint Matthew.
He introduces the Messiah to the Israelite nation. People of Israel, the Messiah you've been waiting for. I saw him.
He is the son of man, son of Mary, son of the carpenter. I saw him as a human being. This is God revealed in the flesh.
So gospel of Matthew, the humanity of Christ, gospel of John, the divinity of Christ in the beginning was the logos and the logos was with God and the logos was God, the divinity. Matthew, humanity, John, divinity, Mark, the lion, king, and calf, Luke, the servant. What does the calf do? Works all day long and at the end they slain it and eat it.
The Lord Jesus served all his life and at the end he was slain on the cross and he said, take, eat, this is my body and take drink, this is my blood. I am the true servant who was slain for your redemption and salvation. So when you put the four pictures, the four profiles of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we'll read it this way.
Humanity in the gospel of Matthew, divinity in the gospel of John, king in the gospel of Mark, servant in the gospel of Luke. Divinity, John, was revealed in humanity. Matthew, came to this world to be the king over your life in the gospel of Mark, to serve you in the gospel of Luke and not to be served by you.
This is Christ. Perfect God, John, revealed in perfect man, Matthew, came as the king to rule over your life in Mark, to serve you in Luke and not to be served by you. When you believe that Christ is perfect God and perfect man, one person, one true divine person, never separated divinitary from humanity, united in this unique person, when you believe in this and you make him king over your life, meaning he owns you, king owns, you are his property, because he owned you when he purchased you with his precious blood, he owns you.
So when you make him king, he will serve you to make sure you are king in the end, in his kingdom. When you adhere to this word, the word will testify in the next life and say, this is my beloved son in whom I'm pleased. Come, O faithful servant, and inherit the kingdom that was prepared before the creation of the world, was prepared for you.
And he who remains faithful till the end, I will give him the crown of life, Revelation 2.10. So the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne. Who sat on the throne? In Revelation 4, chapter 4, the lamb of God is on the throne, the lamb of God is Jesus Christ, and it says here, and worshiped God who sat on the throne. So the one who sat on the throne is the lamb of God, and in Revelation 19.4, this lamb is God himself.
So stop saying, where does it say in the Bible that Jesus is God? Well here, it says it. Right? So get a life. Stop looking for excuses.
If you don't accept Jesus as God, you're in deep trouble. Wake up. Doesn't matter you're a Christian or not.
Look, definitely mother nature did not create you. Enough of this stupidity. Definitely not.
So there is one true divine God that's created everything and everyone, visible and invisible. There's only one. Now you need to find out.
None of the three million gods in the pantheistic belief of Hinduism, none of them. Or the leaf fell from the tree, that's God. The wind blew, that's God.
The star God, the moon God, the fire God, what God? Enough.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Contrast between Revelation 4 and 19 regarding the order of elders and living creatures
- Explanation of the earthly and heavenly perspectives
- Significance of the order reflecting spiritual realities
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II
- Identification of the four living creatures with the four gospel writers
- Symbolism of each creature representing aspects of Christ
- Connection of the four gospels to the word of God
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III
- Explanation of the 24 elders as representing the Old and New Testament believers
- Unity of the church through the 12 tribes and 12 apostles
- Role of Jesus as the Good Shepherd over both branches
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IV
- Christ’s nature revealed through the four gospels: humanity, divinity, kingship, and servanthood
- Call to accept Jesus as God and King over one’s life
- Promise of reward for faithfulness and adherence to God’s word
Key Quotes
“On earth the four living creatures first then the 24 elders; in heaven the elders first then the four living creatures.” — Mar Mari Emmanuel
“The four living creatures are the four gospels; the word of God that guides us on earth.” — Mar Mari Emmanuel
“When you believe in Christ as perfect God and perfect man and make Him king over your life, the word will testify for you in the next life.” — Mar Mari Emmanuel
Application Points
- Follow the word of God faithfully as your guide while living on earth.
- Recognize and accept Jesus Christ as both fully God and fully man, making Him the King of your life.
- Remain steadfast in faith to receive the crown of life and eternal reward.
