The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"'Having every one of them harps.' That is, as the construction and the propriety of the
case would seem to demand, the elders had each one of them harps. The whole prostrated
themselves with profound reverence; the elders had harps and censers, and broke out into
a song of praise for redemption. This construction is demanded, because (a) the Greek
word more properly agrees with the word elders and not with the word beasts; (b) there is
an incongruity in the representation that the living creatures in the form of a lion, a calf, an
eagle, should have harps and censers; and (c) the song of praise that is sung (verse 9) is
one that properly applies to the elders as the representatives of the Church, and not to the
living creatures, 'Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.'"
"Full of eyes before and behind"
The next striking feature connected with these living ones as described by St. John is that
they were "full of eyes before and behind." This, their characteristic, in harmony with the
interpretation that they represent in one aspect the administration of the government of
God, would signify in general, omniscience, or more particularly, an ever-watchful and
observing providence--that in the administration of the Divine government everything in
connection with it is duly considered, and deliberately purposed; that nothing which has a
bearing on that administration escapes notice, nothing can be hidden from the Eternal
One, who sits upon the throne; and that all that is hidden in the symbolic sealed scroll in
His hand has been pre-arranged. One of the significant features of the symbol is that as
one approached the throne from any quarter there would be seen a multitude of eyes
looking at him. The eminent expositor already referred to has very clearly explained the
meaning of this very striking feature of the symbol:
"The ancients fabled Argus as having one hundred eyes, or as having the power of seeing
in any direction. The emblem here would denote an ever-watchful and observing
Providence; and in accordance with the explanation proposed above, it means that, in the
administration of the Divine government, everything is distinctly contemplated; nothing
escapes observation; nothing can be concealed. It is obvious that the Divine government
could not be administered unless this were so; and it is the perfection of the government of
God that all things are seen just as they are. . . . As one looked on their faces, from
whatever quarter the throne was approached, he could see a multitude of eyes looking
upon him. 'And behind.' On the parts of their bodies which were under the throne. The
meaning is, that there is universal vigilance in the government of God. Whatever is the
form of the Divine administration; whatever part is contemplated; however it is
manifested whether as activity, energy, power or intelligence, it is based on the fact that all
things are seen from every direction. There is nothing that is the result of blind fate or
chance."
St. John next proceeds to give a more particular description of the living ones. It is a very
significant matter, bearing out the above interpretation, that the creatures selected to
picture that on which the throne of God rests, together with the administration of His
government, are the four that hold primacy in the earth--man, over all others in
intelligence, wisdom, etc.; the lion over all the wild, untamed animals; the ox over the