Dear Gramps,

What are the four living creatures in Revelations 5:11-14 of the King James Bible?
Donnie, from Salisbury, North Carolina

Dear Donnie,

They are the same four beasts as mentioned in verse 6 of the same chapter. An explanation of who the four beasts are was given by the Lord to the prophet Joseph Smith, and is recorded in the Doctrine & Covenants 77:2-4—

2 Q. What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse? (John 4:6)

A. They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator, John, in describing heaven, the paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created.

3 Q. Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders?

A. They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity.4 Q. What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had?

A. Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc.

Gramps

 

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