Before the throne—a sea of glass, &c.— Several interpreters understand this crystal sea to be an emblem of the known rite of receiving converts into the Christian church bybaptism; of the purity which that sacrament signifies, and of the blood of Christ, by which theyare washed and cleansed from their sins. Doubtless it has an allusion to that purity, which is required in all persons who have the honour and happiness of a near approach to the presence and throne of God. The four living creatures are said to be in the middle of the throne, and round about the throne; that is, (according to Daubuz,) their bodies being under the throne to support it, seemed to be in the midst of the throne, and their heads without, seemed to be round about the throne. Some suppose, that the four living creatures represent all the Christian ministers. In the Note on the first verse, we have given Bishop Newton's and Mr. Mede's idea of these living creatures; and in the former Notes, where the cherubim are mentioned, have expressed our own sentiments respecting them. Lowman observes, that "these living creatures seem taken from the cherubim in the visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel, and in the most holy place, which are plainly designed for a representation of the angels, who ever are described in scripture as attendants on the glory of God, Psalms 68:17. The great use of angels in this vision, and their great number, ch. Revelation 5:11 make it probable, that as the four and twenty elders are placed about the throne, as representatives of the Jewish and Christian churches, now united into one; so the four living creatures or cherubim are alike representatives of the angels who are round the throne of God, and minister to him; and so (according to a great author) the form of the cherubim expresses the great understanding and power of the angels." Spencer, de Leg. Heb. lib. 3: cap. 5. This will also serve to shew how proper this representation was of the cherubim in the holy place, to signify that they are to be considered only as the servants and ministers of the one true God. Dr. Doddridge observes, that these four animals, of a veryextraordinary form, seem to have been intended as hieroglyphical representations of the angelic nature; for it is well known, that the ancients dealt much in hieroglyphics, bywhich natural and moral truths were expressed. There can, I think, be no doubt (continues the Dr.) that the living creatures of St. John are the cherubim described by Ezekiel 1 which therefore should be carefully compared with this representation. To consider this appearance as an emblem of Deity, which is the scheme of Mr. Hutchison and his followers, appears to me a very great absurdity. But upon this head we refer to Dr. Sharpe's learned Dissertation on the cherubim.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 4:6
Revelation 4:6-7
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.