Rev 4:6  "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."

When a chemical crystallizes it is in a pure state.  Thus crystal indicates purity.  The word, "crystal," only appears five times in the scriptures and is associated with things that are pure:

           1.  Job 28:12 "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?"  v.16 "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold."

          2.  Ezek. 1:22 "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above."

          3.  Rev. 21:10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11  Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal."

          4.  Rev. 22:1 "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

From ref. 1 we can gather that wisdom and understanding come from God through his word.  From ref. 2 we gather that the firmament of God's kingdom is above us and is manifested to us thru God's word.  From ref. 3 we find that the light of the holy Jerusalem is both precious and pure like the word of God.  From ref. 4 we know that the pure river of water of life that is clear as crystal is the word of God.  By inference we conclude that the sea of glass which is clear as crystal is the word of God.  In Rev. 22:1 the word of God is likened unto a river.  Here in Rev. 4:6 the word of God is likened unto a sea.  Both the river and the sea are very large bodies of water.

Anyone who has ever tried to do an exhaustive study of God's word, realizes that even over a lengthy lifetime we can only gather a small fraction of the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding found therein.  It is unlike any other book that has ever been written.  Actually it is greater than all the other books that have been written since the foundation of the world combined.

God promised to preserve his word in a pure form in Ps. 12:6 "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."  In English (that is the only language that I have any real knowledge about) that preserved word is found in the King James translation of the bible.  God never promised he would preserve some old manuscripts, but that his word would be preserved throughout all generations.  It would be of no value to have a manuscript preserved in a pure form and it not be usable for many generations.

We see this sea of glass also in Rev. 15:2, "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."  Thus the disciples were standing on the sea of glass of God's word and giving praise, honor, and glory to God. 

"And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind."  These four beasts as we will discover in later verses are the four gospels.  These four gospels take us right into the midst of the throne of God and gather us round about the throne of God.  These four gospels give us a complete view and revelation of the things that were prophesied about the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom in the Old Testament (eyes behind), and also show us the fulfillment of that kingdom even unto the resurrection of the bodies of the just and the unjust (eyes before).  

As an aside, the number four is associated with the work of the Holy Spirit.  Note that there are four Hebrew and Greek words translated into the English word spirit.  There are four horses that are called the four spirits in the book of Zechariah.  There are also four horses that the Lord rode in the book of Revelations showing his redemptive work through the Holy Spirit.  There were four rivers that flowed out of Eden, that represented the working of the Holy Spirit in types and shadows, the four winds are also compared to the four spirits of the heavens.  There are four living creatures in Ezekiel which are typical of the work of the gospel ministry under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.  There were also four wheels which are typical of the Lord's church under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.   

Rev 4:7, 8  "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. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

The word, "beast," used here is not to be confused with the word, "beast," used in Rev. Chapter 13.  In Rev. 4:7 the Greek word is "zoon" meaning a living animal, whereas, in Rev. 13:1 the Greek word is "therion" meaning a dangerous or wild animal.  

Because of the similarities to the living creatures in Ezekiel Chapters 1 and 10 some believe the four beasts in Revelation represent the four living creatures in Ezekiel.  I do not share that view.  I believe the four beasts in Revelation to represent the four gospels, whereas, the four living creatures are more characteristic of the gospel ministry.  

The descriptions of the four beasts follow the themes of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Each of the four gospels presents a particular aspect of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The first beast was like a lion.  Lions are often used in the scriptures to represent kings: 

          1.  Gen. 49:9 "Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

          2.  Jer. 50:17 "Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."

          3.  19:1 "Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. 3 And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. 4 The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. 5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. 6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. 7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. 8 Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit." 

The theme of the gospel of Matthew is of Christ as a king in his kingdom.  The first chapter of Matthew begins by showing the genealogy of Christ showing that he was the legal heir to the throne of David.  In chapter 2 the wise men come asking "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"   Beginning in Chapter 3 we see the great emphasis on the kingdom of heaven found in the book of Matthew.  Matthew has more mentions of the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God than the other three gospels combined.  Matthew gives us the view of Christ that is like a lion or a king. 

The theme of the gospel of Mark is represented by a calf.  The calf represents a beast of burden.  Mark's gospel gives us a picture of the Lord in his labors.  The key word in Mark is "and."  The word, "and," used at the beginning of the vast majority of the verses in Mark shows continuous action.  The book begins with Christ being baptized and entering into his labor.  The book is one of continuous action showing Christ fulfilling the law and the prophets and establishing his kingdom and delivering his people from their sins. 

The theme of the gospel of Luke is represented by the face of a man.  The theme of the gospel of Luke is the humanity of Christ.  There are more details about the birth and early life of Christ in Luke than in the other gospels.  Luke shows more of his physical hardships and sufferings than the other gospels.  The gospel of Luke shows us more of the Lord's eating and drinking than the other gospels.  It also shows us more of the sufferings of Christ on the cross than the other gospels. 

The theme of the gospel of John is represented by a flying eagle.  The eagle flies high above the earth and sees far off.  The gospel of John shows us the deity of Christ.  It begins with him as the Word of God and creator of all things.  It pictures Christ to us as the great I AM.  John reveals to us the covenant work of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  John causes us to soar spiritually.  The great doctrines of God's election of a people to be his before the foundation of the world, the effectual calling of God in the new birth, and of the resurrection of the dead are all clearly set forth for us in the gospel of John. 

The four beasts are said to have six wings about them.  The seraphims in Isaiah's experience also had six wings: Is. 6:2 "Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly."  The six wings were divided into pairs.  Two is the bible number associated with witness.  The witness of the seraphims as well as the witness of the four beasts was not to bring glory to man (with twain he covered his face) or to honor men's works (with twain he covered his feet), but the witness was to soar in honor and glory to the great God of heaven as they cried, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."  The gospel as well as God's true ministers who preach the gospel gives glory to the thrice holy God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), who is Lord (master over his creation), and God (one who is to be worshiped as deity), and the Almighty (all powerful creator and sustainer of all things).  They also honor him as the unchangeable God (which was, and is, and is to come) who cannot lie and will keep his covenant promises to all generations.  The gospel does not rest in its declarations to the honor and glory of God.

Rev 4:9-11  "And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."         

As we have before established, the beasts represent the four gospels.  The four gospels are given to us of God that they may give glory, honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, which is to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the one who "liveth for ever and ever."  He sits on the promised throne of David in an everlasting kingdom that shall never be destroyed.  

When the gospels give glory and honor and thanks to the Lord who reigns in his kingdom, then the four and twenty elders fall down before the King that sits on the throne.  The four and twenty elders as we have before established represent the whole of God's elect.  When the gospels give glory to God, then the elect give glory to God.  When the gospels honor God, then the elect honor God.  When the gospels give thanks to God, then the elect give thanks to God.  Similarly, when the gospel is proclaimed in power and demonstration of Spirit, then the gathered assembly of God's people give glory and honor and thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for his mighty deliverance of them from their sins. 

When God's chosen people have knowledge of their salvation from sin by the grace of God through the atoning blood of Christ then they worship him that liveth for ever and ever.  The true gospel of Jesus Christ gives rise to the true worship of the true Jesus.  They that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.  Any crowns or accomplishments that we feel that we may have obtained in life pail into utter insignificance when compared to that which the Lord has accomplished for us on our behalf.  We do indeed cast our crowns down before the throne.  We are made to realize that all our righteousness is as filthy rags and unworthy to be compared to what the Lord has done for us.  We are made to realize that our works haven't saved us, but that we are saved by the blood of Jesus and that blood alone. 

When we have cast our crowns before the throne, then we say, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  All pride and self-adulation go out the window when we consider what the Lord has done.  He is the worthy One.  He is the one who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.  He is the one who kept the law to a jot and a tittle.  He is the one who was made to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  He is the one who saved us when we were dead in trespasses and sins.  He is the one who quickened us into Spiritual life, thus enabling us to know and understanding spiritual things.  He is the one who has promised us eternal life before the foundation of the world.  

Yes, the Lord is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power.  Therefore we should glorify his excellent name and give him all the praise for our salvation.  With our every breath we should honor him with our lives and how we live our lives.  By his power we are delivered both eternally and timely.  Without him we can do nothing.  It is through his strength that we are able to worship and serve him.  To him belongs the praise for his mighty power. 

It is the Lord who has created all things.  No one has the ability to create but the Lord alone.  He simply speaks all things into existence.  He said "Let there be light, and there was light."  It is by the power of his mighty voice that we exist, both in nature and spiritually.  In six days the Lord created the natural universe and all natural things therein that have ever existed.  Further throughout time God has and is creating spiritual life into the elect who were dead in trespasses and sins:  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…"

We are "new creatures" in Christ Jesus.  God's creation pleases him for he has done all things well.  God saw his natural creation and declared it to be good and very good.  God also sees his spiritual creation in the new birth and declares it to be good and very good.  May we ever praise his worthy name.