The Four Living Creatures: Part 4: A Picture of the Pastor from the Elector Bible
And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:6b-11)
Verse 7: “The third living creature had a face like a man.”
In the last section, we spoke about how pastors are like the oxen. They are to work hard. They are to be untiring in the performance of their duties. This is why they are worthy of their wages. This is why they are not muzzled as they tread out the grain.
Today, we look at the pastor having a face like a man. What does this mean? The Elector Bible says that the third living creature has a face like a man “because the servants of the church should be affable and friendly toward everyone, especially toward the weak in faith.”
Three Bible passages are cited as corroborating proof. The first is 2 Timothy 2:24: “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.”
The church servant is not to be quarrelsome. This is μάχομαι. This word is frequently used for physical combat in the military sense. This sort of quarrelsomeness comes from the evil flesh. All μάχεσθαι is rejected as inconsistent for the Christian, as we see here in 2nd Timothy, Titus 3:9, 1 Timothy 3:3, and James 4:1.
But just because we do not quarrel does not mean we do not contend. Words like ἀγωνίζομαι reveal this reality. We are not doormats; we are contenders. We see this in Sirach 4:28: “Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God will fight for you.”
We should contend or strive for ourselves, as Jesus says in Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
We should contend and strive to preach and teach and warn every man, as Paul says in Colossians 1:29: “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
The supreme goal for which we fight and work and suffer is not our own salvation alone; it is the salvation of many. This is why all μάχεσθαι is rejected as inconsistent. We don’t fight against flesh and blood. They are deceived. They are blinded by the god of this world.
This is why we are “gentle.” ἤπιος refers to calming words that bring God's order to a situation. Unnecessary harshness or excess does not belong in the Christian preacher. We are to be gentle.
The second Bible passage, Romans 14:1, teaches us that we are to be gentle to those who are weak in faith. “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.” Do not despise the weak one. Teach him. Lead him. Give him time to learn.
The third Bible passage, Galatians 6:1, also deals with those who are weak in faith. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
Gentleness here is πραΰς, meekness. Etymologically, it is related to the word friend. It means that which is gentle, pleasant, mild, and friendly. Meekness is the antonym of rough, hard, angry, and violent. Jesus is meek. Paul too is meek. And often, meekness is viewed as weakness or softness. 2 Corinthians 10 shows this clearly.
But let us take up Paul’s question: “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Cor. 4:21) If we wish to use the rod before love and gentleness, we are in a bad way. We do not have the face of a man.
Revelation is full of faces. Here, we see the face of a man. This is a kind face, a gentle face, a friendly face. We should not be like other faces in Revelation. We should not have a mouth of a lion, like the beast of the sea, or the teeth of a lion, like the locusts from the bottomless pit.
Rather, let us show mercy, gentleness, and meekness. Let us preachers be kind and affable to all, and especially to those who are weak in the faith. We are this way because Christ has been merciful, gentle, and meek toward us.
In the next section, we will deal with the preacher as a flying eagle.