But the peculiar qualities thus symbolized are possessed by the four living creatures themselves, and what do they represent?  To whom are the four and twenty elders referred?  They are particularly distinguished from the angelic throng.  In the ninth verse of the following chapter the elders and the living creatures represent themselves as the host of people redeemed by the blood of Christ “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”  The above-mentioned characteristics, then, are the peculiar possession of God’s people—­power and courage to attack all enemies and to gain the victory; a spirit of perseverance in patiently laboring for Christ, with a willingness to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, for the glory of God; ability to receive a “knowledge of the truth,” that they may understand the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning them; and power and willingness to obey instantly when able to discern spiritual things, rising above the things of earth and the trials and persecutions of life—­soaring away to loftier heights, there to bask continually in the blessed sunlight of God’s eternal presence.

Why was it necessary that the redeemed company of God’s people should be represented by four living creatures?  Doubtless because it would probably have been very difficult to select any one creature combining all the characteristics desired to represent all God’s people of all ages.  It is also a significant fact that all the people of God on earth were included in four great dispensations—­ante-deluvian, post-deluvian, Mosaic, and Christian; although it is not certain that four living creatures were selected for the special purpose of showing the number of dispensations.  However, this division of time is well established in the Bible.  Peter reckons a new world beginning with Noah (2 Pet. 3:6, 7), stating that the old world had been destroyed. 2 Pet. 2:5.  God came down upon Mount Sinai and delivered the old covenant, thus marking a distinct dispensation; while Jesus Christ established the new covenant and ushered in the fourth and last dispensation.  See Heb. 12:18-24.  Under the first dispensation, Abel by faith offered unto God an “excellent sacrifice”; men “began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Gen. 4:26); Enoch “walked with God” and “was translated that he should not see death”; while Noah, “a preacher of righteousness,” was “perfect in his generation” and “condemned the world” by his preaching and obedience.  The second dispensation was graced with a faithful Abraham, who “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith,” from which circumstance he was called “the friend of God” and has justly received the title “father of the faithful.”  In his footsteps followed Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.  The law age contains the names of many illustrious prophets of God, and the New Testament era abounds with brilliant examples of faith and devotion.