What is the Significance of the
"Holy, Holy, Holy" in Rev. 4:8?
By Jonathan Mitchell
The book of Revelation (An Unveiling of, and a Disclosure from, Jesus Christ) is composed of apocalyptic visions which are symbolic, not literal. The visions and pronouncements must be interpreted as being a symbolic message to the first century called out communities. Understanding the symbols is critical to our perception of what is meant in the statements which comprise the visions.
The sphere of the vision is of a higher realm, for John was told to,
"Come up here (Ascend: Step up to this place)" (Rev. 4:1).
What John saw was,
"within spirit (or: within [the] Spirit; in union with a Breath-effect)" (vs. 2).
The vision was this:
"A throne being laid down and lying within the atmosphere (or: heaven; sky), and upon the throne [was] One continuously sitting (or: as well as [One] being permanently seated on the throne)."
[cf Isa. 6:1; Jer. 17:12; Ezk. 1:26-28; 10:1; Dan. 7:9]
This setting was described in vss. 3-8, and it included,
"four living ones (or: living beings; [cf Ezk. 1:5-25]) continuously being full of (or: = covered with) eyes, in front and behind: the first living one resembling a lion, the second living one resembling a calf (or: young bullock), the third living one has a human's face, and the fourth living one resembles a flying eagle (or: vulture)" (vss. 6-7). [cf Nu. 2:2; Ezk. 1:5-10; 10:14]
As the cited references indicate, these
"living ones (or: beings)"
are allusions to OT visions, as well as to the ensigns on the standards of the twelve tribes of Israel (Nu. 2:2-3). Thus, this vision is an echo from OT Israel. In vss. 8-10 we are informed about the function of these living ones, within the context of this particular vision:
"And the four living ones (or: living beings), each one of them having six wings apiece [cf Isa. 6:2], are continuously full of (or: = covered with) eyes in a circle around, and internally; and day and night they continuously have no rest (or: intermission), constantly (or: repeatedly) saying,
"Set-apart, Set-apart, Set-apart (Consecrated; Holy; Sacred)! O LORD (= Yahweh) God, The All-strong (the Almighty; the Strong Holder-of-all) [Isa. 6:3; Amos 3:13; 4:13] - the One Who was and continued being, the continuously Existing One, even the One continuously (habitually; repeatedly; progressively) coming or going (= the One constantly on the move)."
[cf Rev. 1:8; 2:5; 3:11; 22:7, 12]
Now whenever the living ones will repeatedly give glory and honor (or: value; respect) and thanks (gratitude; good favor) to, and for, the One continuously sitting upon the throne.... the twenty-four elders (or: older people) will repeatedly fall before the One continuously sitting upon the throne, and will be repeatedly making obeisance..."
Verse 11 reports the doxology given by the twenty-four elders (24 possibly symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel, plus Jesus' twelve apprentices; another possibility is that this represented the 24 courses which the priests served within the tabernacle/temple), but our investigation is on the three-times-repeated word "Holy (or: Set-apart)" being constantly repeated by the four living ones. Why three times?
The number three was set forth in the tri-part construction for God's Home among the Israelites: the Tabernacle and its setting. It has 1) an outer court; 2) the holy place (where the priests served, daily); and 3) the holy of holies (the place of the ark/coffin which served as God's throne within the midst of Israel). All three sections were "holy" (set-apart).
We suggest that one meaning of this announcement, or proclamation, "Holy, Holy, Holy," functions to explain that the setting of this vision is God's Tabernacle (or: Temple) within the realm of spirit, or heavens/atmospheres. This vison presents three levels: the Throne; the place of the elders/priests; and the sea of glass. All of these levels are set apart (holy).
This parallels the description of the One sitting upon the main throne: He is
"the One Who was and continued being, the continuously Existing One, even the One continuously (habitually; repeatedly; progressively) coming or going (= the One constantly on the move)."
This signifies that the one on the throne functioned in humanity's past, present, and was "constantly on the move." Recall that Jesus said to the Judeans who complained about His "working on a sabbath":
"But Jesus decidedly answers them, "My Father is continuously working and keeps on being in action until the present moment (or: up to right now); I, Myself, also am continually working (or: and so I, Myself, continue active, regularly performing in [His] trade)" (Jn. 5:17).[thus: it was not God's sabbath]
Verse 7 describes the living ones as having four faces, possibly representing the whole creation (the number 4 signified the four directions). Here, it would be the new creation (the one in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17) at the first (outer court) level of the spiritual realm. These beings are allusions to the living beings in the visions of Ezekiel. Their declaration calls to mind Ps. 19:
1. The heavens are recounting the glory of God, and the atmosphere is telling the work of His hands.
2. Day after day is uttering a saying, and night after night is disclosing knowledge.
3. There is no [audible] saying, and there are no words; their voice is unheard.
4. Yet into the entire earth their voice goes forth, and into the ends of the habitance their declaration. For the sun, He has placed a tent in them. (CVOT)
Another passage from the OT is worth observing:
"I saw My Lord [some codices read: Yahweh] upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his skirts did fill the Temple. Seraphim (Burning ones) were standing above him.... and they continued crying out one to another, and said,'Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh of hosts. The fullness of the whole earth IS His glory." (Isa. 6:1-3, Rotherham).
Take note that the setting of this vision is "the Temple." This is verified by vs. 6, where a live coal was taken from "the altar." We suggest that it is significant that both the Burning ones (Isa. 6:3b) and the Living ones (Rev. 4:8) had six wings, each. Six is the symbolic number of humanity. We are now God's Temple. We have been raised up and seated with Christ in these tri-tiered heavens (Eph. 2:6). And by being joined to the Overcomer (1 Cor. 6:17; Jn. 16:33), we are seated with Him in His throne (figured by the Mercy Seat, in the holy of holies), as He promised to us (Rev. 3:21).
Both the burning ones and the living beings are symbols of holy beings. Their very beings are a part of the heavens that recount God's glory... with no words. The picture of the beings in both Isa. and Rev. depicts a quality of existence that speaks the Good News with "no words" (Ps. 19:3). They are not repeating mantras nor participating in religious rituals. Their very beings constantly project the message of being set apart. The entire realm of God's presence is "set apart" from the lower realm of earthly existence. Yet this set-apart reality of God's Spirit constantly invades the realms of earth and flesh, progressively transforming them so that they will reflect His Image (2 Cor. 3:18).
Paul brought this all home for us, in 1 Cor. 3:17,
"for you see, God's Temple - which you folks, yourselves, are (exist being) - is set-apart (holy; sacred; different from the common; [cf 1 Cor. 1:2, 30; 6:2-8, 15-20; 7:19; 10:17-22; 11:27-31]).
Jonathan
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