New Jerusalem - Four Witnesses

[Mathew Enoch Mount]

We learned from the message regarding the two witnesses that they are
shown as the cherubim on the atonement cover of the ark of the
covenant, so now I will show how the four witnesses are an extenuation
of the two witnesses. Scripture says the following about the matter,
"He prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of
the covenant of the LORD there. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits
long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure
gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. Solomon covered the
inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains
across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with
gold. So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid
with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary. In the
inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim of olive wood, each ten
cubits high. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and
the other wing five cubits—ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip. The
second cherub also measured ten cubits, for the two cherubim were
identical in size and shape. The height of each cherub was ten
cubits. He placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the
temple, with their wings spread out. The wing of one cherub touched
one wall, while the wing of the other touched the other wall, and
their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. He overlaid
the cherubim with gold. 1 Kings 6:19-28 (NIV) In other words before
the ark of the covenant was ever received into the most holy place two
cherubim had been made inside of the most holy place, and when the ark
that contained two cherubim on the atonement cover would be received
then that would make a total of four cherubim or four witnesses.

In my prior message regarding the two witnesses I demonstrated that
Moses and Aaron represent the two witnesses over the atonement cover
in regard to their position in ushering in the Old covenant, "Then he
said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu,
and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance,
but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come
near. And the people may not come up with him." Exodus 24:1-2 (NIV)
Overall, Moses just like John was the one whom God loved and John
received Marry into his care whereas Moses went up the mountain to
speak with God directly. Also notice the other two witnesses stood
behind while they also stood before the 70.

When the ark was received into the most holy place the following
happened, "The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to
its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place,
and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread
their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its
carrying poles." 1 Kings 8:6-7 (NIV) Overall, the two cherubim are
the witnesses that guard the atonement cover, and the two other
cherubim outside of the ark are the two other witnesses that guard
over the entire ark of the covenant.

Scripture gives the following account regarding the four witnesses in
relation to the twenty-four elders and seven priests or arc angels
that serve over all creation, "At once I was in the Spirit, and there
before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the
one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A
rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the
throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-
four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on
their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and
peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These
are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what
looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around
the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with
eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a
lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the
fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had
six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.
Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living
creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne
and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down
before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever
and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are
worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for
you created all things, and by your will they were created and have
their being." Revelation 4:2-11 (NIV) Overall, the twenty-four
elders are the twelve apostles plus the twelve patriarchs of Israel,
the four witnesses are the four living creatures known by the church
to be Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and the seven spirits of God are
the seven ark angles.

What is interesting is that evidence exists that two of the four
witnesses can go in and out of the most Holy Place. The witness with
the face of a man and the witness with the face of a lion are seen
both inside the most holy place and outside of it. Scripture says the
following, "In the space above the outside of the entrance to the
inner sanctuary and on the walls at regular intervals all around the
inner and outer sanctuary were carved cherubim and palm trees. Palm
trees alternated with cherubim. Each cherub had two faces: the face
of a man toward the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion
toward the palm tree on the other. They were carved all around the
whole temple. From the floor to the area above the entrance, cherubim
and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary."
Ezekiel 41:17-20 (NIV) Overall, Saint Jerome claimed that the living
creature with the face of a man was Matthew, the living creature
having the appearance of a lion was Mark, the living creature having
the appearance of a Ox was Luke, and the living creature having the
appearance of a Eagle was John. Saint Augustine however claimed that
the living creature having the appearance of a man was Mark, the
living creature having the appearance of a lion was Matthew, the
living creature having the appearance of an Ox was Luke, and the
living creature having the appearance of an Eagle was John.

I think that enough evidence exists that Matthew and John stayed with
Christ on the blood atonement cover like Aaron and Moses on either
side of the throne whereas Mark and Luke went in among the people as
well as guarded over the entire ark. Overall, I was unaware that the
early church fathers shared much the same views that I do regarding
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John being the four living creatures, but it
is indeed true.

For more information on comparison between Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John compared to the four living creatures visit the following web
sight.
http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Evangelists_Symbols.htm#Irenaeus