The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-19
FACE OF AN EAGLE
AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
VISION OF ST. JOHN.
THE MANY INTERPRETATIONS
WHICH HAVE BEEN PLACED ON
THE VERSE DISCUSSED BY
REV. MIR. JORDAN.

Have Been Interpreters-AH Differ
WideIy-The Four Animals Sur
rounding the Throne Furnish the
Types of the Leading Traits
which Our Lives Must Possess If
We Are True Christians-We Must
Do with Our Might What Our
Hands Find to Do.
THE Face of an Eagle" was the sub
ject of the sermon by Rev. John D. Jor-
don at the First Baptist Church last
night and the announcement of the
subject attracted a large congregation.
The sermon dealt with the interpreta-
tons which have been placed upon the
verse of Scripture which was used for
the text, Revela tons, Al, And the first
beast was like a lion, and the second
beast like a calf, and third beast had
a face as a man, and the fourth beast
was like a flying eagle"
From the different interpreta tons
which have been given to the verse
one was selected as the best, and from
this many helpful lessons were drawn.
Among other things. Rev. DR.. Jordan
said, in part:
This text has almost as many diff
ferent interpretations as it has differ
ent Interpreters.
The scene is in heaven--a throne is
established and the Son of God sits
upon it. Around the throne, but re-
moved from it on other thrones upon
which the elders sit. Between the ell
ders and the throne are four living
creatures with appearances Of an OK, a
lion, man and an eagle.
"One man looks at it and concludes
that the elders represent the redeemed
of God, and that the four living crea-
lures represent their enemies. He sees
the OK as a wild bull, raging and furi-
Gus, ready to destroy, if possible, the
very elect and blood washed The
lion, he sees stealing forth from his
lair, hungry and thirsty for the flesh and
blood of his prey; while in the man
he sees depravity, enmity and hatred
towards God and His people; and the
eagle he sees as vulture, eager ana
swift to prey upon the innocent.
unfortunate for this Interpretation
it does not interpret. II does violence
to the recorded facts. The four living
creatures, instead of seeking to do harm
to the elders, lead them in worshipping
Him, who sits on the throne-their wor-
ship is unccasing. day and night.
Four Leading Animals,
1.-THE ancient Jews had this saying:
There are four, which take the first
place in this world. Man among the
creatures, the eagle among birds, the
ny among Cattla and the lion among
wild beasts
From this view, some have con-
strued the four living creatures as
representatives of Gods creation, unit
ed in praising Him. While all of
Gods creation is commanded to praise
Him, and shall do So that does not
seem to be the teaching of the text
and context.
These living creatures have also
been described as representing four
classes or nations of people. The lion
representing the Hebrew people,
whence Christ decended as the lion of
the tribe of Judah, the calf as a not
ed object of Egyptian worship repre-
senting the Pagan people, the man
representing the Ishmaelites; and the
eagle standing for the Romans. This
construction would unite all nations in
praising God. While all the nations
shall be united in the praises of God.
this Interpretation of this scripture
seems to be based more on fancy than
on fact.
Another Interpretation is that the
four and twenty elders represent the
redeemed of God as praising Him.
while the four living creatures rep
resent all the other creations of God.
To justify this Interpretation, the
Psalm is quoted which says: All thy
works shall praise thee, Lord, and
thy saints shall bless thee. Neither
this Interpretation nor the prooftext
appeals to me as applying to this text.
Represents the Apostles.
Another Interpretation is that the
four living creatures represent divine
attributes: The lion, strength; the OK,
patience; the man, INTEL g nee. d
the eagle switness. This seems to be
getting nearer the truth, yet rot al
together true. The attributes need
not be called divine, for the four living
creatures are represented as giving
praise to God day and night, and fall
ing down with the elder before the
tomb. This would make divine attri-
butes worship in the divinity Of which
they constitute a part.
Still another Interpretation is to
make the four living creatures renre-
sent the four evangelists, Matthew.
Mark, Luke and John, in the light in
which they present Christ to us a our
Saviour and example. The OK repre-
sents Matthew, or patience, work a d
sacrifice; the lion. Marx. o. courage
and strength; the man, Luke, CT
brotherhood, fraternity, fellowship and
cooperation; the eagle, John. or lo.ti-
ness and swiftness. OF all the inter-
pretations | like this one best.
Types of Life Principles.
Whether the Interpretation Of this
taxt lies in none of these, or one of
them, or some features of all of
them l cannot speak positively,
but from a careful study of all one
thing is clear to my mind; If we would
be true and faithful children of God
and like our Lord, we must be like
the ox-abundant in labors, willing in
sacrifice and enduring in patience.
Like the lion, courageous and
strong. Like the man, brotherly fra
ternal, cooperative. Like the eagle,
lofty and swift. Lofty in thought and
life. and swift to do with our might
what our hands find to do"
JePnigan Was Acquitted.
Triton, Ca, Oct. 1S.-The jury in the
case against Joseph Jernigan for kill