Two Kinds of Angelic Beings

In the Old Testament there are two kinds of angelic beings mentioned: cherubim and seraphim. The cherubim have only four wings (Ez. 1.6), whereas the seraphim have six (Is. 6.2). The faces of the four living creatures are like the living creatures spoken of in Ezekiel. These four living creatures (Rev. 4.7) have the faces of the cherubim (Ez. 1.10) and the wings of the seraphim. Thus they are a composite of the cherubim and seraphim.

"As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle" (Ez. 1.10). Very complicated beings.

"And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"" (Rev. 4.8).

Cherubim stand for the glory of God (cherubim of gold mentioned in Exodus 37.7 signifies cherubim of glory), and seraphim stand for the holiness of God (“ Holy, holy, holy” in Is. 6.3). Glory pertains to God himself, but holiness refers to God’s nature. Hence, the four living creatures here are to manifest the glory and the holiness of God. Revelatin 4 shows the 4 living creatures which represent all the living things that are redeemed before God of the animate creation, and manifest the glory and holiness of God. Revelation is picture of the universe viewed from heaven.