Living Creatures (from Ezekiel and Revelation)

Technical Profile

  • Name Meaning: Hebrew ḥayyôt (“living beings/creatures”), describing animated heavenly attendants in prophetic vision.
  • Period/Era: Exilic
  • Main References: Ezekiel 1; Ezekiel 10
  • Key Connections: The cherubim and the glory of the LORD in Ezekiel’s throne vision.

Who was Living Creatures (from Ezekiel and Revelation)?

The living creatures are heavenly beings Ezekiel sees in a theophanic vision by the Kebar canal.
They appear with multiple faces and wings, moving in coordinated manner with wheels and fire-like brilliance.
Ezekiel later identifies them as cherubim associated with the LORD’s glory and throne imagery.

Key Events & Achievements

  • Ezekiel’s inaugural vision: They appear beneath the expanse supporting a throne-like platform in Ezekiel’s call vision (Ezekiel 1).
  • Identification as cherubim: Ezekiel recognizes the “living creatures” as cherubim in a later vision (Ezekiel 10:15, 20).
  • Accompanying the departing glory: They are present as the glory of the LORD moves from the temple area in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 10:18–19).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Their presence in Ezekiel’s visions highlights the ordered, awe-inspiring heavenly context in which Israel’s exilic prophetic message is delivered.

Key Verse

"And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning." — Ezekiel 1:14, ESV

Quizzes

Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.

1. Where did Ezekiel see the living creatures in his theophanic vision?

2. In Ezekiel’s later vision, what does he identify the “living creatures” as?