The seals are introduced to us by four beasts: Revelation 4:6-8 says “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”
If you look closely at each of these beasts they are comparable to the standards of the children of Israel: Numbers 2:2 says “Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.”
A standard is a flag or a banner. Each tribe had a host tribe and all the tribes would line up behind their host tribal leader.
The host tribes were outstretched toward four directions: North, South, East, and West. The eagle was the standard of Dan who was stationed on the North side of the camp. Judah was the host tribal leader for the direction facing East. His standard was the Lion. Reuben was the leader of the South and his banner was the face of a man because he was the first born. And Ephraim is the tribal leader of the West, and his flag was the calf or the Ox. The Lion, the Man, the Ox, and the Eagle are also found in Ezekiel chapter one (Ezek.1:10).
We have heard about the Four horsemen of the Apocalypse all our lives; but just who exactly are they? As we look at the book of Matthew and Revelation side by side you will see parallel events running alongside each other. If we look at each seal and what they bring; you could see Matthew 24 laid out before us.
The Lion is the first beast that showed John the white horse of deception. Remember the Lion is Judah and he is the eastern standard. Deception would go forth in the east, the blinding of Israel. But the standard of the Lion wards off deception for those that have been born again, and those whom God is removing the scales from their eyes. In the tabernacle of the earthly sanctuary the Brazen altar on the eastern side represented repentance. And the Laver represented water Baptism. It is the beginning of salvation. This standard then pushes back deception. It is good for churches to use flags and banners in worship and intercessory flag waving before God. Those who are rooted and built up in God are helped from being deceived.
The Ox is the second beast that showed John the Red horse of war. The Ox is the standard of Ephraim who is in the west. It wards off wars and even Nuclear Holocaust through its standard. The tabernacle furniture on the west was the altar of Incense, and the mercy seat. It is through prayer that we ask God for his mercy on fallen humanity to keep them from destroying themselves totally. The Red horse was sent to take peace from the earth, but Jesus died on the cross to give us true peace that the world cannot give, even while things are in chaos all around you (Jn.14:27).
The Face of a Man is the standard of Reuben who was in the South. The Black horse was sent to bring famine in the Southern part of the land, but the Candlestick that was on the South side of the Tabernacle guards against famine touching the people of God. The light of God will always give you illumination so you won’t be famished in drought.
The Eagle is the standard of Dan who was stationed on the North side of the camp. The Pale horse was sent to bring death, sword, hunger, and plague. But it is the Shewbread, or the bread of God’s presence on the North side of the Tabernacle that gives proper sustenance against a blow from Hell.
Isaiah 49:22 says “Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my STANDARD to the people: and they shall bring my sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” God was saying in this verse that after the tribulation that happened in the Christian Church in Europe he would set up his standard of the EAGLE to the Gentiles to carry the Jews to their land. The eagle also represents the AIR PLANE. God would use the Gentiles to bring the Jews back on planes: Isaiah 59:19 says “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun (east). When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a STANDARD against him.”
-Anthony Booker
The GATHERING Place 