Ox, Lion, Eagle, Man
Chatting with my cousin/sister and her husband, they shared a different way of perceiving people, or personality theories. Although this is a practice we–human beings–have traditionally engaged in with everything from the 4 humours (e.g. sanguine, melancholy, etc) to “orange/blue/green/yellow” as ways to describe personalities, I’d never heard of a Bible-based approach.
Apparently, the approach they shared is based on Revelations 4:7. It reads:
And the first living being was like a lion, and the second living being like a calf, and the third living being had a face as a man, and the fourth living being was like a flying eagle. And the four living beings 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, who was, and is, and is to come.
Now, I was not aware of all the symbolism that goes along with these beings. Apparently, they are known as the Symbols of the Four Evangelists.
Matthew is the Man. The Man is Humane.
Mark is the Lion. The Lion is Bold.
Luke is the Ox. The Ox is Sturdy.
John is the Eagle. The Eagle is far-seeing.
Personality styles/models are fun reading, and frightening in their accuracy.
Dear Friends. On the subject of the Lion Ox Man Eagle, you have first to understand the principles of the Church Ages from Apostle Paul upto this day. The Lion Age was the Apostolic Anointing of the original word before it got eaten down by the Roman Bug at Nicea. Matthew was the Lion or the original Apostolic Age.
The Ox is a sacrificial Beast typing the Christians that gave their live at the stake and in arenas etc. The Gospel of Mark is the Ox The man anointing is the intelligence of man under such people as Luther And Wesley who broke the powers of Romanism. The Book of Luke is the man (Luke was a Physician, and intelligent man) The eagle age is now, and is the Prophetic age. God sent a Prophet (incidentally only one) to bring the church out of earth bound denominations back to the original word and to a rapture. That prophet was William Branham. All under the message he brought are of the eagle age, and those not are still earth bound Christians of denominations.
Hmm, I had not heard of any of this. My main thought would be to be wary of suggestions that lead you to believe that one gospel may have more authority or relevance to our lives than another. I believe all scripture is God-breathed and inspired by Him, and therefore useful for teaching, correction, etc. I think it is more important for us to focus on the ways the scriptures instruct us to live our lives, rather than get caught up in historical metaphors. So I do think this is interesting, but in context I would just offer that anyone’s misunderstanding on this topic or ignorance of the relevant history shouldn’t serve as a stumbling block to the central message of Jesus and His gospel. Thanks for raising this topic Miguel, and providing the links, and thanks for the additional clarifications Adrfian.