These scriptural passages trom Ezekiel and Revelations are apocalyptic, and it is most difficult to know absolutely the realities indicated by these colossal descriptions. Obviously they were written in times of religious suppression, and the great visions were given to spur hope more than anything else. But ímages expressing hope must have some basis in reality. Each image had meaning; some were known only in local religious circles. Still there are four levels of interpretation of any scriptural passage: 1) the original historical meaning, 2) the meaning in reference to Christ, 3) the meaning in reference to the church and the individuals in the church today, 4) the meaning in reference to the final judgment. It is experience that fills out the details of any kind of vision, be it covenantal, vocational, prophetic, or apocalyptic. A person familiar with Lakota symbolism is immediately drawn to many meaningful and coherent religious understandings that are most difficult to put into words. While it cannot be said that the above Scripture passages prove that there really are four-sided creatures around God's throne now and at the ends of the earth, one begins to wonder when the same type of imagery emerges from the revelations of other religions. At least the Lakota and the Christian
religions are compatible on this point. Still, a more profound comparison can be made.