Irenaeus and the Throne of St. Mark

Of course people are going to argue that Irenaeus was only following the order set forth in the Book of Revelations 4:

6And 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 ... saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

We should notice that even here that immediately after the word 'behind' the counting begins (i.e. with the first beast being the lion). Yet it is in my mind unmistakable that Irenaeus goes beyond what is said in the Book of Revelations regarding the positioning of the eagle as 'above' all the others. Let's look again at the four references and compare them to what is in that original text:

"the fourth was like a flying eagle," pointing out the gift of the Spirit hovering with His wings over the Church.

Mark, on the other hand, commences with the prophetical spirit coming down from on high to men ... pointing to the winged aspect of the Gospel; and on this account he made a compendious and cursory narrative, for such is the prophetical character.

He sent the gift of the celestial Spirit over all the earth, protecting us with His wings.

the fourth, that which renovates man, and sums up all things in itself by means of the Gospel, raising and bearing men upon its wings into the heavenly kingdom.

In the first reference the eagle is 'hovering over' something - this is definitely not present in Revelations. In the second the eagle is seen 'coming down from on high' again something outside of that text. The third the eagle's wings are 'spread out' in order to 'protect us' exactly like in the throne description and not in Revelations. Finally in the last reference the eagle is directly connected to the gospel (something implicit in the other references) but now is specifically conceived as flying upwards toward the heavenly kingdom of light - only on the throne but not in Revelations.

All the creatures are identified as 'winged' so they can all fly equally well one would assume. The only reason Irenaeus singles out the eagle this ways is because he knew that the throne was the ultimate reference point for Revelations. Irenaeus quite simply saw this throne.