Cherubim, Seraphim and the Four Living Creatures

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While Scripture does not describe all angels in detail, two types of angels the Bible speaks of are cherubim and seraphim.

Cherubim were placed just outside the Garden of Eden to prevent mankind from re-entering it after Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3:24).

In Ezekiel, we find a description of cherubim—“four living creatures,” actually one being who had four faces and four wings (Eze 1:5). One face was that of a man, another was a face of a lion, then a face of an ox, and finally a face of an eagle (Eze 1:10).

In Ezekiel, chapters 1, 9 and 10 show that one of their functions is to support and transport God’s throne. Exodus and Leviticus also provide a description of these beings’ position at God’s throne, since the physical tabernacle that God instructed the Israelites to build and take with them as they journeyed represented His heavenly throne.

These four living creatures were specially created beings that support the four corners of the platform or “firmament” upon which God’s throne rested. Four gyroscopic-like devices (“a wheel in the middle of a wheel”) were also on the four sides of the platform which “turned not when they went” (Exo 1:16-21). These could have been similar to any physical gyroscope used to stabilize a ship or in a jetliner’s guidance system. These beings were the same ones referred to by the apostle John as the “four beasts” of Revelation 4:6.

The seraphim were also created for a specific purpose. The term “seraphim” is mentioned only in Isaiah 6:2-6. Each has six wings and apparently the face of a man. Isaiah 6:2 states, “Above it [God’s throne] stood the seraphim's…” These are the two cherubim mentioned in I Kings 6:23 and II Chronicles 3:10-13.

Understanding that the cubit below refers to the long cubit of 25.2 inches, we have these facts: “And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold. And the wings of the Cherubims were twenty cubits [over forty feet] long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits [over ten feet], reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub. The wings of these Cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward” (II Chron. 3:10-13).

Unger’s Bible Dictionary speculates that these cherubim were ten cubits (over twenty feet) tall and stood upright as a man, which may be compatible with the proportions above. II Chronicles 3describes these cherubim as they appeared in Solomon’s temple. With each wing spanning ten feet, one resting against the wall and the other wing covering the mercy seat in the center of the Holy of Holies, each of these beings had a wingspan of twenty feet. Both together spanned the entire room of forty feet. Each of these magnificent beings had a total of six wings. We cannot say for certain that these representations of Solomon’s temple reflect the actual size of these powerful beings, but this may have been the case.

Archangels

Cherubims are special, powerful “archangels.” (Notice Ezekiel 28:14.) The Bible speaks of three such beings—Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer (who later rebelled, becoming Satan the devil – Eze 28:15). Each rules one-third of the angelic realm (Rev. 12:4).

Ezekiel 28:14 indicates that, before his rebellion, Lucifer was “the anointed cherub that covers.” He was apparently one of these two beings [cherubim] before being dispatched to Earth with one third of the angels under him. Since these particular cherubim were called seraphim, it could be that the seraphim mentioned by Isaiah were similar to archangels.

Michael is referred to as “one of the chief princes” (Dan. 10:13); “your prince” (Dan 10:21); “the great prince which stands for the children of your people” (Dan 12:1); and “Michael the archangel” (Jude 9). He was given the responsibility of protecting and ministering to the twelve tribes of Israel (Dan. 10:13,21).

Scripture shows that Gabriel serves mainly as a messenger to God’s people. Notice Daniel 8:16; 9:21 through chapter 10; Luke 1:19, 26.

Angels Appearing as Men

Many biblical accounts of angels physically manifesting themselves to God’s people show that they appeared as men. For example, Genesis 18 describes a time when three “men” (Gen 18:1-2) visited Abraham. One of them was the “Angel of the LORD”—and the other two were angels appearing as men. Later, the Angel of the Lord stayed behind with Abraham, and the two angels went ahead to the city of Sodom.

Notice the continuation of the account in Genesis 19:1: “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.” These two are again referred to as men in Gen 19:5, in which the perverted citizens of Sodom accosted Lot, demanding that he turn his guests over to them.

In the New Testament, we also find angels appearing as men. When comparing Matthew 28:5 and Mark 16:5, we see an individual described both as an angel and as a “young man” appearing to Mary Magdalene and Mary, Zebedee’s wife. This account is also depicted in Luke 24:4 (which describes those who waited at Christ’s tomb as men), and John 20:11-13 (describing them as angels).

How important are these beings? Hebrews 13:2 states, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” In other words, when involving themselves in human affairs, angels do not always (if ever) make it known that they are angels. Paul’s instruction shows the manner in which we are to respond to those who entreat our hospitality—we should act as if they were God’s own spiritual messengers. Our treatment of these “strangers” may have a direct bearing on the extent to which we receive angelic protection and intervention.

Also, it is interesting to note that, contrary to popular concepts of angels being in the form of women or babies, Scripture always describes their appearance as that of men.

Who is “the Angel of the Lord”?

Various Old Testament scriptures refer to “the Angel of the LORD”—but who is this being? Notice Exodus 14:19: “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them.”

Exodus 13:21-22 clarifies the identity of this Being: “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”

Notice I Corinthians 10:1-4: “More-over, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” Christ was “the LORD”—the God of the Old Testament.

Together, these verses show that it was Christ who led the Israelites out of Egypt, through the wilderness and to the Promised Land.

An authoritative concordance describes this Being: “The ‘Angel of the LORD’ sometimes shares divine characteristics and is sometimes thought to be a manifestation of God Himself, or of the preincarnate Christ” (Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible).

Genesis 22:11-12 states, “And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And He said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.” This could not have been merely one of the created angels.

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