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“4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
“5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. 8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
“15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. 18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
“22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. 23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
“24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. 25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings” (Ezekiel 1).
The cherubims are highly intelligent and powerful creatures, created to do God’s will. They are intimately associated with God’s throne, and they will be seen on earth in the Millennium.
God is spirit and He is omnipresent, but He also appears in glory on His throne. In Scripture, the throne is seen in heaven (Re. 4:2-11), and it is also seen traveling with the cherubims acting as a divine chariot.
This throne is the center of the universe. From it flows all power and authority throughout creation; from it all things are upheld, all things ordered and commanded. The throne and the cherubims “show forth and symbolize the purposes of God in the execution of His inerrant governmental dealings on earth. God controls it all, and His Spirit directs every movement” (The Annotated Bible).
Cherubims is the plural of cherub. They are angelic creatures that dwell in the presence of God (Eze. 10:1-22). They are associated with the glory of God (Eze. 10:4) and are called “the cherubims of glory” (Heb. 9:5).
“Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory” (Eze. 10:4).
They are wholly devoted to God’s will and glory, being a good example to all of God’s creatures. The devil was apparently the highest cherub before his fall (Eze. 28:14).
They have the general likeness of a man, but they have four faces: one like a man, one like an ox, one like a lion, and one like an eagle (Eze. 1:5-6, 10) It appears that the face of a man looks out, the face of a lion looks right, the face of an ox looks left, and the face an eagle looks rearward. (Ezekiel 10:14 describes the faces as a cherub’s, a man’s, a lion’s, and an eagle’s.)
Their hands are like a man’s (Eze. 1:8). Man’s hand is an amazing work of God’s creation.
Their feet are straight with soles like that of a calf (Eze. 1:7). Instead of a man’s foot, they have a different type of foot that is fitting for their purpose. Their feet shine like burnished brass.
They have four wings, two of which cover their bodies and two of which stretch out and touch the wings of the cherub next to them (Eze. 1:11). It appears that the four cherubims and their wings form a square. When they are not flying, their wings are let down (Eze. 1:24).
They fly in a straight line (Eze. 1:6, 9, 12; 10:11), unlike birds which flit here and there. They move straight and sure in God’s will.
The cherubims move quickly like a flash of lightning (Eze. 1:14). This speaks of the speed with which the angels accomplish God’s will. Wherever God wills the cherubims chariot to go, it goes instantly. His omnipotence guarantees that nothing can hinder His will or cause Him to take a detour.
Their wings make a great noise, like the noise of great waters or a great host of an army (Eze. 1:24; 10:5, 21). The Niagara Falls is an example of great waters. When you are near the falls, such as when riding the Maid of Mist boats, the noise is so loud that you can’t hear to talk.
They have many eyes showing their great awareness and intelligence (Eze. 1:18; 10:12). “What can shut out the beings who do the will of Heaven, and who are full of eyes, their very chariot wheels being luminous with eyes, everything round about them looking at us critically, penetratingly, judicially? We live unwisely when we suppose that we are not being superintended, observed, criticised, and judged. ‘Thou God seest me’; ‘The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth’” (Joseph Parker).
The overall appearance of the cherubims is like burning coals of bright fire or as torches and lamps, with the light going up and down among the creatures, and with lightning emitting from the fire (Eze. 1:13). This is God’s glory. He is the God of awesome beauty. Even this fallen world is full of glorious things like sunrises and sunsets and the iridescent color of a butterfly or the brilliance of a tulip.
Each cherub has a wheel (Eze. 1:15-18; 10:9). The wheels are the color of beryl, which is a sea-green color (Eze. 1:16). The wheel looks like a wheel within a wheel (Eze. 10:10). “One wheel intersects another wheel at right angles; thus they can roll in four directions without being turned and could move with the cherub” (Bible Knowledge Commentary). The chariot can move instantly in any direction. The rings of the wheels are extremely high (Eze. 1:18). Like the cherubims themselves, the wheels are full of eyes (Eze. 1:18). They are called whirling wheels (Eze. 10:13). They are loud and active.
The wheel moves with the cherub, and the spirit of the cherub is in the wheel (Eze. 1:19-21; 10:16-17). The cherubims are controlled by the spirit (Eze. 1:20). Whatever the spirit wills, they can do immediately. The resurrection body of the redeemed, too, is a spiritual body, meaning it will be under complete control of the spirit (1 Co. 15:44). “The body will then be subject to the spirit and soul of man; it will be employed in spiritual service, for which it will be abundantly fitted and assisted by the Spirit of God” (John Gill).
According to Ezekiel’s vision, the throne of God is transported by the cherubims.
“AND THE LIKENESS OF THE FIRMAMENT UPON THE HEADS OF THE LIVING CREATURE was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. ... And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings” (Ezekiel 1:22, 25).
"Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above." (Eze. 10:18-19).
Over the cherubims is a firmament or expanse or platform that appears as the color of terrible crystal. It is like translucent crystal or ice reflecting the light of the glory of God. And on that expanse is God’s throne.
David was instructed to make “the chariot of the cherubims” for Solomon’s Temple (1 Ch. 28:18).
Psalm 18:10 says Jehovah rides upon a cherub.
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The above report is excerpted from The Future According to the Bible. ISBN 978-1-58318-172-0. One of the countless reasons why the Bible is the most amazing and exciting book on earth is its prophecies. The Bible unfolds the future in great detail, and The Future According to the Bible deals in depth with every major prophetic event, including the Rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Tribulation, the Antichrist, Gog and Magog, the Battle of Armageddon, the Two Witnesses, Christ’s Return, Muslim nations in prophecy, the Judgment of the Nations, the resurrection body, the conversion of Israel, the highway of the redeemed, Christ’s glorious kingdom, the Millennial Temple, the Millennial throne, the Great White Throne judgment, and the New Jerusalem. The first two chapters deal at length with the prophecies that are being fulfilled today, including the church-age apostasy. Knowledge of these prophecies is essential for a proper understanding of the times and a proper Christian worldview today. The 130-page section on Christ’s kingdom describes the coming world kingdom in more detail than any book we are familiar with. Every major Messianic prophecy is examined. Prophecy is a powerful witness to the Bible’s divine inspiration, and it is a great motivator for holy Christian living. In this book we show that the Lord’s churches are outposts of the coming kingdom. The believer’s position in Christ’s earthly kingdom will be determined by his service in this present world (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21). The book is based on forty years of intense Bible study plus firsthand research in Israel, Turkey, and Europe. 520 pages.. ISBN 978-1-58318-172-0. One of the countless reasons why the Bible is the most amazing and exciting book on earth is its prophecies. The Bible unfolds the future in great detail, and The Future According to the Bible deals in depth with every major prophetic event, including the Rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Tribulation, the Antichrist, Gog and Magog, the Battle of Armageddon, the Two Witnesses, Christ’s Return, Muslim nations in prophecy, the Judgment of the Nations, the resurrection body, the conversion of Israel, the highway of the redeemed, Christ’s glorious kingdom, the Millennial Temple, the Millennial throne, the Great White Throne judgment, and the New Jerusalem. The first two chapters deal at length with the prophecies that are being fulfilled today, including the church-age apostasy. Knowledge of these prophecies is essential for a proper understanding of the times and a proper Christian worldview today. The 130-page section on Christ’s kingdom describes the coming world kingdom in more detail than any book we are familiar with. Every major Messianic prophecy is examined. Prophecy is a powerful witness to the Bible’s divine inspiration, and it is a great motivator for holy Christian living. In this book we show that the Lord’s churches are outposts of the coming kingdom. The believer’s position in Christ’s earthly kingdom will be determined by his service in this present world (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21). The book is based on forty years of intense Bible study plus firsthand research in Israel, Turkey, and Europe. 520 pages.
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