But cherubim do show up at other times, and I want to mention these. The three are in Ezekiel 1 and 10 and Rev. 4. They are associated with fire (10:6-7) and with the glory of the Lord (10:18-19).
In Ezek. 1 they are part of a vision seen by the prophet when God called him to his ministry. In other words, it is similar to the seraphim in Isa. 6 when God called Isaiah into ministry. The vision seen by Ezekiel is the famous “wheel within a wheel vision.” Read all Ezek. 1 for that. There is a continuation of this vision into Ezek. 3:22-27 where Ezekiel calls what he was as “the glory of the LORD.” As Ezekiel is moved by these beings and wheels, from the banks of the River Chebar to Tel Abib in Babylon where the people of Israel have settled, there is a thunderous message, Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place. Again, the cherubim are doing what they do. “Ezekiel, you are being called by the LORD to be his prophet. Just remember, it is all about and founded on the glory of God. Don’t ever think otherwise.” Something like that!
The next appearance is in Ezek 10. For 2 chapters God had taken Ezekiel by vision to Jerusalem and showed him the “abominations” of the people, their gross and extreme idolatry. As this was being shown to Ezekiel we read that “the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub where it had been, to the threshold of the temple” (9:3). In other words, because of the abominations, the glory of the God who dwelt between the cherubim was being diminished (some of this idolatry took place within the temple area). Thus, the glory was departing. For that reason, the cherubim must be involved. They are part and parcel of the “wheel” vision. In Ezek. 1 they were not mentioned; here they are. The “wheels” come, the glory of God is taken up onto this vision of God, accompanied by cherubim, and then it moves east away from Jerusalem towards the Mt. of Olives.
Ezekiel is clear. This is the same as what he saw in Ch. 1-3 (10:15,20), even though in Ch. 1 the 4 faces on the cherubim (called living creatures) were man, lion, ox and eagle (1:10). In Ch. 3 they are cherub, man, lion and eagle (10:14). I accept what Ezekiel said. This is the same thing. If there is a difference (what does a cherub look like; perhaps an ox) it is because the event requires something different for the cherubim to carry out their task.
This brings us to the third vision, in Rev. 4-5. We are in God’s throne room, and surrounding the throne of God are four living creatures, beings with four faces: lion, calf, man and eagle. They constantly cry out, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (4:8). There is no vision of “wheels” but there is a rainbow (4:3) that adorns God’s throne, an emerald rainbow, as there was in Ezekiel’s description (Ezek. 1:28). And, of greatest importance, there is a Man, in Ezekiel (1:26-27) and in Revelation (5:5). What is interesting is that in Ezekiel He has the “appearance of a Man.” In Revelation, the Man (“the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,” things you say about a man that He is of the tribe of Judah and connected with David) has the appearance of a Lamb, a Lamb who has been slain. Because He has been slain, making atonement for mankind, this Man is allowed by the cherubim into the very presence of the “Holy, holy, holy” God. This Man is worthy, not just to open the book, but worthy “to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Perhaps this is not new to you. Fine. I just wanted to remind you of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Man can be and is to be worshipped! He is worthy of that. This Man sits on the throne of heaven. This man has opened the way for you and for me, into the heavenly Holy of Holies. Let us draw near in the full assurance of faith. Heb. 10:19-25!
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
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