Reference: Cherub (1)
Fausets
Cherub; plural, Cherubim. Composite animal forms, always spoken of as familiar to the Hebrew: fourfold, Consisting of man, lion, ox, and eagle; ideal representatives of redeemed creaturely life, in which man is prominent (Eze 1:5; Re 4:7). Distinct from the Assyrian and Egyptian winged forms still existing (almost always a beast' form with human head) in having the fourfold composite animal aspect, with the characteristics of manhood as the basis and body of the whole. "At the E. of Eden (after Adam's fall) God placed (yashkeen, 'set as the dwelling place of His Shekinah glory') the Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of life" (Ge 3:24). As the flaming sword proclaimed God's just wrath against sin, so the Cherubim mercy in store for lost man.
They were "the provisional occupants of man's lost inheritance" (Fairbairn), the pledge of the restoration of man and the creaturely world closely allied with and subject to him (Psalm 8; Isa 11:6-9; Ro 8:17-24; Eze 34:25; Ho 2:18); the symbolical prophecy of the recovery of the tree of life; for they guard it, not against but for man, against the time when man shall be fit to enjoy it and never to lose it. Re 2:7; 22:14; they, with the flaming sword, were the forerunners of the sanctuary, where the Cherub on either side of the bright Shekinah cloud (from which, as on Sinai, the flame might at any moment dart) looked down on the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat of the ark, God's meeting place in reconciliation with sinners by the stoning blood; mercy and justice meeting together in man's redemption.
Hence it was before God's manifested presence, between the Cherubim at the E. of Eden, the first sacrifices were offered (Ge 4:3-4,16; 3:21). Whereas pagan sacrificed to appease their God, Bible sacrifices were brought before God expressing the propitiation which He had already in His gracious purpose made by His Son (Re 13:8). The placing of the man-like Cherub on the inheritance once man's suggested the truth that man and the creatures involved in his fall have still by some gracious mystery, of which the Cherubim are the pledge, an interest in Eden. The appearance of the Cherubim in the holiest place afterward suggested to man the same assurance of a common meeting ground with God at peace and in holiness. Finally, their appearance in Revelation, round God's throne as the redeemed, crowned that hope with joyful certainty.
As the glory of God was last seen on the E., so shall "the glory of the God of Israel come from the way of the E." (Ge 3:24; Eze 11:23; 43:2.) As the redeemed will hereafter be one with Christ in His executing vengeance on the ungodly (Re 19:11-16), so the Cherubim (Re 15:7; Eze 10:7). In Ezekiel 1 the four living creatures of the Cherubim stand in contrast with the four world monarchies (Daniel 7), termed "beasts." The four answers to the four quarters of the world, implying worldwide extension, true universality, which the world powers sought vainly to attain by ambitious selfishness. The Mosaic cherubim were formed out of the same mass of pure gold as the mercy-seat (Ex 25:19-20). The wings express rapidity in fulfilling God's will. The eyes all over (Eze 10:12) express manifold and ubiquitous wisdom.
The ox form represents tame animals, of which he is chief; the lion represents wild animals; the eagle represents birds; man, representing the head of all, in his ideal realized by the Son of man, combines all animal excellencies. The redeemed shall be the ruling powers, through whom, as now by the angels, God shall administer the government of the world, and proclaim His manifold wisdom (Mt 19:28; 1Co 6:2; Eph 3:10; Re 3:21; 4:6-8). In Eze 10:13 "it was cried unto the wheels ... O wheel," i.e. "Roll on." Jehovah by His word in connection with His ministering powers sets the whole "wheel of nature" (Greek text of Jas 3:6) and providence in motion.
In Re 5:9-12 the four living creatures (zooa, not theeria, "beasts") identify themselves as the redeemed (All creation is summed up in man its lord; from whence Christ's command, "preach the gospel to every creature," for man's redemption involves the restoration of the creature now subject to vanity: Romans 8) "Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred and tongue ... and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." Whereas in Ezekiel (Eze 1:6) each living creature has all four faces, in Re 4:6-9 the four faces are distributed, one to each.
The Christian fathers identify them with the four Gospels: Matthew, the lion, the kingly aspect of Christ's manifestation; Mark, the ox, Christ's laborious endurance; Luke, the man, Christ's brotherly sympathy with our whole race; John, the eagle, the soaring majesty of the divine Word made flesh. The grain of truth in this view is that the church of the redeemed, like Christ her Head and His gospel, is one under a fourfold aspect answering to the several characteristics represented by the four heads of animal life. In and with Christ she shall realize the ideal of man combining fourfold creaturely perfection:
(1) kingly righteousness with hatred of evil, as "the lion springing terribly on the victim";
(2) laborious diligence in duty, as the "ox bound to the soil";
(3) human sympathy, as "the man";
(4) sublime contemplation of heavenly things, as "the eagle."
In Revelation the four living creatures represent the elect redeemed, as they shall be when perfected, ministering as king-priests unto God, and media of blessing to the redeemed earth with its nations and its animal creation. The four standards under which Israel encamped in the wilderness were a lion for Judah on the E., an eagle for Dan on the N., an ox for Ephraim on the W., and a man for Reuben on the S. In the midst was the tabernacle with the Shekinah cloud symbolizing God's presence, "the picture of the blessed period when the earth being fitted for the kingdom of the Father ... heaven's court will be transferred here (Re 21:3), and the world is subject to a never ending theocracy" (DeBurgh). The cherubic four stand always in nearest relationship to God in His holiness and life-imparting presence; compare Ex 25:22; Ps 80:1.
Whereas angels are "round about the throne," the living creatures occupy the innermost circle next it and Him who is in their midst (Re 5:6,11). Thirty times they are called "the living creatures," full of the life of God everlastingly flowing into them. (See ADAM.) The griffins of northern fable and the winged beasts of Assyria and Egypt seem a relic of primeval tradition corrupted. The Greek grups, glufo, and the Syriac and Arabic words for "carve" and griffin, seem kindred words to cherub; cherob is the rabbinical term for an image; cherub, the Coptic. Gesenius takes the root chaarab "to consecrate a shrine." Colossal figures of compound living creatures are still found "guarding the portals of the Assyrian temples" (Layard).
The pagan knowledge of the cherubim of the Book of Revelation is implied in Eze 28:13-14, where the king of Tyre is represented as having been "in Eden the garden of God," and as boasting that he is "the anointed cherub that covereth," i.e. the cherub of the temple anointed by the consecrating oil, and defending Tyre as the cherubim "covered" or overshadowed the mercy-seat; the type of Antichrist who shall usurp the attributes of the true Anointed One, who "covers" His church, the beautiful ideal of humanity. The clearness of the type as symbolizing the redeemed increases as the revelation of the scheme of redemption becomes fuller. At Eden the cherubim are mysteriously indefinite.
In the tabernacle they are lifeless carved figures, with faces ever turned to the mercy seat, the pledge of redemption. In Solomon's temple they are of colossal size, symbolizing the future grandeur of the church, reigning with the antitypical Solomon over the earth. In Ezekiel, for the first time, instinct with life, zeal, and ceaseless untiring motion. In Revelation they reveal who and what they are, and sing the song of praise for their redemption (Re 5:8-9). As the mercy-seat (typifying Christ as our propitiation) interposed between t
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"In solemn truth I tell you," Jesus answered, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.
"In solemn truth I tell you," Jesus answered, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; but to share his glory, we must now be sharing his sufferings.
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; but to share his glory, we must now be sharing his sufferings. For I count as nothing what we now suffer, in comparison with the glory which will soon be unveiled to us.
For I count as nothing what we now suffer, in comparison with the glory which will soon be unveiled to us. All nature even is waiting with eager longing for the unveiling of the vision of God's sons.
All nature even is waiting with eager longing for the unveiling of the vision of God's sons. For nature was subjected to imperfection, not by its own will, but by the will of Him who thus made it subject??21 yet not without the hope that some day nature itself also will be freed from the thralldom of decay, into the freedom which belongs to the glory of the children of God.
For nature was subjected to imperfection, not by its own will, but by the will of Him who thus made it subject??21 yet not without the hope that some day nature itself also will be freed from the thralldom of decay, into the freedom which belongs to the glory of the children of God.
For we know that all nature has been groaning and travailing together until this hour.
For we know that all nature has been groaning and travailing together until this hour. And not only that, we ourselves, although we are grasping the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves are inwardly groaning, while we are waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
And not only that, we ourselves, although we are grasping the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves are inwardly groaning, while we are waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. For by hope we are saved; but hope which is clearly seen is no longer hope.
For by hope we are saved; but hope which is clearly seen is no longer hope.
I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who am living, but it is Christ who is living in me; and the life I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.
I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who am living, but it is Christ who is living in me; and the life I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.
in order that now his manifold wisdom should, through the church, be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly sphere,
in order that now his manifold wisdom should, through the church, be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly sphere,
Let the word of Christ have its home in you richly, in all wisdom. Teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ever singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
Let the word of Christ have its home in you richly, in all wisdom. Teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ever singing with grace in your hearts unto God. And whatever you do, whether in word of in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God our Father through him.
And whatever you do, whether in word of in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God our Father through him.
For both he who sanctifies and those whom he is sanctifying are all from One; for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying.
For both he who sanctifies and those whom he is sanctifying are all from One; for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying.
And the tongue is a fire; it is a very world of iniquity among our members, defiling the whole body, and setting on fire the wheel of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
And the tongue is a fire; it is a very world of iniquity among our members, defiling the whole body, and setting on fire the wheel of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
By these he has granted his promises to us, precious and splendid; so that through them you may become partners of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
By these he has granted his promises to us, precious and splendid; so that through them you may become partners of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
He who has an ear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat from the tree of life which is in the garden of God.
He who has an ear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat from the tree of life which is in the garden of God.
To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, as I myself have overcome and have taken my seat with my Father on his throne.
To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, as I myself have overcome and have taken my seat with my Father on his throne.
And in front of the throne as it seemed, a glassy sea like crystal; and in the midst of the throne and encircling it are four Living Creatures, full of eyes before and behind.
And in front of the throne as it seemed, a glassy sea like crystal; and in the midst of the throne and encircling it are four Living Creatures, full of eyes before and behind.
And in front of the throne as it seemed, a glassy sea like crystal; and in the midst of the throne and encircling it are four Living Creatures, full of eyes before and behind.
And in front of the throne as it seemed, a glassy sea like crystal; and in the midst of the throne and encircling it are four Living Creatures, full of eyes before and behind. The first creature was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature was like an eagle flying.
The first creature was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature was like an eagle flying.
The first creature was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature was like an eagle flying.
The first creature was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature was like an eagle flying.
The first creature was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature was like an eagle flying.
The first creature was like a lion, and the second like a calf, and the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature was like an eagle flying. And the four Living Creatures, each one with six wings, are full of eyes round about and within; day and night they are chanting ceaselessly. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty. Who was, and who is, and who is to come."
And the four Living Creatures, each one with six wings, are full of eyes round about and within; day and night they are chanting ceaselessly. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty. Who was, and who is, and who is to come."
And the four Living Creatures, each one with six wings, are full of eyes round about and within; day and night they are chanting ceaselessly. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty. Who was, and who is, and who is to come."
And the four Living Creatures, each one with six wings, are full of eyes round about and within; day and night they are chanting ceaselessly. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty. Who was, and who is, and who is to come." And whenever the Living Creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
And whenever the Living Creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
Then I beheld a Lamb standing as if slain in the midst of the throne and of the four Living Creatures, and in the midst of the Elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes (which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth).
Then I beheld a Lamb standing as if slain in the midst of the throne and of the four Living Creatures, and in the midst of the Elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes (which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth).
When he took the book, the four Living Creatures and the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb. And each had a harp and a golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
When he took the book, the four Living Creatures and the four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb. And each had a harp and a golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the book And to open its seals; For thou wast slain and didst ransom for God Men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation;
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the book And to open its seals; For thou wast slain and didst ransom for God Men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation;
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the book And to open its seals; For thou wast slain and didst ransom for God Men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation;
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art thou to take the book And to open its seals; For thou wast slain and didst ransom for God Men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation; Thou hast made them kings and priests unto our God, And they shall reign on earth."
Thou hast made them kings and priests unto our God, And they shall reign on earth." Then I looked and heard a voice of many angels encircling the throne and a voice of the Living Creatures and of the Elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
Then I looked and heard a voice of many angels encircling the throne and a voice of the Living Creatures and of the Elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
Then I looked and heard a voice of many angels encircling the throne and a voice of the Living Creatures and of the Elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
Then I looked and heard a voice of many angels encircling the throne and a voice of the Living Creatures and of the Elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, singing aloud, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain, To receive power and riches and wisdom And might and honor and glory and blessing."
singing aloud, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain, To receive power and riches and wisdom And might and honor and glory and blessing."
and each one whose name has not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who has been slain from the foundation of the world. All who dwell on the earth shall worship him.
and each one whose name has not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who has been slain from the foundation of the world. All who dwell on the earth shall worship him.
And one of the four Living Creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls, full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
And one of the four Living Creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls, full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
And I saw heaven opened, and lo! a white horse; and he who sat upon him was named "Faithful and True"; and in righteousness does he judge and make war.
And I saw heaven opened, and lo! a white horse; and he who sat upon him was named "Faithful and True"; and in righteousness does he judge and make war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he has a name written, which none knows but himself.
His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he has a name written, which none knows but himself. He is clothed in a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called, THE WORD OF GOD
He is clothed in a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called, THE WORD OF GOD And the armies of heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
And the armies of heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure. And there issues from his lips a sharp sword with which to smite the nations. He shall shepherd them with a rod of iron. And he treads the winepress of the passion of the anger of Almighty God.
And there issues from his lips a sharp sword with which to smite the nations. He shall shepherd them with a rod of iron. And he treads the winepress of the passion of the anger of Almighty God. And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
And on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
And I heard a loud voice out of the throne, crying. "Behold, God's tent is with men, And he will tent with them, And they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them,
And I heard a loud voice out of the throne, crying. "Behold, God's tent is with men, And he will tent with them, And they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them,
"Blessed are they who wash their robes, so that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates into the City.
"Blessed are they who wash their robes, so that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates into the City.