Reference: Living Creatures
Easton
as represented by Ezekiel (1-10) and John (RE 4, etc.), are the cherubim. They are distinguished from angels (Re 15:7); they join the elders in the "new song" (Re 5:8-9); they warn of danger from divine justice (Isa 6:3-5), and deliver the commission to those who execute it (Eze 10:2,7); they associate with the elders in their sympathy with the hundred and forty-four thousand who sing the new song (Re 14:3), and with the Church in the overthrow of her enemies (Re 19:4).
They are supposed to represent mercy, as distinguished from justice, mercy in its various instrumentalities, and especially as connected with the throne of God, the "throne of grace."
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And they continued crying out one to another, and said, Holy - holy - holy, is Yahweh of hosts, - the fulness of the whole earth, is his glory. And the foundations of the porch, were moved at the voice of him that cried, - and the house, was filled with smoke. read more. Then said I - Woe to me! - for I am undone, Because a man of unclean lips, am, I, And in the midst of a people of unclean lips, do I dwell, - For the King. Yahweh of hosts, have mine eyes seen!
Then said he unto the man clothed in linen - then said he Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fl both thy hands with live coals of fire from between the cherubim, and throw over the city. So he went in before mine eyes.
And the cherub put forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took up thereof and gave into the hands of him who was clothed with linen, - who took it and went forth,
And, when he took the scroll, the four living creatures, and the four-and-twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having, each one, a harp, and bowls of gold full of incense, - which are the prayers of the saints; and they sing a new song, saying - Worthy, art thou, to take the scroll and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and didst redeem unto God by thy blood men out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,
And they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. And, no one, was able to learn the song, save the hundred and forty-four thousand, who had been redeemed from the earth.
And, one of the four living creatures, gave, unto the seven messengers, seven golden bowls, full of the wrath of God who liveth unto the ages of ages.
And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures, fell down, and did homage unto God, who sitteth upon the throne, saying - Amen! Hallelujah!
Hastings
Morish
These in Ezekiel point symbolically to the attributes of God in connection with His throne, and His acting upon earth in His judicial government and providence. There were wheels on earth, and there was a wheel within a wheel. These wheels acted in concert with the living creatures; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. The faces of these living creatures correspond with the faces of the ' four beasts' (which should be translated 'living creatures,' the word being ????, and not ??????, which occurs for the 'beasts' of Ezek. 13 etc.) in Rev. 4, etc. Each living creature had four faces: the first was the face of a man, which speaks of 'intelligence;' the second the face of a lion, which symbolises 'strength.' the third the face of an ox, representing 'patient endurance;' and the fourth the face of an eagle, which implies 'swiftness of execution.' All show perfect organisation for carrying out the government of God according to His righteous judgement. Eze 1:5-25; 3:13; 10:15-22. See CHERUBIM.
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and out of the midst thereof, as burnished copper to look upon out of the midst of the fire; and out of the midst thereof, a likeness of four living ones, and this was their appearance, the likeness of a man, had they; and four faces each, and four wings each, had they; read more. and their feet were straight feet, - and the sole of their feet was like the sole of the foot of a calf, but sparkling, as shining bronze to look upon; and the hands of a man! were under their wings, on their four sides, - and their faces and their wings belonged to the four of them: joined to each other, were their wings, - they turned not when they went, each one straight before him, did they go; and the likeness of their faces was the face of a man, with the face of a lion to the right of the four of them, and the face of an ox on the left, of the four of them, - the face of an eagle, also had they four; and their wings were spread above, - two of each joined one another, and two covered their bodies; and each one straight before him, did they go, - whithersoever the spirit was minded to go, they went, they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living ones, their appearance was like live coals of fire burning up like the appearance of torches, the same went to and fro between the living ones, - and the fire had brightness and out of the fire, went forth a lightning. And the living ones ran and returned, - like the appearance of a flash of lightning. And I looked at the living ones, - and lo! one wheel upon the earth beside the living ones for each of his four faces, The appearance of the wheels and of their structure was like a Tarshish-stone to look upon, and they four had one likeness, - and their appearance and their structure were just as would be a wheel in the midst of a wheel. Upon their four sides, when they went, so did they go, - they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were terrible, -and their rings full of eyes round about, had they four. And when the living ones went, the wheels went beside them, - and when the living ones were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up: whithersoever the spirit was minded to go, they went - thither was the spirit minded to go, - and the wheels would be lifted up along with them, for the spirit of the living one was in the wheels: when they went, these went, and when they stood, there stood, - ad when they were lifted up from off the earth, the wheels were lifted up along with them, for the spirit of the living one was in the wheels. And there was a likeness over the heads of the living one - an expanse, like terrible crystal to look upon, -stretched forth over their heads above. And under the expanse, their wings were straight, one towards another, - each one had two covering on this side, and each one had two covering on that side, their bodies. And I heard the sound of their wings, as the sound of many waters, as the sound of the Almighty, when they went, the sound of a storm as the sound of a host, - when they stood, they let down their wings, And there was a voice above the expanse that was over their head, - when they stood, they let down their wings.
Yea the sound of the wings of the living ones, gently touching each other, and the sound of the wheels, along with them, even the sound of a great rushing.
Then arose the cherubim, - the same, was the living one, which I had seen by the river Chebar. When the cherubim went, then went the wheels beside them, - and when the cherubim lifted up their wings, to arise from off the earth, the wheels themselves turned not from beside them; read more. when they stood, these stood, and when they arose, these arose with them, - for the spirit of the living ones was in them. And when the glory of Yahweh went forth from off the threshold of the house, - and stood over the cherubim, then the cherubim uplifted their wings and arose from the earth before mine eyes as they went forth, the wheels also in unison with them, - and it stood at the opening of the gate of the house of Yahweh that was toward the east, with the glory of the God of Israel over them, above. The same, was the living one which I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar,- then knew I that cherubim, they were. Four faces severally, had each one, and four wings, had each one, - and the likeness of the hands of a man, was under their wings. And as for the likeness of their faces, They were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves - every one straight before him, did they go.