Angelology: Part Five (High Ranking Angels)

High Ranking Angels

· The Cherubim

° General information

· Seem to be the highest class of angelic beings

· Created with indescribable beauty and power

° Description

· Ezekiel 1:5-14

° Human form

° Four faces and four wings

° Straight legs with hooves

° Gleamed like bronze

° Under the wings 4 human hands

° The wings touched one another

° The faces did not turn

° The faces were (one as a man, lion on the right, bull on the left, and an eagle)

° Two wings covered their body and two were spread out above

· Genesis 3:24 – placed at the Garden of Eden with flaming sword to guard the tree of life

· Exodus 25:17-22 – two cherubim are to be on top of top the mercy seat of the ark, wings upward, facing each other

· 2 Chronicles 3:10-13 – two cherubim were placed in the Holy of Holies, their wingspan was 20 cubits, their image was on the veil

° Duties

· Proclaim God’s glorious presence, sovereignty, and holiness

· Proclaim to men the transcendent and unapproachable God, since they forbid entrance to paradise and guard his presence in the tabernacle

· The Seraphim

° General information

· Another special class of angels associated with the glory and holiness of God

· Mentioned only in Isaiah 6

· The Hebrew word means ‘burning ones’

° Description

· Isaiah 6:2-3

° They have 6 wings (2 covered his face, 2 covered his body, 2 let him fly)

° Duties

· Consumed with devotion to God and praise him perfectly

· Call to one another “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory”

· Praise God’s perfect holiness and proclaim the need for men to be cleansed of sin

· Isaiah 6:6-7 – seraphim put a burning coal onto Isaiah’s lips so that he may have pure speech to talk with Lord

· The Living Creatures

° General information

· Eyes within and around may speak of their extreme intelligence

· There are only four of them (Revelation 4)

· Different than the seraphim and cherubim, but share similarities

° Description

· Revelation 4:6-9

° Covered with eyes within and around

° Six wings

° Duties

· Continually say “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God, the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

· Praise and worship God (Revelation 4:8,9; 5:8-14; 7:11; 19:4)

· Help direct the judgment during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6:1,6; 15:7)