HOW ARE ARCHANGELS & CHERUBIM DIFFERENT?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What is the difference between the class or set of angels known as the Archangels and the Cherubim?
a) Archangels and Cherubim are spirit beings who are at God's service and endowed with tremendous power and knowledge. They are collectively called angels, the host of heaven (1Kings 22:19, etc.), or "principalities and powers" (see Romans 8:28). Interestingly, the Bible only reveals the names of three angels. Two of them are almost certainly archangels: Michael and Gabriel. The third named angel, Lucifer (who became the devil), was not one of them.
b) Although the Bible refers to Cherubim (plural of Cherub) in several places, Archangels are directly referred to only twice: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an ARCHANGEL . . ." (1Thessalonians 4:16, NKJV throughout) and "Yet Michael the ARCHANGEL, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses" (Jude 9)
c) The only spirit being directly designated as one of the Archangels is Michael, who is also called "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13) and "your prince" (v. 21). He (and no doubt others like him) have and will be involved in major events around the world (Revelation 12:7 - 8).
d) Gabriel, because he has been involved in major Biblical events, is likely one of the Archangels (though the Bible does not directly say so - see Daniel 8:15 - 16).
e) It was Gabriel who gave Daniel the famous 70 weeks prophecy that revealed when the Messiah would appear (Daniel 9:20 - 21, 24). This angelic being also announced the miraculous births of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ (Luke 1:13, 19, 26 - 27, 31).
f) There is no description of what these spirit beings looked like. Although some speculate that Cherubim are the same as Archangels, there is no Biblical support for this belief. What seems clear is that both of them belong to a higher order of angels.
g) A representation of these angelic beings was on top of the Ark of the Covenant during the time of Moses (Exodus 25). They were still on the ark when it was moved to a very special place in Jerusalem's temple known as the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies) - a replica of God's throne in heaven (1Kings 8:6 - 7, Hebrews 8:5).
h) The only time these angels appear away from God's throne is after the casting of Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden. The Bible seems to indicate that several of them were used by God to stop any attempt to re-enter the garden (Genesis 3:24).
i) The description of what they look like is very scant except for the mention that they have four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 10:10 - 12, 14). Lucifer, who because of vanity and sin turned himself into the devil (see Ezekiel 28:12 - 19), was originally one of the Cherubim and was directly associated with the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:14).
j) The Bible gives us precious, if any, information regarding angelic beings in general or more specifically Archangels and the Cherubim. It would be no doubt interesting to learn a bit more about these usual beings. God, in his wisdom, has decided not to reveal much to man about the spirits he created. One day, when we are in God's kingdom, the mystery of angels and other things we would like to know will all be cleared up (1Corinthians 13:12).
The End ...
1. What is the difference between the class or set of angels known as the Archangels and the Cherubim?a) Archangels and Cherubim are spirit beings who are at God's service and endowed with tremendous power and knowledge. They are collectively called angels, the host of heaven (1Kings 22:19, etc.), or "principalities and powers" (see Romans 8:28). Interestingly, the Bible only reveals the names of three angels. Two of them are almost certainly archangels: Michael and Gabriel. The third named angel, Lucifer (who became the devil), was not one of them.
b) Although the Bible refers to Cherubim (plural of Cherub) in several places, Archangels are directly referred to only twice: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an ARCHANGEL . . ." (1Thessalonians 4:16, NKJV throughout) and "Yet Michael the ARCHANGEL, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses" (Jude 9)
c) The only spirit being directly designated as one of the Archangels is Michael, who is also called "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13) and "your prince" (v. 21). He (and no doubt others like him) have and will be involved in major events around the world (Revelation 12:7 - 8).
d) Gabriel, because he has been involved in major Biblical events, is likely one of the Archangels (though the Bible does not directly say so - see Daniel 8:15 - 16).
e) It was Gabriel who gave Daniel the famous 70 weeks prophecy that revealed when the Messiah would appear (Daniel 9:20 - 21, 24). This angelic being also announced the miraculous births of both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ (Luke 1:13, 19, 26 - 27, 31).
f) There is no description of what these spirit beings looked like. Although some speculate that Cherubim are the same as Archangels, there is no Biblical support for this belief. What seems clear is that both of them belong to a higher order of angels.
g) A representation of these angelic beings was on top of the Ark of the Covenant during the time of Moses (Exodus 25). They were still on the ark when it was moved to a very special place in Jerusalem's temple known as the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies) - a replica of God's throne in heaven (1Kings 8:6 - 7, Hebrews 8:5).
h) The only time these angels appear away from God's throne is after the casting of Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden. The Bible seems to indicate that several of them were used by God to stop any attempt to re-enter the garden (Genesis 3:24).
i) The description of what they look like is very scant except for the mention that they have four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 10:10 - 12, 14). Lucifer, who because of vanity and sin turned himself into the devil (see Ezekiel 28:12 - 19), was originally one of the Cherubim and was directly associated with the throne of God (Ezekiel 28:14).
j) The Bible gives us precious, if any, information regarding angelic beings in general or more specifically Archangels and the Cherubim. It would be no doubt interesting to learn a bit more about these usual beings. God, in his wisdom, has decided not to reveal much to man about the spirits he created. One day, when we are in God's kingdom, the mystery of angels and other things we would like to know will all be cleared up (1Corinthians 13:12).
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