The Bible mentions several types of fairy-tale creatures who were close to God. One of them is a cherub. This is the name of the winged representative of the second angelic order, following the seraphim. These creatures occupy an honorable place in the heavenly hierarchy.
About the heavenly hierarchy
The heavenly forces in Christianity, although incorporeal, have their own strict and complex system of subordination. At the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries, a treatise "On the Heavenly Hierarchy" was created, the authorship of which has not yet been established. In this text, which is most often attributed to the theologian Dionysius the Areopagite, the structure of the system of heavenly forces is presented quite fully.
The heavenly hierarchy includes nine angelic ranks, which are subdivided into three levels, degrees, "spheres." By the way, on ancient icons, celestial inhabitants are indeed depicted in the form of spheres. The first degree includes fiery and flaming seraphim. These are six-winged creatures, the closest to the divine throne.
Seraphim glorify God, burn with love for the Creator and awaken the same feelings in others.
The second level in the heavenly hierarchy is the cherubim. The unknown author of the composition presents them as creatures with four faces and four arms. They are intercessors who spread knowledge about God. The mission of the cherubim is to constantly contemplate the Creator. They also transmit to the world deep divine wisdom derived from a higher source.
Of the other celestial realms, the most notable are the archangels and angels. The first are heavenly teachers and leaders for the representatives of the lower levels. But the angels, according to the Christian tradition, are in the heavenly hierarchy closest to the earthly world. Their task is to inform people about the intentions of the Creator, as well as to instruct everyone on the path of a holy life full of virtue.
What the Bible says about cherubim
The Old Testament contains a mention of a cherub who is armed with a sword and guards the entrance to Eden. There is also a description of these creatures as a means of transportation for God himself. "Sitting on cherubim" - this is how God is sometimes called in the Old Testament.
In the speech of the prophet Ezekiel, the cherub appears before the audience and readers in shining robes adorned with stones.
There is no exact description of the appearance of cherubim in the biblical texts. It only says that these creatures have faces and wings. They symbolize the throne of a powerful God and serve as his protection. Cherubim are also mentioned in the place of the Covenant, where God tells Moses about the commandments that will be revealed to him, and then will be passed on to the people of Israel.
Often such fabulous creatures appear before Bible readers in human form, complemented by wings. These mysterious beings, close to the Creator, faithfully serve him and are ready to fulfill the divine will at any moment. Cherubim are one of those heavenly powers for whom the secret of the path leading to the salvation of mankind is revealed.