Q. What is the difference between Archangels and the Cherubim? (Submitted by: M. M.) A. Spirit beings who are at God's service and endowed with tremendous power and knowledge are collectively called angels, the host of heaven (1Kings 22:19, etc.), or "principalities and powers" (see Romans 8:28). Interestingly, although the Bible refers to Cherubim (plural of Cherub) in a few places, Archangels are only mentioned twice. The description of what Cherubim look like is very scant except for the mention that they have four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 10:20-21). There is no description of what Archangels look like in the Bible. The only Archangel mentioned specifically by name is Michael: "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." (Jude 9, KJV)
In fact, except for the names of three angels (Lucifer (who became the devil), Michael and Gabriel), we know very little about angels in general such as what their names might be or what their responsibilities are (or were, in the case of angels that became demons) before God. Although some speculate that the Cherubim are the same as the Archangels, there is no Biblical support for this belief. What seems clear is that both the Cherubim and Archangels belong to a higher order of angels. For example, the Cherubim are connected with having close proximity to God's throne (see Ezekiel 1 and 10). Scriptures such as Exodus 25 and 1Kings 8:6-7 place Cherubim in the Holy of Holies of God's temple (Sanctuary) on this earth, which was a replica of God's throne in heaven: "who serve the copy and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, 'See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.' " (Hebrews 8:5, quoting from Exodus 25:40). |
