Article #4 on Mortality, Immortality, & Eternity
Somewhere up on high, at the peak of the slopes of glory, as one is going up on the sides of the north, there sits a King who is exalted above the Stars of God (Isa. 14:13-14, Heb. 12:22). Innumerable Angels of every rank are continuously present around the Throne in a serious engagement of worship (Rev. 4:4-8, 5:11-12, 7:11-12). Above all, and first of all, the Angels were created to love God, and in loving God, these heavenly beings were fashioned to express their love by worshipping the LORD forever and ever.
“Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; Thou hast made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their Host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the Host of Heaven worshippeth thee.” – Neh. 9:6
The Angels are organized by rank in their position before the Throne (Mk. 10:40). The highest-ranking Angels, the Cherubim, are “in the midst of the Throne, and round about the Throne”, and they cry out continuously day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev. 4:6-8; Isa. 6:1-6). This specific location is the Holy of Holies of Heaven! The Cherubim were “anointed” for this holy station (Ezek. 28:14).
“The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the Cherubims; let the earth be moved.” – Ps. 99:1
The Cherubim are the loudest worshippers in the Host of Heaven. Their voices are the most powerful and commanding when it comes to proclamations, and their notes are the most captivating and beautiful when it comes to singing. Their abilities are unmatched in respect to all the musical instruments of Heaven! Speaking of this, God said of the Cherubim, “…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created” (Ezek. 28:13). The Cherubim were created to be worship leaders in the stary host of Heaven’s choir.
“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty Elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the Throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” – Rev. 4:4-5
The second rank of holy Angels is made up of 24 heavenly beings who look like aged men in their countenance (Rev. 4:4-5; compare with Rev. 1:14). Angels have been frequently called or mistaken to be men throughout history (Gen. 18:1-2, 32:24, Dan. 10:5, Judges 13:6, Lk. 24:4, Heb. 13:2). These angels are specifically called, “Elders” (Rev. 4:4, 10, 5:5-6, 8, 11, 14, 7:11, 13, 11:16, 14:3, 19:4), and this name is given to them as a royal title of rulership in Heaven. Elders were the rulers of Israel in the Old Testament (Ex. 3:16, 24:1, Num. 1:4-16, Josh. 22:14, Acts 4:8). Elders are also the rulers of the Church in the New Testament (1 Tim. 5:17, Tit. 1:5, Heb. 11:2, 13:7, 17, 24, James 5:14, 1 Pet. 5:1). It comes as no surprise that the same title is used among angels in Heaven.
The twenty-four Elders are not positioned in the midst of the Throne of God like the Cherubim. Reflecting their rank, they are positioned further away from the Throne. On special occasions, when all the Sons of God are summoned to come and present themselves before the LORD (Job 1:6, 2:1), the Elders can be seen sitting on twenty-four thrones that are located “round about” the Throne of God (Rev. 4:4-5). They wear “crowns of gold” on their heads as a representation of their authority over angels and men as “the Chief Princes” (Rev. 4:4; Dan. 10:13, 21; Note: even the principalities of hell wear crowns as a representation of their dark rulership according to Rev. 9:7 & Eph. 6:12).
The twenty-four Elders are not positioned in the midst of the Throne of God like the Cherubim. Reflecting their rank, they are positioned further away from the Throne. On special occasions, when all the Sons of God are summoned to come and present themselves before the LORD (Job 1:6, 2:1), the Elders can be seen sitting on twenty-four thrones that are located “round about” the Throne of God (Rev. 4:4-5). They wear “crowns of gold” on their heads as a representation of their authority over angels and men as “the Chief Princes” (Rev. 4:4; Dan. 10:13, 21; Note: even the principalities of hell wear crowns as a representation of their dark rulership according to Rev. 9:7 & Eph. 6:12).
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the Heavens: praise Him in the Heights. Praise ye Him, all his Angels: praise ye Him, all His Hosts.” - Psalm 148:1-2
Each occasion before the Throne of God is mixed with various forms of praise and worship. Sometimes, throughout the procession of heavenly events, all twenty-eight of these high-ranking angels fall prostrate before the Throne of God as they make unanimous declarations of worship in perfect harmony (Rev. 4:9-11). Meanwhile, the angelic Princes can be seen casting their crowns before the Throne in a shocking display of subjection and humility! Sometimes, as the occasion requires, all these angels suddenly break-out in the singing of “a new song” before the Throne of God (Rev. 5:9).
Amazingly, these spontaneous songs of worship ring out symphonically in the presence of musical instruments. Every one of these angels are equipped with “harps” and “golden vials” for such occasions (Rev. 5:8)! Literally, while they are all singing, the melodious sounds of heavenly harps join the loud chorus of angelic voices. Consequentially, worship fills the air of Heaven as an inescapable fragrance, even as the golden streets of eternity are continually resounding with the excellent sounds of holy adoration.
The last and final rank of holy Angels is positioned outside the border of the twenty-four thrones in every direction. An innumerable company of heavenly beings gather there when all the Sons of God appear before the LORD (Job 1:6, 2:1). The crystalline sea of glass extends indefinitely providing sufficient space for the standing presence of hundreds of millions of Angels (Rev. 5:11). All the Angels of every rank and position are “round about the Throne” in a majestic scene of pure glory (Rev. 5:11-12)! And, as each occasion requires, this innumerable company of Angels joins in concert with the leading Angels of higher rank, whether it be in the sudden acts of intense prostration corresponding to various proclamations, or in worshipping the LORD through the ministry of song. This is a beautiful situation (Ps. 48:1-2)! However, all this is to say nothing about the dawning light of eternity that illuminates Heaven with divine brightness.
Amazingly, these spontaneous songs of worship ring out symphonically in the presence of musical instruments. Every one of these angels are equipped with “harps” and “golden vials” for such occasions (Rev. 5:8)! Literally, while they are all singing, the melodious sounds of heavenly harps join the loud chorus of angelic voices. Consequentially, worship fills the air of Heaven as an inescapable fragrance, even as the golden streets of eternity are continually resounding with the excellent sounds of holy adoration.
The last and final rank of holy Angels is positioned outside the border of the twenty-four thrones in every direction. An innumerable company of heavenly beings gather there when all the Sons of God appear before the LORD (Job 1:6, 2:1). The crystalline sea of glass extends indefinitely providing sufficient space for the standing presence of hundreds of millions of Angels (Rev. 5:11). All the Angels of every rank and position are “round about the Throne” in a majestic scene of pure glory (Rev. 5:11-12)! And, as each occasion requires, this innumerable company of Angels joins in concert with the leading Angels of higher rank, whether it be in the sudden acts of intense prostration corresponding to various proclamations, or in worshipping the LORD through the ministry of song. This is a beautiful situation (Ps. 48:1-2)! However, all this is to say nothing about the dawning light of eternity that illuminates Heaven with divine brightness.
“…the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” – 1 Tim. 6:15-16
“…Thou that dwellest between the Cherubims, shine forth.” - Psalm 80:1
The heavenly situation of the Throne above is mirrored on earth through the symbolism of the Tabernacle and the Temple (Ex. 26:1, 36:8; Ex. 26:31-35, 36:35; 1 Kg. 6:29, 2 Chron. 3:7, Ezek. 41:25). Golden images of the Cherubim stood 17.5 ft high on either side of the Throne in the Holy of Holies (1 Kings 6:23, 26). The mighty statues of these Angels had a combined wingspan of 35 feet wall-to-all in the Throne Room of God (2 Chron. 3:11-13, 1 Kings 6:23-28). Their wings were outstretched to act as a “covering” to the Mercy Seat (Ex. 25:18-20, 37:7-9). Literally, they acted to overshadow and cover the Throne with their wings (2 Chron. 3:12-13, 5:7-8; Heb. 9:5; Ex. 25:18-20, 37:7-9), because the theater of typology is a miniature of the heavenly situation.
The Cherubim are much bigger in height and wingspan in reality. They have to be extremely large in order to act as a covering for the Great White Throne of Heaven (Rev. 20:11). Four Cherubim are positioned on each side of the Throne for an overshading in all directions (Rev. 4:6). Each Cherubim possesses six wings for the job (Rev. 4:8). The Daystar of eternity, exceeding the brightness of the sun, shines forth from behind the Cherubim in a dazzling display of glory (Acts 26:13, Ps. 80:1, Rev. 1:16, 2 Pet. 1:19). Somehow, through refraction, the whole spectrum of light can be seen as a glow of brightness around the Throne (Ezek. 1:26-28)! “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place.” (Ezek. 3:12).
The Cherubim are much bigger in height and wingspan in reality. They have to be extremely large in order to act as a covering for the Great White Throne of Heaven (Rev. 20:11). Four Cherubim are positioned on each side of the Throne for an overshading in all directions (Rev. 4:6). Each Cherubim possesses six wings for the job (Rev. 4:8). The Daystar of eternity, exceeding the brightness of the sun, shines forth from behind the Cherubim in a dazzling display of glory (Acts 26:13, Ps. 80:1, Rev. 1:16, 2 Pet. 1:19). Somehow, through refraction, the whole spectrum of light can be seen as a glow of brightness around the Throne (Ezek. 1:26-28)! “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place.” (Ezek. 3:12).
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