------------------------------------------
Gene 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Exod 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
Ezek 10:3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
Ezek 10:12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, [were] full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels that they four had.
Ezek 10:14 And every one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Reve 4:6-7 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.
------------------------------------------------
The entire Bible points to one grand point.
The cross of Jesus Christ.
From genesis to revelation, the cross is the main theme.
God is not concerned with us discovering whether there is life on other planets or not.
These things will not be in the Bible.
The Bible is concerned with man’s eternal salvation.
So when we read of points plainly made, or symbols, as in the scriptures we read, the point is still the same.
God is saying something about salvation through the cross.
We do not need to think that we will never understand certain passages.
God would not have given them to us if we were to never find out their meanings.
He wants us to understand their meanings.
He does not tantalize us with strange mysteries and then mocks us, saying, "Try to figure that out."
There is really nothing fanciful about the Bible’s symbols.
They simply point, in some way, to the cross.
Read the Word of God with that in mind, and the Lord will reveal to you the meaning.
In this series of scriptures we read was that the cherubims were covered completely with "eyes."
When God wants to get our attention, He will present to us some seemingly odd things.
He wants us to stop and take notice so He can then show us something.
You might ask why does He not simply say it in plain language? Why use symbols?
Jesus told the disciples that it is not for the Pharisees to know the things of the Kingdom. But it was for the disciples to know. And as we said earlier, intellectualism is not the key, for the Pharisees were the intellects of their day. It is a matter of the heart, not the head.
God does not cast His pearls before swine.
The Bible is symbolized in certain places for this reason.
God reveals it only to those who are sincerely seeking Him.
Moses saw a strange sight, and turned to look at the bush that was on fire, but not being burned up.
Then God was able to talk to him.
John turned to see a strange sight in a vision, and then saw Jesus in candlesticks as Jesus then proceeded to talk with Him.
As for example the seven-sealed book in the right hand of God in Revelation 5:1.
And Jeremiah 32 showed the prophet directed by God to buy a field that would soon be in the hands of their enemy, leaving the field worthless.
But one day the field would be valuable again, as the enemy would be removed and Israel brought out of captivity.
Mankind was taken captive, and worthless in the enemies’ hands.
But God chose to redeem mankind again.
And the sealed title deed of the property was kept for that day in the right hand of God, as Jeremiah’s deed was sealed and stored away.
The eyes of the Cherubims were seemingly "fitted" to see the contents of the sealed book.
Reve 4:6 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Reve 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Their eyes were before and behind, to enable them to read within and on the backside.
There is a definite link between these two thoughts here.
Throughout the Bible, "eyes" speak of "understanding."
Ephe 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Paul wrote about his understanding in the "mystery" of the Gospel.
Colo 1:25-27 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
The sealed book is this mystery.
Now it has been opened, or made manifest, to his saints.
Christ in you the hope of glory.
There is nothing like seeing "the light."
I recall first coming into Pentecost and seeing the worship.
Part of me thought it was odd, but another part so much wanted to be free and worship God like that.
But I was so self-conscious.
Then, I saw it!!
God opened my understanding, and my eyes saw glory!
From that point on I did not care what anybody else thought.
I worshipped unreservedly.
I let go!
I saw such glory until people’s opinions of me did not matter any more.
There are those who struggle to live right before God.
They need to see the light.
Their eyes need to be opened.
When their eyes get opened, it will not be a problem to serve God properly.
Paul had eyes to see.
God opened the mystery up to him.
And it all began one day in Acts 9.
Acts 9:1-6 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Paul was struck blind as he went about to persecute the Church of God.
Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
What does three days represent in the Bible?
It took three days from Jesus’ death until His resurrection occurred.
We are all BLIND until we go through the death, burial and resurrection with Jesus.
We die with Him, and are buried with Him and are raised with Him.
We may have thought we could see, but we were actually blind before salvation.
Acts 9:17-18 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Paul was baptized into Jesus’ death.
Scales came off his eyes.
2Cor 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.
Since Paul spoke of EYES OF UNDERSTANDING, it is the MIND that is BLINDED.
There is a vail over the eyes of understanding, the mind.
2Cor 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The serpent from Eden blinded the minds of mankind with his lies.
Serpents have scales.
Scales fell away from Paul’s eyes when his sight was restored.
And those scales fell away after the three day period.
The Gospel of Jesus broke through to Paul, and the truth of the death, burial and resurrection caused Paul to see the light.
His eyes were opened to see glory!
Paul was never the same again!
Jesus sent Ananias for the distinct purpose of having Paul’s eyes receive sight.
hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight
Preachers are sent by God to help you see the light.
To help you see glory.
To have your eyes opened.
But its more than sitting and hearing a preacher preach.
You need to turn your heart to the Lord, and the veil will be removed and you will see.
Jesus referred to Pharisees having eyes to see that could not see.
He spoke of this veiled understanding.
They have a heart that had the potential to perceive, but didn’t due to their hearts’ hardness and veiling.
They refused to turn to Christ.
When we see we will want everyone to see.
Acts 9:18-20 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
When we see, we want everyone else to see.
We wonder why they cannot see.
But we must remember when we could not see either.
The Cherubim had eyes all over them.
They represent Christians who can SEE.
Filled with understanding.
In Ezekiel 1:26, the Cherubims stood beneath the throne of Christ (It is Christ on the throne if you compare Ezek. 1:26 with Rev. 1:13-15).
And the same picture is seen with the PRIESTS carrying the Ark of the covenant over their heads.
The ark had a mercy seat, corresponding to the THRONE OF GOD.
So the PRIESTS and the CHERUBIMS are related.
Reve 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
We are the PRIESTS today.
And the cherubims with eyes all over them represent the saints of God to whom the mystery has been made manifest.
And as the priests and cherubims carried the GLORY OF GOD aloft (the ark represented the GLORY), those who have eyes to see carry Christ’s glory all around for others to see.
When the ARK was stolen by the Philistines, a child was born, named ICHABOD, because the stealing of the ark meant that the GLORY HAD DEPARTED.
Do you have eyes that can see the glory?
What did Paul say happened to him?
2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The veil came off his heart, when it turned to the Lord, and the light of the knowledge of GLORY shone into his newly-unveiled heart.
GLORY!!!
When Jesus died, the veil in the temple, which had cherubims with eyes all over them embroidered on it, ripped from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).
Hebrews 10:20 says the veil represents Christ’s flesh.
Why would cherubims be ripped with the veil that represents Jesus’ flesh?
Cherubims with eyes speak of the saints who can see.
The only ones who are included in the death of Jesus Christ (the rent veil) are those whose eyes were opened to the Gospel and who, by faith, were joined to His death, burial and resurrection.
They saw that it was AS THEM that Jesus died and was buried and resurrected.
They died, therefore, WITH HIM.
The cherubim were rent when the veil was rent.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
The veil was the ENTRANCE into the Holiest place, where the glory of God, the Ark, dwelt.
We SEE and then ENTER only when we are born again.
I can see God’s glory.
My ministry and purpose is to help you see, too.
But I must tell that you have to turn your heart to Jesus, or my ministry will do you no good.
Reve 6:1-2 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, ...
The very beasts with EYES all over them, directed John to COME AND SEE, himself.
Its not just preachers who help people see, but all of you believers, who have seen, are helping people to see when you speak about Jesus Christ and what He did for you.
Anybody with eyes that can see glory desires that others see, too.
Praise God!
Let me close by saying, that you must die, be buried and resurrect again with Jesus after hearing about that Gospel.
Acts 2:23-24 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
What do you do?
Some say this passage only refers to the Jews who literally crucified the Lord in Israel 2,00o years ago.
Friend, every human on earth crucified the Lord.
Why was He crucified?
Because of your sin and my sin.
That means we all crucified Him.
And Peter told those who wanted to know what to do since they realized they crucified the Messiah...
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Repent and die with Christ.
Be baptized and experience burial with Christ.
Receive the Holy Ghost and resurrect with Christ!
----------------(******************)----------------