An extremely important responsibility has been assigned by our great Creator to these Cherubims. They are the keepers of holiness in the entire universe but especially assigned as keepers of holiness in the earth. No unrighteousness can ever escape their scrutiny. It was probably a Cherubim who brought the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah to the attention of the Lord in the day of Abraham. “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.” (Genesis 18:20-21) Righteousness is the character that the Creator determined for the whole earth, and anything less disturbs every expression of life on the planet. These Cherubims are constantly supervising every activity of man, every expression of nature, and every aspect of life on this earth in total. There is a price for every sin unless there is quick, honest repentance.

These great Cherubims create an exciting picture in Ezekiel’s prophecy. This is the one primary description of them in Scripture. “And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.” (Ezekiel 1:4-5) They appear like a fire “infolding itself”, or a fire contained and burning within rather than burning without. Their brightness expresses the character of their God, whose glory in righteousness they manifest and defend. Their speed is like lightning; in fact, I would suggest that all lightning is an expression of their activities, or at least a reminder of their activities. These celestial beings have been provided with chariots that Ezekiel describes as wheels in the middle of wheels that make a dazzling display of the Father’s glory.

The Cherubims were prepared by the Heavenly Father to strike terror into the hearts of the wicked. Reading the first chapters of Ezekiel will convince anyone of the darkness and dread of sin. What mortal man dares to challenge the holiness of God protected by such awesome beings? Listen! “As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the Living Creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the Living Creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.” (Ezekiel 1:18-19) Every action of man in all the universe is known to these awesome Cherubims and their great bands of angels. Jesus is called the “Lord of Sabaoth” which means “the Lord of a host.” All angels of the many ranks are under His mastery and do His bidding. No wonder these great celestial creatures will be present at the Rapture and gathered around the throne.

When the saints are caught up to the Father’s presence in Revelation four, these “keepers of righteousness” are there to represent the Father’s glory and His holiness. Do not think for a moment that anyone will be accepted unless sin has been forsaken and forgiven by Christ’s blood. John said, “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.” (Revelation 4:6) An announcement was made by each of these four Cherubims at the opening of the first four seals of the great book of redemption in Revelation chapters five and six. The four “Living Creatures” actually announced the four horses and riders which was the fulfillment of themselves, and their defense of holiness during the Seven Years of Tribulation. His “keepers of righteousness” will be an intimate part of the future fulfillment of the book of Revelation.

At the present time, there is a growing sense that the environment of the earth and the great calamities of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, etc., are destroying, and they surely are. These Cherubims of God were clearly the great angels that were involved in Sodom and Gomorrah when judgment was manifest. The Scripture teaches, “And while he lingered, the men [Cherubims] laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” (Genesis 19:16-17) Every angelic act that involves the defense of holiness identifies those angels as Cherubims.

Many of the key locations of recent storms are hotbeds of filth and wickedness. New Orleans is a case in point. The hurricane named “Katrina” arrived in that wicked city of voodoo and distorted sex only three days before the city was scheduled for a baptism of homosexuals and lesbians. These Cherubims of God know clearly where every main area of unrestrained conduct and lifestyle is welcomed. Any city that hangs out the welcome sign for such filth is also attracting the concern of God’s “Living Creatures.” Every citizen in such cities should be concerned and even consider moving.

The mighty hand of God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, is directly involved with these Cherubims. Ezekiel stated, “Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” (Ezekiel 1:20) Isaiah stated, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard [Cherubims standing in restraint] against him.” (Isaiah 59:19) The word “standard” means a barrier between you and the enemy. That is the very purpose of the Cherubims - to defend righteousness and holiness. Many have been the Cherubims that came to stand beside or behind the godly saint that was in jeopardy.

These great celestial creatures, Living Creatures or Cherubims, have been clearly visible all through the Holy Scripture. Their responsibility is the “keepers of holiness and righteousness” on earth. That also means the defense of holy and righteous saints that dare to live separated from the defilement of our world, and that stand without compromise for His unfailing truth. If you live an uncompromising life, these majestic Cherubims will be intimately connected to your walk, to your ministry, and to your protection. You will have a defense that knows no limits and you will not need to defend yourself.