The Bible references to angels many times. For example, when Jacob wrestled with an angel or when, Gabriel came onto Mary bearing God’s news. However, the Bible describes how the different types of angels look. It may surprise you, how some angels look. Often angels are depicted as two winged humans. That is not the case—Biblically speaking.
Cherubim are referenced in Genesis 3:24 and Ezekiel 10:11-21. In the account of Ezekiel 10:11-21, cherubim are described as having four faces. “Each of the four cherubim had four faces-the first was the face of an ox, the second was a human face, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle,”–Ezekiel 10:14 (NLT).
The Bible also states that cherubim have four wings, Ezekiel 10:14; and its under its wings it appear to have hands. In verse, twelve of Ezekiel chapter ten it says the cherub’s whole body was covered in eyes.
Ezekiel chapter ten also describes another angel besides the cherub. This angel is called “whirling wheels”. “I heard someone refer to the wheels as ‘whirling wheels.’” These angelic beings are two intersecting wheels. Each wheel is covered with eyes. Each cherub has a whirling wheels. When the cherubim moved the wheels also move with them. The Bible says “…for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels,”-Ezekiel 11:17.
Seraphim are the least described of the three types of angels, but this is what the Bible tells us… Seraphim have six wings. As said in Isaiah 6:2. With one pair of wings, they cover their face. With another pair of wings, they cover their feet. With the last pair of wings, they use to fly.
The Bible never references to angels as having two wings. Archangels are never described in how they look in the Bible. However, if you look at the depictions (drawings) of archangels or any portrait of an angel, you would find them having two wings. This may not seem important but it is.
The origin of these two wing “angels” is extremely important. In Hellenistic Greece, Nike was the winged goddess of victory. She had two wings and had a long, flowing gown. This is what most angels are depicted as having. The Nike became the basis of the way Christian angels are depicted. Therefore, our “typical angels” find their roots in a heathen culture.
The Greeks did not serve God, and there is only one other person you can serve, that person happens to be the devil! For nearly 1,907 years, Christians have been using a heathen goddess, in other words an idol as the basis of portraying God’s holy messagers.
In some art pieces of angels, I found not only that the angels have two wings but also, they were female. Merode Altarpiece by Robert Campin shows Mary reading a book while the “female” Gabriel delivers God’s message. Daniel 8:17 says, “As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell to ground, ‘son of man’, he said…” (NLT). It says, “…he said…” meaning Gabriel is male.
Cherubim are not always depicted as the Bible says either. Usually they are depicted as a baby with two wings. This depiction is based on the Roman god Cupid. Often times “Cupid” cherubim are shown in the nude. Appearing that they have the same sexual parts as a human, even though the Bible doesn’t say cherubim have reproductive organs.
Even though this may appear to be a simple mistake of blending cultures, we must be careful of what we let influence us. In addition, it shows we must test what we hear, read, and see against the word of God. If we don’t, people can sell us anything that seems correct. So watch out for those lies mixed with truth. Be blessed my Christian friend.
Maheem J. Welcome is a highschool Christian student. He enjoys playing family games and wants to be an advisor to nations–as God leads.
