H. Hayhoe
I. Preliminary Notes to Remember
- Gold – Divine righteousness; the inherent nature of God
- Brass – Righteousness in the judgment of sin
- Fine Linen – Practical righteousness in our daily ways
- Cherubim – The righteousness of God in government
- Seraphim – The righteous wrath of God according to the holiness of His nature; it is connected with purity and holiness
II. Seraphic Judgement
Quick reference prior to bro. Hayhoe’s remarks on Seraphim, which might prove helpful to the listener:
שָׂרָף – The word itself means burning, or fiery.
J. N. Darby wrote that they are “burners that fly.” In writing to Mr. Wigram, he also wrote about Seraphim saying,
“I suppose they are symbolical beings, expressive of the consuming power of God’s holiness as the cherubim of judicial power, at least in their relation to others. I could not say that there were specific beings called seraphim anywhere. There may be those who are near to God specially in this character.”
Letters: Volume 1, number 137, p. 249
Bro. Hayhoe’s remarks continued:
God never acted in Seraphic judgment until the cross. There was Seraphic implication at the garden along with the Cherubim who guarded the way of the tree of life. When it speaks of the “flaming sword which turned every way” (Gen. 3:24), it would speak of that Seraphic quality of things. The Cherubim and the Seraphim are seen together there, and they are not brought together again until Revelation 4. Why? Because all the ways of God with man have been Cherubic, and they will not be Seraphic until the Great White Throne — and then it will be the righteous judgment of God according to the holiness of nature that must banish sin under His wrath.
In Isaiah 6, the Seraphim refers to the cross. There you have Seraphic Judgement because Christ was bearing it as none other could. And He sustained that judgment in order that we might not fall under it.
III. Two Cherubim (in Exodus) vs. Four Cherubim (in Ezekiel)
Israel was set to be the platform for the manifestation of the ways of God in government. Two is for sufficient testimony. Man had the testimony of God’s ways in government, and “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.”
It is four in Ezekiel because the “times of the Gentiles” begin. Now it is universal testimony. The wheels were dragged through the earth and underneath was the appearance of a man’s hand (Ezek. 10). This meant that no longer would the government of God be in an open display (as it was through Israel), but God would now be behind the scenes moving all the scenes that He is behind. It leaves room for the fact that we are now living in a day of grace, and every transgression does NOT receive an immediate and just recompense of reward; although, God is still behind the scenes acting in righteous government.