Is the Cherubim an idol?

Why does God make an Image of the Cherubim?

To Point to Christ

Let us turn to illustrate the deductive method: take for instance the matter of making images. Exodus 20:4 commands: "Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." But in Genesis, God Himself says, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . . . And God created man in his own image" (Gen. 1:26-27). Also in Exodus 26, God ordered the people of Israel to "make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shall it be made" (v.31). The cherubim have the likeness of a man; and every one has four faces—that of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle (Ez. 1:5,10). This veil is to separate the Holiest from the Holy Place.

After gathering together these passages, the question will naturally be asked: did God contradict Himself? On the one hand He commanded not to make any image and He judged Israel because they made the image of the golden calf; on the other hand He Himself ordered them to make the image of the cherubim. Why does the Bible both permit and forbid the making of images? Why is no image permitted except that of cherubim? To what does the image of the cherubim point? This will lead us to Hebrews.

Hebrews 10:20 indicates that the veil typifies the flesh of Christ, meaning the Lord Jesus Himself. In other words, all images are idols except the One who is the image of God. Notice what Genesis 1:26-27 said. When the Godhead was in council, it was decided to make "a man in our image." But when it came to actual creative work, "God created man in his own image." In verse 26 it is the plural "our," while in verse 27 it becomes the singular "his." Such transfer from the plural pronoun to the singular is a fact to be reckoned with. It reveals that in the Godhead only one Person has an image, and that Person is Christ. By combining all these passages, we conclude that God rejects all images except the one image—His own Son.

This has been a sample of the deductive method.

I agree that God has made us in His own image. Also sin has attemted to distort us to the point of making mankind into the image of the beast. But are you also saying that mankind is in the image of the cherubim?

Man is still made in the image of God. Man is not made in the image of the beast, nor the cherubim. You misunderstood about cherubim.

Sounds like I misunderstood your thought. What is the purpose of making an image of a cherubim?

Several Meanings But One Purpose

The purpose of the image of the cherubim we know is to point to the purpose of the 4 creatures in heaven in Rev. 4 where is the throne from heaven.

The four living creatures are of the cherubim (Ez. 1.10) and have the same face. They stand for the glory of God. In Ex. 37.7, Seraphim stand for the holiness of God (Is. 6.3). The cherubim have four wings (Ez. 1.6) and the four living creatures have six (Is. 6.2).

The Lord Jesus is not the only man, but also the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1.15; Rev. 3.14). The four living creatures represent, then, all the redeemed living things before God.

The 24 elders are not symbolic, but actual archangels. The book of Revelation is not primarily a book of symbols. And the four living creatures represent all the created things. As the 24 elders represent angelic beings, so the four living creatures represent the living things on earth.

During the millennial kingdom there will be a difference between the saved and the overcomers, but in the new city there is no difference. In the millennial kingdom there is no more baptism in the Holy Spirit as we have now in the dispensation of grace, and thus one cannot become the body of Christ. They can only believe individually.

Since the veil represents the flesh of Christ His flesh atones for the sins of all creation, and that is why the cherubim are embroidered on the veil. The cherubim on the mercy seat in the holy of holies represent the glory of God. The cherubim locking Adam out of the garden is God's holiness, which can not let man in the garden because of the fall.

I am beside myself with such an awesome answer. I mean it feels good to know the truth.