Angels, Cherubim, And Seraphim

The word angel comes from the Greek word ANGELOS, meaning “messenger.” The corresponding Hebrew word is MALAKH also meaning “messenger.” The terms are sometimes used to designate human messengers (Hag. 1:13, Mal. 2:7), but most often are used to refer to supernatural, celestial beings.

To my limited knowledge the Bible does not describe them as having wings. Mythology and medieval art represent them as having wings, and thus a current concept is that they have wings.

Another form of supernatural, creating beings are cherubim. This word comes from the Greek, CHEROUBIM, or Hebrew, KRUBIM. Their primary task is that of serving as guards. They guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24), and either support or flank the throne of God (Psalm 80:1; 99:1).

Cherubim are spoken of as being winged. Their swiftness is spoken of as being like the wind. They were mysterious, heavenly beings represented under the form of winged lions with human faces (Ezek. 41:18ff).

Two wooden replicas of cherubim, gold covered and with wings outspread, were placed over the cover or “mercy seat” of the Ark of the Covenant, protecting the holy things.

Seraphim form a third order of celestial beings and are spoken of as being winged (Isaiah 6:2,3). The word is from the Hebrew SARAPH, in that they are mentioned only once in the Bible, and that is in the Old Testament. They appear to be attendants waiting to carry out the bequest of the Lord.

Most scholars consider these three orders as separate forms of created celestial beings.

Advantages Of Abortion

The most dangerous place to be in America today is in a mother’s womb. Every day over 4000 preborn babies are forcefully removed by a process called abortion.

“Webster’s Encyclopedia of Dictionaries” says abort(ion) means “to fail to bring to fruition.” Fruition as used here means the intended result. As applied to a human being it means a human life is not allowed to mature.

Some say the unborn is merely a fetus. What ever it is it is there and therefore a “being.” Because of it being there it is a being. It surely is not a non-being. It results from copulation by two human beings so it is human. It is not a nonentity or a non-human species; it is rather a preborn human being.

Proabortionists say it is merely fetal matter until it starts breathing. Using that narrow guideline consider this.

Dr. “Luke the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) used the Greek word “brephos” for such an unborn infant. It meant “a breathing infant.” Doctor Luke used the same word to describe Christ after His birth. Naturally the question arises: How could a preborn be considered “a breathing thing?”

For years it had to be accepted by faith. Modern science has now helped our understanding. The answer is the fetus “breathes” and receives nourishment through the placenta. An example is found in a surgery known as “cardiopulmonary bypass.” During the procedure the lungs of the patient are artificially inflated to prevent them from collapsing. This does not oxygenate the blood during surgery. This has to be done by a separate mechanical process because during surgery the patient “breathes through the blood.” In like manner the preborn breathes through the placenta. This is a breathing human being.

King David wrote, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are your works” (Psalm 139:14).

That statement was made long before David had cause to know his body consisted of 30 trillion cells, each with twenty-three chromosomes all of which have memory. At the moment of conception the genes are present that determine whether you will be an ectomorph, a tall person; endomorph, fat person; or a mesomorph, in between. Innate in those genes at the instant of conception are the color of your hair, eyes, skin, sex and a gene that determines whether you will be a person who sleeps late or gets up early. Eighteen weeks later all the organs, fingers and toes are formed. A human being is in the process of coming to fruition.

The productivity of those 4000 aborted each day will never be known. Consider whether you would recommend aborting this preborn. The mother was pregnant with her fifth child. Her husband had syphilis, and she tuberculosis. Their first child was born blind. Their second child died shortly after birth. Their third child was deaf. Their fourth child had tuberculosis. Would you have aborted the fifth child?

If so, you just suggested aborting Ludwig van Beethoven and robbed the world of some of its best music.

Persons considering and abortion should ask themselves the question posed by the ancient prophet: “Shall I give my first-born for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (Micah 6:7)

There are viable alternatives to abortion. Compassionate help is available. Women’s Pregnancy Centers are available in most metropolitan areas. Local church can also be a source of assistance. Explore every option in order to avoid that which many persons retrospectively regret.

Oh, the advantages of abortion. There are none.

Britney Spears And Marriage

Britney Spears, in her “marriage,” has done nothing to promote the sanctity of marriage. She has, however, revealed what is wrong with many marriages in America today. She married one morning and had it annulled that same day. It was a “joke” gone bad they said. There was no sense of commitment or permanence.

She was reared going to church, educated in a private Christian school, and most of her adolescent friends were professing Christians.

She did what many couples do. She patterned the old adage: “Ready, fire, aim.”
Steps to the altar often involved becoming romantically involved, exhilaration over having a big beautiful wedding, and little thought is given to developing the qualities resulting in permanence in marriage. The first of these steps often involves emotional attachment resulting in sexual promiscuity. Thereafter, it is often more about the wedding than about the marriage.

A good marriage involves commitment, a sense of permanence, total sharing, common goals, and playing the game for keeps. There is a mutual commitment to hammering out difficulties on the anvil of devotion, respect, and mutual regard for each other. No marriage is immuned from difficulties or exempt from problems and without these essential ingredients is doomed to failure.

Love isn’t just a prolonged orgasm it is an organism, a growing relationship. If a marriage isn’t a mutually supportive and responsive organism it results in two lonely, competing individuals living together. Such a deteriorated state can be avoided by employing these traits in order to make marriage last.

· Value your mate and let it be shown. Don’t hesitate to often say, “I value you.”
· Develop a “we” and “our” outlook, not an “I” or “mine” mentality.
· Be empathetic with others and less sensitive and mindful of yourself. Always
be considerate of the other.
· Curb your temper and resolve not to injure your partner in word or deed.
· In all things be patient.
· Work at developing a pleasant disposition.
· Don’t try to dominate and do show a conciliatory attitude.
· Avoid always trying to vindicate yourself.
· Enjoy common recreation together.
· Develop mutual hobbies.
· Share work projects.
· Worship together regularly.
· Develop spiritually mature friends.
· Express appreciation and acknowledge thanks.
· Compliment achievements.
· Never speak negatively of one another in public.
· Groom yourself so as to be attractive and appealing.

BRONZE THESE THOUGHTS AND PUT THEM ON THE MANTEL OF YOUR MIND.

There is an old proverb that says people don’t drown in the ocean they drown in puddles. Likewise marriages drown in little things not properly dealt with.

Reviewing this list and striving to fulfill the best of each item is easier than a divorce. Many people getting a divorce aren’t really happy about it. They have become disenchanted and discouraged and have give up. Studies show there is great emotional trauma, hurt, and anger in divorce. It is one of the most upsetting things that can happen to a person. A lot of people are nagged by the thought they have done something morally wrong. Working at maintaining a good marriage and if necessary recovering from a marriage gone sour is cheaper and less painful than a divorce.

As a couple memorize the following and resolve to make these traits the framework on which your marriage is built.

“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in right. Love bears all thins, believes all things, hopes all things, endures al things” (I Corinthians 13: 4-7).

The Bible And The Koran

There is little understanding between the Christian and Muslim world. Americans are beginning to get a glimpse of the cultural differences. The spiritual differences are not well defined in the minds of most Easterners.

Mohammad referred to Christians and Jews as “people of the book,” referring to the Bible. He felt bad that the Arabs did not have a book. In reality the Bible is intended for all races. In 610 AD Mohammad was convinced in his own mind he was called by Gabriel to be a prophet of Allah. Soon thereafter he began writing the Qur’an, or Koran, a book for his people. He was received by his followers as a prophet who spoke for Allah.

In Mecca he became persecuted and his message rejected. In 622 (year 1 of the Muslim calendar) he fled to Medina. From his base there he enjoyed his first major military victory in the battle of Badr on March 15, 624. By January 630 Mohammad conquered and took control of Mecca. Medina continued to be his home. There he died June 8, 632.

Muhammad learned of monotheism from Christian and Jewish merchants during his youth. Unfortunately these tradesmen were not theologically well versed. The Bible had not been translated into Arabic at the time.

Mohammad was not versed on orthodox Christianity or the Bible. This shows in portions of the Qur’an. For example, his text denies Christ as the Son of God, that Christ died on the cross, and the doctrine of the Trinity. It also seeks to disproves certain claims allegedly made by Christians, such as, Mary was a sister of Aaron and Moses (Sura 19:28) and that Mary was a part of the Trinity. The Bible and Christians who believe in it have never made these claims. Rather than admit Mohammed made an error his followers claim his text is correct and Christians have corrupted theirs in total.

Mohammed lived in a time when success was thought to be a sign of divine favor. This made the idea that God would let one of His prophets die of crucifixion unrealistic. The Qur’an makes light of the idea. Sura 4:157 speaks of those who boast “we killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God.” It then denies the crucifixion noting: “but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for a surety they killed him not.” This refutes Christian teaching regarding salvation.

When the Jews rejected his book he forced two powerful tribes out of Medina. The third group, the Quarayza, Islamic biographers say he “sent for them and struck off their heads in those trenches as they were brought out in batches.” Christians were treated more benevolently at first. However, his campaigns against fellow Arabs and the massacre of the Qurayza established the ideological basis for later persecution of them.

The difference over the crucifixion in two books has been the basis of division between the three faiths.

An Astronaut’s Faith

A friend familiar with some details of the crew of the spaceship Columbia shared with me the following.

Astronaut Rick Husband, a quiet and humble man, was a man of great faith. A story circulated from a suit technician on the pad. After the astronauts “suited up” on that final day before the flight, they walked down a hallway to meet the press. Rick stopped the crew before the door opened to pray for each one on the crew. Later, the technicians commented to one another and said that in all of their years, they had never heard a captain praying for and with his crew.

The spouses of the crew each have the opportunity to pick a song to wake up their mate on one morning of the time the crew is in space? What would you pick for your spouse, if married? Rick’s wife selected Steve Green’s song “God of Wonders” which is on his popular CD “Woven in Time.” The song goes like this:

Lord of all creation
Of water, earth and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your Majesty
(Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me)
You are holy, holy

Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate Your light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night

Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Rick responded by saying, “Good morning. Thank you. We can really appreciate the lyrics of that song up here. We look out the window and see that God truly is a God of wonders!”

Rick had shared with friends via email that it was overwhelming to see God’s vast creation from space. He said that he never cried while exercising before, but while peddling the stationary bike and looking out of the window at God’s incredible creation, it simply brought tears to his eyes.

Rick made 34 devotional videotapes for his children prior to the flight. There were 17 for his daughter and 17 for his son. It was a special way for him to be with his children, one little message for each day while he was gone. What tremendous treasures these will be to his children for years to come.

Maybe we should ask ourselves, if our lives were to end tomorrow, what would we leave behind? Could we honestly say we have been happy as to how we have been disciplining our own life and that of our children or grandchildren?