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Verse 24 – So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
Garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep
the way of the tree of life.
I. It is amazing that recently saved Adam attempted to disobey God’s
clear command.
A. In verse 23, God sent Adam from the Garden, but it appears Adam did
not go.
B. In verse 24, God drove Adam and his wife from the Garden.
C. In verse 24 God placed Cherubims at the east of the Garden of Eden to
keep the way of the Tree of Life.
1. It seems God believed Adam would steal the fruit of the Tree of Life
if he got the chance.
2. It is not that God does not trust Adam, but God knows what Adam will
do if not restrained.
3. God also knows what we will do if we are not restrained from sin by
the grace of God.
4. The flaming Cherubims speak of the wrath of God.
II. East
A. Why couldn’t Adam and Eve go around the Cherubims, and the flaming
sword, and enter Eden from the North, South, or West?
1. The Garden of Eden is a place of special communion with God.
2. God was in all areas of the world when He created it. He still is
today, but the Garden of Eden was a special place God made for man.
3. More than likely there was a border, (boundary, or fence or barrier)
around the Garden, with access only from the east.
4. The Tabernacle and every temple had only one entry – facing the
east.
5. It must be remembered that the world was different before the flood.
a. There is no way of knowing the location of the Garden of Eden.
b. We might picture the Garden as being where the nation of Israel
now is, but there is really no way of knowing the exact location.
B. Exodus 19:10-13 - When God gave the 10 commandments and the
instructions for the tabernacle, He set bounds around Mt. Sinai.
C. The tabernacle built by Moses.
1. Exodus 27:9-19 - a description of the boards of the tabernacle.
Verse 13-16 -- is a description of the east side of the court and the
entrance to the courtyard.
2. Exodus 26:15-25 - a description of the boards of the tabernacle.
a. Verse 18 - the south side.
b. Verse 20 - the north side.
c. Verse 22 - the west side.
d. No boards on the east side. This is the entrance.
3. Exodus 26:31-33 - a description of the vail between the Holy Place
and the Most Holy Place. Matthew 27:51 - the vail was rent when Christ
died, making the way for us to have direct communication with God, through
Jesus Christ.
4. Exodus 26:36, 37 - a description of the door of the tabernacle. The
door faced the east.
D. The temple built by Solomon - II Chronicles 4:9, 10 - note placement
of the court, the door, and the sea.
E. The temple built by Ezra.
F. Herod’s temple faced the east.
G. Revelation 21:12, 13 - the wall around New Jerusalem.
III. This ought to reveal that God has boundaries on all things. There is a
particular way to get into all things.
1. A club - there are always certain rules that must be met.
2. Salvation - there is only one way.
3. The church - there is only one way.
IV. Cherubims (We will study {A} Seraphims {B} Cherubims, and {C} Angels.)
A. Seraphims - Isaiah 6 - the only place they appear.
1. Seraphims means "burning, fiery ones".
2. They are so holy, they burn with their own holiness, yet cry,
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts."
3. Their holiness is nothing compared to the holiness of God.
4. If Seraphims are to be compared to anything, they ought to be
compared to Cherubims, but the Bible only compares them to God.
B. Cherubims - means "those grasped, held fast". Strong’s
concordance says "imaginary figure". They seem to represent God.
1. According to the definition of the word Cherubim, it is God himself
which stands between Adam and the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life.
a. It is God himself which assures man of the good gift of death,
because after death comes the resurrection of the dead and final victory
over sin.
b. No one else could give this great gift.
2. Genesis 3:24 - guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden.
3. Exodus 25:18 - placed on the mercy seat of the ark.
a. Exodus 25:18, 19 - made of the mercy seat (a part of it.)
b. The Jews weren’t given a description of the Cherubims except the
wings. How did they know what a cherubim looked like? Did they remember
the Cherubims guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden?
c. We can learn much about the Cherubims’ wings, but little about
the shape or form of the body.
4. Many times it is said, "God dwells between the Cherubims".
a. Numbers 7:89 - God spoke to Moses from between the Cherubims.
b. II Kings 19:14, 15 - Hezekiah praying to God.
c. Psalm 80:1 - David said that God dwelt between the Cherubims.
5. A description of what Ezekiel saw - Ezekiel 1:4-14, 15-25, 26-28 -
never called a cherubim.
6. Ezekiel 10:10-15 - continuing description of cherubim - and it’s
called a Cherubim.
a. Verse 13, 14 - the faces are representing Jesus Christ in the
Godhead.
b. Verse 14 - one of the faces is an ox or calf - compare with
Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelation 4:7.
7. Cherubims are not angels (angels don’t have wings).
a. Ezekiel 28:14 – "thou art the anointed cherub that
covereth."
b. This scripture is talking to the King of Tyrus, not Satan.
c. May have reference to Satan or to the leadership of Satan.
d. Is not talking about Satan destroying the earth between Genesis
1:1 & 1:2.
C. Angels - do not have wings - are not Cherubims or Seraphims.
1. Sometimes when people see angels, they don’t realize what they’ve
seen.
2. This isn’t so for those that come into contact with Cherubims and
Seraphims. They know right off they have come into contact with God.
3. Genesis 19:5 - Men of Sodom didn’t know they were angels.
4. Judges 6:22 - Gideon didn’t realize he had seen an angel.
5. Judges 13:21, 22 - Samson’s parents didn’t know they had seen an
angel.
6. Daniel 10:5, 6
a. "Man" and his description.
b. Verse 16 - one like a man touched his lips and gave him strength
to talk.
c. Verse 18 - one like a man touched him and gave him strength to
live.
7. Luke 2:13 - angels don’t sing, they "say".
8. Matthew 28:2-4 - description of an angel.
9. Luke 24:4 - angels described as men.
V. The flaming sword.
A. This sword assures that life and salvation would be possessed only in
the right way.
1. There must be death before there can be everlasting life.
2. No person would be able to live eternally in a sin cursed, decaying
body.
3. Christ would die that we might have everlasting life.
B. The sword is not in the hand of an angel, but in the hands of God.
1. The same flaming sword turns every way so none can get to the tree
of life apart from Christ.
2. There is only one way to be saved, and that is through Christ.
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