Someone posted this on reddit, so I don't know the original source. They aren't wrong though. Some biblically accurate angels are absolutely terrifying. No wonder so many people were terrified and fainted when they encountered an angel. This particular tree topper is inspired by the angel in Ezekiel 10:12, "Their entire bodies, including their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels."
When we think of an angel, most of us imagine something similar to this:
Or maybe even this:
But here are some examples of how certain angels really appear in the bible. The bible has super weird stuff in there. I really get into those stories. Here is a biblically accurate depiction of a cherubim. Definitely not the cupid baby type angels.
"In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings.....Their faces looked like this: Each four had the face of a human, and on the right side had the face of a lion, and on the left side the face of an ox; Each also had the face on an eagle." "Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands, and their wings, were completely full of eyes." Ezekiel 1:5-6 and Ezekiel 10:12
"And he drove the man out, and he placed on the east side of the garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." Genesis 3:24
These angels were each accompanied by a "whirling wheel," which was a wheel within a wheel.
"Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures (cherubim) faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around." Ezekiel 1:16-18
Next is a depiction of a seraphim.
"Each of them had six wings, are full of eyes around and within." Revelations 4:8
"Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew."
There are other angels mentioned in the bible, like the principalities, the archangels, and the 'angel' angels, as well as a whole host of heaven that my mind can not even begin to imagine. Some of these angels would appear to humans, and would make their appearance in the form of men. I don't know if this means they always resemble humans, or just that they can take on the form of humans when on earth, The bible does even say that some of us have entertained angels without even realizing it.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality, for some have entertained angels unaware." Hebrews 13:2
I think if we really could see past the veil into the spirit world, we would be absolutely amazed. Or maybe we'd be absolutely terrified.
"And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And they were sore afraid." Luke 2:9
"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, and going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid that they shook and became like dead men." Matthew 28:2-4
"I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like topaz, his face was like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the one who saw the vision; those with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless." Daniel 10:5-8
I do wonder what it was like for these humans to have those experiences. It is life changing, I'm sure. Daniel has an established relationship with the Lord, and he was still overwhelmed and scared at the sight of an angel. And Ezekiel? Well, lets just say most of us might have needed therapy after what he saw.
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