We begin with the Cherubim and Seraphim angels, their ministry to God, and the Tabernacle of Moses. Cherubim first appeared at the Garden of Eden entrance and later in constructing the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. Inferring a correlation to the Garden of Eden, Cherubim were woven into the inner veil that separated the holy of holies. Our Sages wrote that Cherub angels have a child-like appearance, hence their portrayal in Christian art as babies with wings. Ezekiel refers to them nineteen times, with many believing they are synonymous with the four living creatures described in Revelation. In his vision, he saw four Cherubim angels in the midst and around the throne of God, ministering to the Lord.
The Tabernacle of Moses
A number of years ago I was asked to prepare a teaching on the Tabernacle of Moses—the Mishkan. I had read the endless narratives in the Torah many times where each part of the Tabernacle, meticulously detailed by the Lord, commanded the Israelites to only build a copy of the heavenly image. I had visited several life-size displays, one recently in Pennsylvania, but none revealed anything of particular magnificence. Even its size looked rather underwhelming—a small tent perched in the desert surrounded by miles of barren wilderness. From a near distance the structure would have been hardly noticeable.