Lucifer was an angel of a highest order (cherub) but he was not an archangel such as Michael or Gabriel because these two were never referred to as cherubim anywhere in the scriptures.
Definition:
A cherub, a winged figure who stood over the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:18; 37:7-9), an order of angels, usually ranked below the seraphim, a composite being (Ezek. 1 and 10). The pl, for in Heb. is cherubim. Sometimes English translation add the pl. "s" also! the Vulgate has cherubin. The etymological origins of this word are quite doubtful. The Akkadian cognate verb means "to bless, to praise, to adore. They first appear in gen. 3:24 to guard against man's unauthorized re-entry into paradise. In solomon's temple two large cherubim, made of olive wood which was overlaid with gold, were placed in the Most holy Place. They faced forward, side by side, with a combined wingspan of about fifteen feet. The original Ark of the Covenant was directly beneath their center. God reigned "above" the place for atonement, from between the cherubim (Ex 25:22) Cherubim were used for decoration in Ezekiel's symbolic temple (Ezek 41: 18-20) Each of them had two faces, the face of a man and the face of a lion, pointing in opposite directions. they had a human body and hands, but the feet went straight down like a calf's. They possessed four wings, two of which covered their bodies in modesty, and two of which extended upward. The cherubim of Ezek. 1 had four faces (man, lion, ox, and eagle). They could travel in any direction with lightning speed. they always appear next to the throne of God, worshipping and serving Him. |
