A Second Look at the Angelic Stance

If you are like me, then you probably grew up believing that the seraphim are continually flying around the throne of God proclaiming His glory. But what if I told you we were wrong? What if what you thought these angelic beings were doing was actually just a misunderstanding of the text?

 

The Scripture passages are found in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4. There is no doubt that these holy beings are forever praising and declaring the great glory of the Almighty God. That truth is indisputable. The issue that I wish to bring up is not concerning what they are saying, but rather what they are doing. More specifically, what is their stance? Are they really flying around the throne of God night and day forever and ever or are they actually standing in awe of their Maker?

 

Even though this is a minor thing in the Christian life and will not at all have any effect on your sleep tonight, I would like to argue for the latter position because we should always be striving for an accurate and deeper understanding of the Scriptures. 

 

The term Seraphim means "Burning Ones"

 

While Revelation spends more time describing their appearance, Isaiah focuses more on their actual actions. The text reads:

Above Him [God] stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew...Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar...

We know from the passage in Revelation that there are four living creatures (seraphim) here. We also know from this section in Isaiah that they are standing above God. We could speculate there to be four pillars, one at each corner of the throne, each having a "burning one" resembling a mighty flaming torch resting on the top.

 

The text in Revelation is clear that they never stop declaring God's glory, but they are not constantly flying. They can fly, but in Isaiah they are seen to be standing. Is there a significance to this? I have no idea. But I just wanted to stir the pot and cause you to ask questions. And I wanted to post my eighth blog this month....