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Spiritual Guardians: Holding the Line from Eden to Today – Part 1
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by W. Chaz Glass
We have been living in the last days since our Lord ascended. Every generation of the church since has operated from an eschatological perspective. The epistles and letters were written under the spirit of urgency to prepare believers for the return of our Lord. Until then, we will experience wave after wave of assaults from the gates of hell, but we are told the church will ultimately prevail; believers will hold the line.
The concept of holding the line came to me while watching the movie Gladiator. I often watch only the beginning: the Roman legions waiting to hear whether their terms were accepted. News comes, and the battle begins. Maximus meets an elite Calvary element positioned at the far rear of the Germania forces. Here, he tells them, “Hold the line, stay with me.” Though I have watched this scene many times, on this occasion, the Word of the Lord came in the form of a vision in my spirit. The Levites at the gates in 1 Chronicles, the Cherubim in Eden, the rock the church is built on, and the gates of hell advancing came to remembrance. Though victory is certain, we must remain vigilant; we must hold the line and stay with the Lord. In this post, we will chart the connection believers share with the Levites, Cherubim, and Christ.
-What do believers today have in common with Levites and Cherubim’s?
Cherubim’s – Genesis 3:24 / Revelation 4
The cherubim are angelic beings that demonstrate reverence for God’s presence and serve as the embodiment of heavenly guardians. These celestial entities are associated with guarding the sacred spaces of God’s presence. The concept of guarding and protecting has significant parallels that originate from the imagery of Cherubim in the Bible. The idea and role of safeguarding undefiled areas of holiness, determining which heavenly or earthly entities can or cannot access, find their roots with the Cherubim.
In the Garden of Eden, Cherubim are stationed at its entrance following Adam and Eve’s expulsion. They are assigned the task of guarding the way to the tree of life, preserving the sanctity of that sacred place. Additionally, Cherubim are depicted as part of the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. This ark symbolized God’s presence among the Israelites, and the Cherubim on the mercy seat symbolize God’s throne, serving as a reminder of God’s holiness and the necessity for reverence. In John’s heavenly vision, documented in Revelation 4, Cherubim are observed surrounding the throne of God, continually worshiping and proclaiming His holiness. They stand as a testament to the everlasting preservation of God’s holiness and the reverence displayed by heavenly beings. Through these examples, we perceive that Cherubim symbolize the importance of maintaining the sanctity of God’s presence, His Word, and the sacred spaces He designates.
Levites – 1 Chronicles 9:17-27 / 1 Chronicles 26
The transition from the heavenly to the earthly brings us to the Levites, the priestly tribe tasked with guarding the earthly sanctuary. Their responsibilities encompassed gatekeeping, protecting sacred vessels, and ensuring the sanctity of worship. They were stationed on all four sides: east, west, north, and south. Levites maintained the security of the Temple by guarding it and opening its doors for daily activities. In the Levites, we witness a tangible embodiment of the heavenly cherubim’s attributes on Earth.
Believers today must see themselves functioning in a similar role as the Cherubim as it relates to the Levites and how that theme carries over to the modern church. We are called to emulate this role by guarding our spiritual temples, protecting their families, and defending the truth of God’s Word. We guard and protect the body from false teachers and false doctrine. This connection highlights the spiritual significance of the principle of guarding and protecting in the Bible. In a spiritual sense, the Temple can be seen as a symbol of the believer’s heart or inner sanctum, where God’s presence dwells through the Holy Spirit. Guarding the Temple spiritually signifies the need to protect one’s heart and mind from influences and behaviors that may defile or corrupt one’s relationship with God. Just as the gatekeepers defended the holiness of the Temple, believers are called to protect the holiness of their lives. This involves maintaining purity, living in accordance with God’s commandments, and resisting the temptations and influences of the world that can compromise one’s spiritual integrity. Gatekeepers allowed only authorized individuals into the Temple. Spiritually, this emphasizes the importance of seeking a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Access to the presence of God is through faith and obedience to Him. So in this sense, the Cherubim and the Levites emulate Christ who is the ultimate guardian and holds the keys to accessing the throne of God.
In the film, the soldiers ‘hold the line’ by standing firm and united against the enemy. Similarly, believers must hold the line spiritually by guarding against impure thoughts, fleshly desires, false teaching, and other influences that may advance against our walk with Christ. We must stand vigilant like the Cherubim and the Levite, actively protecting what God has entrusted us with – the church, our families, and our own hearts.
In part 2 of this post, we will delve deeper into the spiritual attacks against which we must guard, both individually and collectively.