1. Now [when I was] in [my] thirtieth year, in the fourth
month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was in the midst of captivity
beside the river Chebar [in Babylonia], the heavens were opened and I
saw visions of God.
2. On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King
Jehoiachin's captivity,
3. The word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel
the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river
Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him. [1 Kings 18:46; II
Kings 3:15]. (verse 3 note)
4. As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great
cloud with a fire enveloping it and flashing continually; a brightness
was about it and out of the midst of it there seemed to glow amber
metal, out of the midst of the fire.
5. And out of the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures
[or cherubim]. And this was their appearance: they had the
likeness of a man,
6. But each one had four faces and each one had four wings.
7. And their legs were straight legs, and the sole of their feet was
like the sole of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like burnished bronze.
8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four
sides. And the four of them had their faces and their wings thus:
9. Their wings touched one another; they turned not when they went but
went every one straight forward.
10. As for the likeness of their faces, they each had the face of a man
[in front], and each had the face of a lion on the right side and the
face of an ox on the left side; the four also had the face of an eagle
[at the back of their heads]. [Rev. 4:7].
11. Such were their faces. And their wings were stretched out
upward [each creature had four wings]; two wings of each one were
touching the [adjacent] wing of the creatures on either side of it, and
[the remaining] two wings of each creature covered its body.
12. And they went every one straight forward; wherever the spirit would
go, they went, and they turned not when they went.
13. In the midst of the living creatures there was what looked like
burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living
creatures; the fire was bright and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14. And the living creatures darted back and forth like a flash of
lightning.
15. Now as I was still looking at the living creatures, I saw one wheel
upon the ground beside each of the living creatures with its four faces.
16. As to the appearance of the wheels and their construction: in
appearance they gleamed like chrysolite; and the four were formed alike,
and their construction work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
17. When they went, they went in one of their four directions without
turning [for they were faced that way].
18. As for their rims, they were so high that they were dreadful, and
the four had their rims full of eyes round about.
19. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and
when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were
lifted up.
20. Wherever the spirit went, the creatures went and the wheels rose
along with them, for the spirit or life of the [four living creatures
acting as one] living creature was in the wheels.
21. When those went, these went; and when those stood, theses stood; and
when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up high
beside them, for the spirit or life of the [combined] living creature
was in the wheels.
22. Over the head of the [combined] living creature there was the
likeness of a firmament, looking like the terrible and awesome [dazzling
of shining] crystal or ice stretched across the expanse of sky over
their heads.
23. And under the firmament their wings were stretched out straight, one
toward another. Every living creature had two wings which covered its
body on this side and two which covered it on that side.
24. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the noise
of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, the sound of tumult
like the noise of a host. When they stood, they let down their
wings.
25. And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads;
when they stood, they let down their wings.
26. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness
of a throne in appearance like a sapphire stone, and seated above the
likeness of a throne was a likeness with the appearance of a Man. [Phil.
2:5-8].
27. From what had the appearance of His waist upward, I saw a lustre as
it were glowing metal with the appearance of fire enclosed round about
within it; and from the appearance of His waist downward, I saw as it
were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness [of a halo] round
about Him.
28. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of
rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. this
was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I
saw it, I fell upon my face and I heard a voice of One speaking. [Rev.
4:3].
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The River Chebar (Strong's #3529) means 'length'. Also,
'extent of time. A great while, long ago, formerly,
hitherto'. It's compared to a river in Assyria meaning 'united' or
'to join'.
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King Jehoiachin (means 'Jehovah will establish-Strongs 3078)
was the King of Judah when they were taken captive by the King of
Babylon--King Nebuchadnezzar. He did evil in the sight of the Lord
as his forefathers had. After Jehoiachin was in captivity for 37
years the new King of Babylon took him out of prison and showed favor to
him. The period of captivity was 70 years.
The lineage is as follows:
Jehoiachin was the son of Jehoiakim.
Jehoiakim was appointed king by Pharaoh Necho
after capturing Jehoahaz and bringing him to Egypt.
Jehoahaz reigned for 3 months in Jerusalem.
Jehoiakim (also Eliakim) and Jehoahaz, were sons of Josiah ,
Josiah was the son of Amon, (Josiah followed the Lord)
Amon was the son of Manasseh,
Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah
Manasseh was a wicked king. (Manasseh means 'causing to forget'-
Strongs #4519). He sacrificed his own son to his false god and led
the people into great wickedness. He was the son of
Hezekiah. His mother was Hephzibah (whose name means 'my delight
is in her'. (Strongs #2657). Hezekiah followed the Lord but
he foolishly showed the King of Babylon all that was in his
house--riches, armor etc. Isaiah prophesied to him and told him
that the day would come when everything that is in his house would be
carried to Babylon and even some of his sons would be taken away also.
(Isaiah 39).
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Ezekiel means 'God will strengthen'. (Strong's #3168).
Ezekiel's Father was called Buzi.
Buzi, (Strong's #941), is used to describe one as a
Buzite.
It's from a word that means 'disrespect'.
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"The Hand of the Lord" is used both in a positive and
negative sense. The hand of the Lord brought destruction on those
who were rebellious against the ways of the Lord. It was a display
of the might and power of God, as well as His righteousness and
holiness. (See Exodus 9:1-4, Deuteronomy 2:14-15, Judges 2:11-15,
1 Samuel 5:1-9, 1 Samuel 12:15). But David saw that even when the
hand of the Lord brought judgment, He was still merciful. He was
able to see the mercy of God, even in judgment. (2 Samuel
24:10-14). After that, we begin to see the hand of the Lord
bringing strength to Elijah, (1 Kings 18:46), bringing a word of
deliverance through Elisha, (2 Kings 3:15), bringing favor and
leadership skill to Ezra, (Ezra 7:6,28), and bringing provision and
blessing to God's people, (Isaiah 41:20). Yet we still see the
hand of the Lord moving mighty upon Ezekiel and at times bringing him
where he really doesn't want to go, as in Ezekiel 3:14. Yet when
the hand of the Lord was upon Ezekiel he would see God's glory or
receive great insight and revelation. We see the hand of the Lord upon
Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1:3 and also in Ezekiel 3:14, Ezekiel 3:22, Ezekiel
8:1, Ezekiel 33:22, Ezekiel 37:1, and Ezekiel 40:1
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Verse 3: With the understanding of the words up through verse 3, you
could read it as follows:
"The Word of the Lord came expressly to say that God will
strengthen, when the priest, birthed from disrespect was in the land of
captivity for a long time, when the unity of his people was a long ways
off."
The message God brought through Ezekiel may seem harsh, but it is a
message of strength for God's people during a time of humiliation and
disrespect. His message, if heeded, would give the people hope for
a time of unity and returning to their homeland once again.
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Four living creatures or cherubim: Ezekiel saw these creatures again
in chapter 3:13 and in his vision described in chapters 8-11. In chapter
10 he calls them cherubim so he appears to have developed a greater
understanding of these creatures then he initially had the first time he
saw them. In chapter 1 he describes their four faces as the face of a
man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Yet in chapter 10 he says they
each had the face of a man, a lion, a cherub and an eagle, (10:14, 22).
and he says they were the same faces he saw by the river. (in chapter
1). Being that they have four faces facing in each direction they
don't have to turn before they go. They are always facing in the
direction the Lord sends them because they have four faces, one facing
each way. He also mentions that they darted back and
forth like a flash of lightning. (14). We see from this
description that these cherub are specifically equipped to move
quickly. When they went the sound of their wings were like the
noise of greater waters, 'like the voice of the Almighty'. They
move with His voice.
Beside each one is a wheel and Ezekiel mentions that the wheels were
full of eyes in chapter 1, but then in chapter 10 he says that the
creatures were full of eyes as well.
("For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole
earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are
blameless toward Him..." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (Amp).)
There were burning coals in the middle of them and the fire from them
was bright and out of the fire came lightning. In chapter 10 the
Lord told a 'man clothed in linen' to take from the fire.
He says that wherever the spirit went, they went too. (20). Their
purpose, like all of creation, is to carry out what the Spirit of God
wants done. In chapter 9 we see that they brought the glory of God
with them. Ezekiel saw a crystal or ice-like firmament above their
heads that stretched across the sky and above that he saw the throne
which was like a sapphire stone. He saw One sitting on the throne and
the rainbow-like halo around him and says this was the appearance of the
likeness of the glory of the Lord.
We see in Revelation 4:6-10 that John also saw four living creatures.
And he describes them as having the face of a man, lion, ox and eagle
just like Ezekiel did originally. But John says they had six wings
instead of four. And he described these creatures also as being
'full of eyes'.
Isaiah saw seraphim above the throne of the Lord. He described
each one as having six wings. One of them flew to Isaiah with a
live coal from the altar and laid it upon his mouth which purged his
sin, iniquity and guilt. (Isaiah 6:1-8)
Both of the creatures in Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6 were described as
continually worshipping the Lord saying "holy, holy
holy..."
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Wheels: There was a wheel on the ground
beside each cherub. Ezekiel describes the rims as 'so high they were
dreadful' and that they were full of eyes. Each one sparkled like chrysolite. Each wheel looked the same as the other and like it had
been 'a wheel within a wheel'. The wheels went wherever the cherubim
went. The cherubim went wherever the spirit went and the wheels
followed them. He says the spirit or life of the cherubim was in the
wheels. (21). He also mentions that, just like the cherubim, they
didn't 'turn' when they went. In chapter 10 he says he heard them called
'the whirling wheels'. (10:13). Ezekiel also mentions the noise of
the wheels and the creatures in chapter 3.
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Throne: Ezekiel describes the throne like a sapphire
stone. In
Revelation 4 we see John describing the throne like a jasper and a sardine
stone. (See pictures below). Ezekiel says there was a halo, like a rainbow around Him who
sat on the throne and John also says there was a rainbow around the throne
like an emerald. Ezekiel describes the One on the throne as having
the appearance of a Man and that from His waist upward He saw a luster
like glowing metal with the appearance of fire around it and within
it. And from His waist downward he saw the appearance of fire.
And he saw the brightness/halo around Him. He says it was the
appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord and when he saw it he
fell on his face and then he heard the voice of One speaking. John said in
Revelation that out of the throne came lightning's and thunder and
voices. He also saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne
which are the seven Spirits of God.
Daniel says that he saw thrones that were placed and the "Ancient of
Days" took His seat. He describes His garment as white as snow
and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was like the
fiery flame; its wheels were burning fire. (Daniel 7:9).
David says that the Lord's throne is in heaven. "His eyes
behold; His eyelids test and prove the children of men." (Psalm 11:4)
Revelation 20:11 describes a "Great white throne."
Matt 19:28: speaks of a Throne of glory.
Hebrews 4:16: speaks of the Throne of grace.
Ezekiel 43:7 the Spirit brought Ezekiel to the inner court of the temple
and the Lord told him that "This is the place of My throne and the
place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the
children of Israel forever..."
We see that as awesome as God's throne may be, He still desires to be among His people.
Probably the most sobering verse about His throne is in Revelation
3:21. Jesus says:
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne,
even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne."
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Sapphire--Hebrew word
means a gem that is used for scratching or inscribing on other
substances.
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