In our study, we will look at his vision of God's glory and try to explain it but we must accept the fact that it is hard to describe the presence of God. He was a prophet to the remnant of God's people that were in captivity in Babylon and this book contains the most spiritual message of all of the Old Testament prophets.
Now, if God speaks to you in this study, you can save your own personal notes on this page. Then, every time that you look at this study, your notes will automatically be added to the page. To add a note or to display your previous notes, click on the YOUR NOTES button.
In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the K'var River, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
He was in captivity for five years in what is now the modern country of Iraq before he saw these visions and began his ministry. The Kebar River was a major canal off of the Euphrates River that was used to irrigate the land in that area. The exiles were probably there to tend the fields for their captors. We notice that he saw "visions of God" but, as we shall see, he did not see the face of God as no man can do so and live.
On the fifth day of the month, which was during the fifth year of King Y'hoyakhin's exile, the word of ADONAI came to the cohen Yechezk'el son of Buzi, in the land of the Kasdim by the K'var River; there the hand of ADONAI was on him.
We see from this passage that he was a Levite and that God was with him. It must have been obvious to those around him as they mourned in their captivity while God showed up and gave him visions.
I looked and saw a windy storm approaching from the north and a huge cloud with flashing fire, glowing brightly all around with the color of gleaming amber from within the fire.
Now, we begin to look at his description of the glory of God. He saw a whirlwind (windstorm) which reminds us of the way that the prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven (see 2 Kings 2). This whirlwind was coming out of the north and that direction was associated with the direction to heaven and the throne of God. The first thing that the prophet notices is the light both flashing and brilliant. God is light and so it is no mystery that when He is around there is bright light.
Inside, there appeared to be four living creatures that looked like human beings;
In the center of the light were four living creatures. It is believed that these same creatures guarded the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3) and they also appear in Revelation 4 around the throne of God in heaven.
but each one had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, with feet like calves' hoofs. They glittered like burnished bronze. Beneath their wings they had human hands on their four sides. The four of them had faces and wings as follows: they touched one another with their wings; they did not turn when they moved, but each one moved straight forward;
I must admit that I don't have a clue about what these creatures look like as I find it hard to even picture what Ezekiel is saying. All we really know for sure is that they are always with the presence of God at His throne.
as for the appearance of their faces, they had human faces [in front], each of the four had a lion's face on the right, each of the four had a bull's face on the left, and each of the four had an eagle's face [toward the rear] -
The four sides of the creatures each had a different face. The face of a man was in the front and we remember, from Genesis chapter one, that man was created in the image of God. On the right side (the side of power) they have the face of a lion which is the king of the beasts. On the left side, was the face of an ox which represents a servant as an ox simply does the work that it is told to do. On the back side was the face of an eagle and we remember that, usually, when the Bible speaks of eagles it is talking about speed.
thus their faces. As for their wings, each had two that stretched upward and joined those of others, and two more that covered their bodies.
Each creature had four wings and two of them were pointed upward just as they were on the Ark of the Covenant (see Exodus 25). This ark was where God would meet with His high priest.
Each [living creature] moved in the direction of any of its faces; in whichever direction the spirit wanted to go, they went, without turning as they moved -
The creatures are in tune with the very Spirit of God and focus on going straight to where He desires. We, too, can follow the Spirit in such a manner if we choose to listen and obey.
thus the appearance of the living creatures. With them was something that looked like fiery coals burning the way torches do, with the fire flashing here and there between the living creatures; the fire had a brilliance, and out of the fire went lightning. The living creatures kept speeding here and there like flashes of lightning.
The creatures are like royal heralds who went before a king to announce his coming presence. Those heralds would blow trumpets but trumpets are not necessary because God is light and a consuming fire, that is what it looks like when He is around. Because God cannot be contained, the light flashes out like lightning. These creatures are so in tune with God that they immediately go in the direction of God's will and so it looks like flashes of lightning.
As I gazed at the living creatures, I saw wheels on the ground, one next to each of the four-faced living creatures. All four wheels looked the same: their inner parts gleamed like beryl, and their structure seemed to be that of a wheel inside a wheel.
Now, Ezekiel begins to describe the wheels but they are not your ordinary wheels. They looked like a wheel inside a wheel but we do not know why. Each creature had his own wheel but they all worked together.
When they moved, they could go in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. Their rims were tall and fearsome, because the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.
Eyes are a symbol of knowledge throughout the Bible and the eyes on the wheels remind us that they have an intelligent purpose. They do not swerve from that purpose but follow the direction of the creatures. God has a purpose for all things and, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, we can also be unswerving in our pursuit of what He has for us.
When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved along with them; and when the creatures were lifted off the ground, the wheels went with them. Wherever the spirit was to go, they went, in the direction the spirit wanted to go. The wheels were lifted up next to them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
The creatures were in tune with God and controlled the wheels. They had a spirit of complete obedience to God and that spirit was also in the wheels. The wheels knew their purpose, remained focused on that, and simply obeyed. We can learn much for our walk with the Lord from these wheels. God has given each of us a purpose and His presence will be there with us in the form of the Spirit. If we remain focused on our purpose and tuned in to the Spirit, He can and will work through us for His glory.
When [the living creatures] moved, [the wheels] moved; when the former stood still, the latter stood still; and when the former were lifted off the ground, the wheels were lifted up next to them; because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
This verse basically repeats the previous passage and anytime something is repeated in the Bible it reminds us that we really need to take notice. This verse reminds us that the wheels did not move first but waited on the movement of the creatures. That is a good lesson for us in our walk with the Lord. Many times we get ahead of God's timing and may be doing what God wants us to do but it may not yet be the appointed time. We must pray and wait for the guidance of the Spirit and only move when the Spirit moves us.
Over the heads of the living creatures was what appeared to be a dome glittering like ice; it was awesome, spread out over their heads, above them.
This description is very similar to John's description of the throne in heaven (see Revelation 4) and the sea of glass. This is a reminder that they are sent from heaven by God.
Under the dome each had a pair of wings spread out straight toward those of others, and each had a pair which covered his body.
This description is a lot like the description of the cherubim that were a part of the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Exodus 25). Their wings were stretched out to cover the ark and God would be in their presence.
I heard the sound of their wings when they moved; it was like the sound of rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, like the noise of a tumultuous crowd or army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings.
Ezekiel gives several examples of the noise that the creatures made with their wings. It reminds me of the heralds who used to travel before kings and blow the trumpet to announce the coming of the king. When they stop, they lower their wings just as the herald would lower the trumpet.
Whenever there was a sound from above the dome over their heads, they stopped and lowered their wings. Above the dome that was over their heads was something like a throne that looked like a sapphire. On it, above it, was what appeared to be a person.
Above their heads is the throne of heaven and Jesus sitting there. This is much like the experience that John had in Revelation and he gives us a description of Jesus there as well.
I saw what looked like gleaming, amber-colored fire radiating from what appeared to be his waist upward. Downward from what appeared to be his waist, I saw what looked like fire, giving a brilliant light all around him. This brilliance around him looked like a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day.
The descriptions of Christ are consistent throughout the Bible as He is a consuming fire and the source of light. The rainbow was given to mankind as a reminder of God's promise not to destroy the earth by flood (see Genesis 9). Likewise, this vision is a reminder of the promise that we will be in His presence for eternity.
This was how the appearance of the glory of ADONAI looked. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.
Ezekiel did his best to describe the presence (glory) of God. His reaction was the same as everyone else throughout the Bible and that was that he fell on his face in worship. Then, he heard the voice of the Lord and we will see in the next chapter what God says to him.
Read about what we do with the data we gather and the rules you agree to by using this website in our privacy policy.