During the exile of Judah in Babylon, was there a young priest-prophet called to act out living parables as street theater, teaching tools? Does the entire book move from judgment to grace? Let’s begin in Ezekiel 1.
Where was Ezekiel when God began to reveal strange visions to him? Did he settle by an irrigation canal Kebar?
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (Ezek 1:1 NKJV)
When did these visions take place? Is king Jehoiachin also called Jeconiah and Coniah? Is David’s lineage crushed?
This happened during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity. (Ezek 1:2 NLT)
If God chose prophets from all walks of life, would He also choose a priest? Whose word came to Ezekiel?
Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him. (Ezek 1:3 WEB)
Did Ezekiel see a storm like a tornado coming out of the north, the direction from which both Israel and Judah were conquered? Is the brightness a hint of God’s glory about to appear?
As I watched, suddenly a driving storm [whirlwind] came out of the north, a great cloud flashing fire, with brightness all around. At its center, in the middle of the fire, there was something like gleaming amber [glowing metal]. (Ezek 1:4 CEB)
What amazing angelic creatures did Ezekiel see?
and in that center I saw what looked like four living creatures. They were somewhat like humans, except that each one had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, but their feet looked like the hoofs of calves and sparkled like bronze. Under each of their wings, these creatures had a human hand. The four creatures were standing back to back with the tips of their wings touching. They moved together in every direction, without turning their bodies. (Ezek 1:5-9 CEV)
Are the faces symbolic of each lead tribe of three camped on each side of the tabernacle, the lion of Judah, the ox of Ephraim, the eagle of Dan and the man Reuben? Is this also symbolic of the four gospels as early church fathers speculated?
As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. (Ezek 1:10-11 ESV)
What brightness with lightning coming out of it was between the living creatures?
Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved. The form of the living creatures was like the appearance of burning coals of fire and torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. The creatures were darting back and forth like flashes of lightning. (Ezek 1:12-14 HCSB)
What is going on with the wheels within wheels? Are we satisfied with mystery?
As I observed the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the earth beside each being—that is, for the four of them. Their wheels and their construction details looked like gold-colored beryl. Each wheel was identical in form to the others, and they appeared to have been constructed and designed as if one wheel were within another. Whenever the four moved, no matter which of four directions, they moved without turning around. (Ezek 1:15-17 ISV)
Are we drawn to the majesty of it all? Do the eyes reveal God as all-seeing, all-knowing?
As for their rings [rims], they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. (Ezek 1:18-21 KJV)
What awesome gleam and sound of the Almighty were above the four creatures?
Now over the heads of the living creatures there was something with the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads above. And underneath the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other.
I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters as they went, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. And there came a sound from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. (Ezek 1:22-25 LSB)
Who was above their heads that was gleaming, on a throne, like a man, a rainbow, radiant like fire with a voice? Was this to teach that God’s glory was no longer tied to the temple, but now mobile in a divine kind of chariot?
Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli [sapphire] in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His waist and upward something like gleaming metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. Like the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. (Ezek 1:26-28 NASB)
Is there a similar description seen by the Apostle John in Revelation?
Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev 4:6–8 NIV)
During the exile of Judah in Babylon, was there a young priest-prophet called to act out living parables as street theater, teaching tools? Does the entire book move from judgment to grace? You decide!
