Ezekiels name means god is strong compare ezekiel 3. The story of the prophet encountering god spawned merkavah mysticism, aptly named for the merkavah or. Even though there is much disagreement among commentators regarding the specific designation of the term thirtieth year, the thirtieth year is most appropriately designated as the thirtieth year of his life. The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. But ezekiels cherubim rise above natural objects, the gods of the heathen. Some references in ezekiel have striking similarities to the prophetic book of revelation. Apr 11, 20 what does god look like according to the bible. Outline of the book ezekiel s vision and commission ch. At specific points they open up portions of the vision for him to view richard draper, opening the seven seals. In this picture of the covering cherub, commonly known as satan in his original glory repro. Cooper installment 2 the call and commission of ezekiel. Ezekiels vision has been explained as being spacecraft with wheels and wings and other fanciful objects. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel observed by the prophet ezekiel.
The apostle paul explains satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of god to his exiled people. This is almost the same description of the cherubim found in ezekiel 1. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Aug 31, 2018 ezekiel 148 the bible from 30,000 feet skip heitzig flight eze01 duration. The story of the prophet encountering god spawned merkavah mysticism, aptly named for the merkavah or chariot on which ezekiel rode to the heavens.
For example the creatures and wheels were full of eyes. Ezekiels vison, in which the four classical elements surround and support the chariot of god by matthaeus matthaus merian public domain, via wikimedia commons. The four living creatures in the final book of the bible, revelation, theres a description of four living creatures 8 in addition to a description of the living creatures in ezekiel. Each of ezekiel s cherubim have four faces, that of a man, a lion, a cherub, and an eagle. Ezekielstill in babylonis taken by god back to the land of israel in visions as real as being on location similar to virtual reality. Now we need to see the conditions for seeing the visions.
Ezekiels visions of the cherubim before the throne of yahweh show that the mazzaroth, and telling time and seasons through the stars have a holy, as well as practical application. The first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel served as the textual starting point for the merkavah mysticsand hints at an image of god. Its not hard to understand that this represents god as all. And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel ezekiel 1. Ezekiel 1 nkjv ezekiels vision of god now it came bible. Ezekiel s vision of the four living creatures in ezekiel chapter 1 are identified as cherubim in chapter 10 who are gods throne bearers. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. Cherubim the mirror of god heaven and earth book 1 kindle edition by cheairs, l.
In ezekiel, lucifer is described as the anointed cherub. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his. The latter, though derived from the original revelation by tradition, came by corruption to symbolize the astronomical zodiac, or the sun and celestial sphere, by a circle with wings or irradiations. Yes, they appear as living and moving creatures, but they dont portray any living beings other than god and his attributes. Since this involves one of the more mysterious sections of scripture concerning ezekiels visions at the river chebar, i thought it might bless some folks to hear a biblical astronomy. The cherubim that ezekiel saw in visions were also symbols. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god.
Outline of the bookezekiels vision and commission ch. The appearance of the likeness of the glory of the lord ezekiel 1. Followers of this type of mysticism sought to recreate similar experiences and ascend into gods realm. Wheels supported the chariot throne, along with four unusual creatures identified as cherubim in ezek 10.
Jan 30, 2018 english translations of ezekiels vision often break down at the point where the prophet describes eyes. Celestial symbolism of the cherubim in ezekiels vision try. Ezekiels vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of god. He engages in startling symbolic activities to teach gods people. Ezekiel describes an angry storm approaching from the north. In the fifth day of the month,which was the fifth year of king jehoiachins captivity,the word of the lord came expressly unto ezekiel the priest,the son of buzi,in the land of the chaldeans by. How are we to understand ezekiels bizarre vision of the chariot in its historical. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of ezekiel in easy english. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling.
The prophet ezekiel is one of four major prophets along with isaiah, jeremiah, and daniel in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway. Indeed, ezekiel said that the sound emanating from the wings of the four cherubim was as the voice of the almighty, the voice of speech ezek 1. Storms of course, often serve as metaphors for impending doom. In the first verse of the book of ezekiel we are given the exact timing of the visions he received. On one hand, he was the son of buzi, despised by others, but on the other hand, he was ezekiel, strengthened by god.
He would have been familiar with the appearance of cherubim because the temple of solomon had numerous statues of cherubim. A depiction of ezekiel s astonishing, glorious, magnificent, vision of god as described in the bible at ezekiel chapter 1 and 10. Inside the storm, he sees light, referring possibly to hope but more likely, a symbolism representing god. The heavens were opened and, the prophet declares, i saw visions of god. Another difference lies in that in the previous passage the faces were listed as a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. As the book opens, we see how god strengthened him with powerful visions so he could perform the job he was called to do. The first recorded act and probable first mention of the cherubim is found in. It is generally accepted that the cherubim are a type of angel, although only lucifer is described as both a cherub and an angel. Ezekiels first vision four living creatures accompany a. The prophet describes massive visions of gods spiritual forces in action behind the scenes and blueprints for the future. His style is rich with parables, signs, allegories, visions, imagery, and symbolic actions in order to dramatize his messages.
Therefore, a portion of a book that has the search words in close proximity may have a higher ranking than another portion of a book that has a higher hit count but the words are not in close proximity to one another. Wheel fulfillment of ezekiels prophecy of the wheels. The sacred district around the temple, including the home of the priests, is immense. The visions and oracles of the prophet ezekiel by dr. One modern explanation is that ezekiel, on of the four great hebrew prophets, observed parhelia mock suns, a phenomenon caused by reflection from water droplets or minute particles in the earths atmosphere. Cherubim the mirror of god heaven and earth book 1. Sixteen times ezekiel says he saw living creatures. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness. Each of ezekiels cherubim have four faces, that of a man, a lion, a cherub, and an eagle. He was a practical theologian whose nature was deeply introspective. In comparison, the temple area in the time of christ was perhaps 500 yards square.
Cherubim as minor guardian deities of temple or palace thresholds are known all over the ancient east. Ezekiel is told to eat a scroll, just as the apostle john was told to eat a book in revelation. Ezekiels vision of god and the cherubim christian bible. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading cherubim the mirror of god heaven and earth book 1. The book of revelations living creatures exhibit strikingly similar traits, and represent the same things that ezekiels cherubim do. Ezekiels famous vision of the divine throne above the four living creatures with their wheels within wheels contains all the elements of lightning, fire, a whirlwind, and great noise that typically attend the great revelations of gods word. As the book opens, it is the thirtieth year probably the thirtieth year of his own life and the prophet is in babylon by the river chebar. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a. And i looked, and behold, the four wheels were beside the cherubim. Ezekiels vision of the four living creatures in ezekiel chapter 1 are identified as cherubim in chapter 10 who are gods throne bearers. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. Visions of judgment 411 the prophet receives a series of strange signs and visions that reveal the wickedness of the people and the coming judgment.
The heavens opened and the widely respected priest received a vision from god. A depiction of ezekiels astonishing, glorious, magnificent, vision of god as described in the. Celestial symbolism of the cherubim in ezekiels vision this blog post is a response to a recent question from one of the online forums i participate in. It was the fifth year of the exile of king when the word of god came to ezekiel. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiels inaugural vision. For the third time in his book ezekiel now sees the glory of the lord. A depiction of ezekiels astonishing, glorious, magnificent, vision of god as described in the bible at ezekiel chapter 1 and 10. Ayin occurs a number of places in the vision, but it is not always translated. Ezekiel s name means god is strong compare ezekiel 3. This blog post is a response to a recent question from one of the online forums i participate in.
Although some modern literalists explain this vision as spacecraft, it has a much deeper meaning. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work. In ezekiel 2 and 3 we read that the lord gives ezekiel a book and commands him to eat the book. Ezekiels vision of chariot in sky and a hand in the clouds holding out a book to him, c. Ezekiel s vision of chariot in sky and a hand in the clouds holding out a book to him, c. From israel s earliest days, there has been a recongition of the cherubim. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. The prophet ezekiel was one of the captives of the babylonian conquest in 606 b. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. The book of revelations living creatures exhibit strikingly similar traits, and. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures. Cherubim and seraphim explained cherubs and seraphs in.
The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. Its notable to recognize that ezekiel saw the storm approaching but then shifted his gaze to the four living. Blakes transformations of ezekiels cherubim vision in jerusalem. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex. And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians.
The astronomical nature of the cherubim pillar of enoch. Book of ezekiel ancient aliens theorists look to an ancient text of the bible called the book of ezekiel to examine the possibility of an ancient alien encounter. When ezekiel was 30 years old, in the late spring or summer of the year, he was living among the exiles by the river in the land of the babylonians. The prophet ezekiel was given an awesome vision when he was with the captives of judah at babylon in 594 bce. Ezekiels vision of the four living creatures in ezekiel chapter 1 are identified as cherubim in chapter 10 who. Since this involves one of the more mysterious sections of scripture concerning ezekiels visions at the river chebar. The visions of john the revelator, deseret book, 1991, p. Celestial symbolism of the cherubim in ezekiels vision. Mar 04, 2015 the sacred district around the temple, including the home of the priests, is immense. Ezekiels vision of gods chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism.
Ezekiel 148 the bible from 30,000 feet skip heitzig flight eze01 duration. Before we move on to discuss the appearance of the cherubim as seen by ezekiel, we need to understand that the book of ezekiel is highly symbolic. Traditional depiction of the cherubim and chariot vision as described by the prophet ezekiel each of the four living creatures had the face of a. Here ezekiel didnt describe four faces on each cherub, just the one face turned toward him. These wheels were associated with the four living creatures ezekiel 1. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very.