And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a
great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about
it, and out of the midst thereof as the look of glowing brass out of
the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the
likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance;
they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and
every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the
sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they
sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands
of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had
their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another;
they turned not when they went; they went every one straight
forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face
of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four
had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face
of an eagle. And their faces and their wings were parted above; two
wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their
bodies. And they went every one straight forward: whither the
spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went. As for
the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like
burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: it went up
and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and
out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran
and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
And I looked at the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the
earth by the living creatures, toward their four faces. The
appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of
a chrysolite: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance
and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When
they went, they went upon their four sides: they turned not when
they went. As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and their
rims were full of eyes round about them four. 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.
Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither would 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. And there was the likeness of an expanse upon the heads of
the living creature as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched
forth over their heads above. And under the expanse their wings
straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered
on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side
their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings,
like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, a
tumultous voice, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let
down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was
over their heads, when they stood, they let down their wings.
And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of
a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the
likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man
above upon it. And I saw as the look of glowing brass, as the
appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his
loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even
downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had
brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the
cloud in 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 that spake.
Ezekiel describes the vision of God which he saw. It is one of the
greatest visions of the Bible. To explain all in this vision is beyond
any expositor. Much has been written on it which is extremely fanciful
and ridiculous. The vision is mentioned repeatedly in the book. In the
tenth chapter we meet it again. In chapter xi:22-23 the prophet beholds
the cherubim and the wheels and the glory of the Lord God above them.
The glory of Jehovah is seen departing from Jerusalem by way of the
mountain which is on the east side of the city (the Mount of Olives).
The last time this great vision is mentioned is in chapter xliii. "And
behold, the Glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the East;
and His voice was like the voice of many waters; and the earth was lit
up with His glory. And the appearance of the vision that I saw was
according to the vision that I had seen when I came to destroy the city;
and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar, and
I fell upon my face" (verses 2-4). We learn therefore that the vision
Ezekiel had was the vision of the glory of Jehovah. This much is clear.
The first chapter confirms this, for at the end of the vision the
statement is made: "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory
of Jehovah" (i:28). That it meant judgment upon the unfaithful city is
learned from the tenth chapter, where one is commanded to take coals of
fire from between the cherubim and to scatter them over the city
(compare this with Rev. viii:5). Then the Glory of Jehovah, Ezekiel had
seen, departed from the city. It left Jerusalem and the land by the East
(chapter xi:22-23). Ultimately that glory will return and cover the land
once more (chapter xliii:2-4).
The vision was seen coming from the North. This is generally applied to
mean the threatened judgment against Judea from Babylon. A storm cloud
of divine indignation was about to burst on Judea out of the North, that
is, from Babylon. However, another meaning is more than likely, inasmuch
as Babylon was not directly north of Jerusalem. In Psalm lxxv:6 we read:
"For promotion cometh neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from
the South." It is from the North, that is from above, that promotion, or
help comes. In Isaiah xiv:13 the North is also given as the place of the
throne of God. From out of the opened heavens from above, this great
vision was sweeping before the eyes of the priest-prophet. The
whirlwind, the cloud and the fire Ezekiel beholds first of all are
symbols of the divine glory and often mentioned in connection with His
manifestation. The Lord repeatedly appeared in a cloud. He led His
people by a pillar of cloud and of fire. Sinai was enveloped in a thick
cloud and Jehovah descended upon it in fire. David in describing a
theophany mentions the wind, clouds and fire (Ps. xviii:8-13). Read also
Habakkuk's great vision (Hab. iii). The whirlwind symbolizes Jehovah's
indignation. Jeremiah had announced the coming judgment under the figure
of the wind (Jere. iv:12-13). All Ezekiel saw as he looked up indicated
the presence of the God of Israel and His glory, ready to deal in
judgment with His unfaithful people.
Then the vision unfolds itself. First the living creatures are seen. The
tenth chapter calls them by the name of cherubim. They are the same
beings as described in Revelation iv:6-9. The cherubim are not
symbolical figures but real beings, for they are called "living
creatures." They are not angels but belong to another class. Four
cherubim Ezekiel beheld with faces of the lion, the ox, the eagle and
the face of man. Their position is beneath the Throne. But while they
had these four faces (representing God's creation) they had the likeness
of a man.
The likeness of a man as mentioned in Ezekiel's vision is significant.
First, the cherubim had "the likeness of a man" (verse 5). Then the
hands of a man were seen under their wings (verse 8). When Ezekiel
beheld the throne itself, the throne of God, he saw upon the throne "the
likeness as the appearance of a man." And this man upon the throne was
enshrouded in glory, with the rainbow about him. "And I saw as the color
of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the
appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his
loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had
brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the
cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round
about" (verse 27-28). That all this anticipates the Lord Jesus Christ,
and His exaltation upon the throne, government and judgment being given
into His hands, who is the glorified Man, cannot be questioned. The
application of the faces of the cherubim to the fourfold character of
our Lord as King, Servant, Man and Son of God is well known. However,
judgment in the government of God is in Ezekiel's vision the leading
reason of the prominence of these celestial beings. They occupy the same
position in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. When the
Lamb opens the first four seals, one of the cherubim speaks. These seals
are judgments. In Rev. xv:7 one of these living creatures hands to the
seven judgment angels the seven vials in which the wrath of God is
completed. "And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven
angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever
and ever." In this solemn capacity they appear in Ezekiel's vision as
the attendants of Jehovah's chariot and Jehovah's throne, which Ezekiel
beholds above the expanse above their heads. All indicates that this is
the right interpretation. For instance, verse 13. There we read of coals
of fire, as they appeared; lamps, or as it ought to be rendered, flaming
torches, and out of the bright fire came forth lightning. These are all
symbols of judgment. "And the living creatures ran and returned as the
appearance of a flash of lightning" (verse 14). It denotes the swiftness
of the threatened judgment.
And then the wheels and their work, the wheels in which there was the
spirit of these beings, their rims (not rings) full of eyes, the orderly
movements of these wheels under the direction of the spirit, is seen in
this vision. Much has been made of this. The most ridiculous
interpretation was made several years ago when some teacher declared
that Ezekiel had the vision of an--airship! The wheels are the wheels of
the chariot upon which rests the throne of God. They are representing
the purposes of God in His inerrant governmental dealings with the
earth. God controls it all and His Spirit directs every movement.
"Intelligence, strength, stability, and swiftness in judgment, and,
withal, the movement of the whole course of earthly events, depended on
the throne. This living energy animated the whole. The cherubic
supporters of the throne, full of eyes themselves, moved by it; the
wheels of God's government moved by the same spirit, and went straight
forward. All was subservient to the will and purpose of Him who sat on
the throne judging right. Majesty, government and providence united to
form the throne of His glory. But all the instruments of His glory were
below the firmament; He whom they glorified was above.[2]"
[2] Synopsis J. N. D.
That "the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain" is mentioned in
connection with the Throne itself and mentioned last in the vision has
a blessed meaning. It reminds us of Genesis ix:13-16. "I do set My bow
in the cloud and it shall be for a token of my covenant between Me and
the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the
earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud.... And the bow shall be
in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the
everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh
that is upon the earth." The judgment by water was past, and upon the
dark storm-cloud, which had retreated, the beautiful bow, the sign of
God's mercy, appeared. God always remembers mercy in His wrath. Israel's
hour of judgment had come, but the bow about the throne promised mercy
to His people according to "His everlasting covenant." Judgment-vision
and predictions of judgment stand first in Ezekiel's prophecy; mercy,
restoration and glory are revealed after the storm-cloud has passed.
Thus Ezekiel beheld the Glory of Jehovah as He himself was commissioned
by the Word of Jehovah to make it known to the people.
Chapter ii-iii:14.