The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #8001

God visits Ezekiel in his flying machine.

INTRODUCTION

You're going love this Book of Ezekiel! It is jam packed with exciting visions, descriptions of high-technology, and information about events that are taking place even now and on into the future. This Book of Ezekiel also contains more detailed information about the Millennium, the 1000 reign of Jesus Christ with His saints, the zadok, than any other book in the Bible including the Book of Revelation.

The name "EZEK-I-EL" means "God is Strong" or "Whom God will Strengthen." Often people when studying the Bible overlook the fact that names have significant meaning. "El" in Hebrew means God and is the suffix (actually it is the prefix in Hebrew because Hebrew is read from right to left) of many names such as:

Samu-el = Asked of God or God-heard
Ezeki-el = El is strong or God strengthens
Dani-el = God is Judge
Jo-el = Yah is God
Micha-el = Who is like unto God?
Then we have the names beginning or ending with (Y)ah, God's covenant name:
Isai-ah = The Salvation of God
Jeremi-ah = Whom God raises up, launches forth
Obadi-ah = Servant of God
Zephani-ah = Hidden of God
Zechari-ah = Remembered of God
Mic-ah = Who is like God?
Yah-shua = God's Savior = Jesus
Ezekiel was the son of Buzi, and not only was he a great prophet during the Babylonian captivity, but just like Jeremiah, he was also a priest. He was taken captive in the captivity of Jehoiachin, who was the son of Jehoiakim, the 19th king of Judah. However, Jehoiachin reigned only 3 months and 10 days before the king of Babylon came and took him and all the best men and their families and treasures to Babylon.

Ezekiel thus became a member of a community of these exiles from Judah, who settled on the banks of the Chebar river, and it was there, by that river that God personally visited him.

That's right! There's no typo!

What an awesome experience and sight that must have been, the details of which we will read about, in this first chapter.

They say (whoever they are) that behind every good and strong man there is woman, keeping him in line of course, and giving him strength. Anyway, Ezekiel was definitely married (Remember Ezekiel means "God strengthens" so now you know how He does it, heh, heh.) and also had a house in his place of exile (Ezek. 8:1) where he lived in high regard among his companions and the elders consulted him on all occasions. Unfortunately, Ezekiel's wife died in the year when the siege of Jerusalem began by a sudden and unforeseen stroke.

The Book of Ezekiel covers a 21 year period from about 484 B.C. to 463 B.C. but ranges in subject matter dating from the world that then was to the world to yet come, even from desolation to restoration. If you have a Companion Bible there is a complete outline on page 1104 giving you an overview of the entire book.

Let's begin our study.

Ezekiel 1:1
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
It is recorded in Jeremiah 29:1 that Jeremiah sent a letter to the priests and prophets of the captivity. There can be little doubt therefore that Ezekiel, both a priest and a prophet, had seen and read that letter from Jeremiah. The timeframe he gives then is a continuation in the chain of prophecy and a key to understanding not only the time of the first advent, but of the captivity by the coming "king of Babylon" (Satan) preceding second advent. We will deal with some dates (as speculation) at a later time when we have more pieces to the puzzle.

We need also to understand that the prophets wrote these things for us TODAY, in this final generation.

The prophet Daniel, a contemporary of Ezekiel, was specifically told in chapter 12 of his book to seal up the words of his prophecy until the time of the end, when the wise would understand. They would understand because there would be a geometric increase in knowledge; knowledge of His Word and secular knowledge as well. It is this increase in knowledge that will enable us to understand this first chapter of Ezekiel (as well as the rest of the book.) Peter also documents in 1 Pet. 1:12 that the revelations of the prophets were for us, not for themselves. Again, this is important to keep in mind even as we read the events in this first chapter.

Therefore understand, that until this Modern Space Age, NO ONE has been able to fully understand, i.e. no one has been able to "See the Visions" the way that Ezekiel saw them. But the benchmarks have been given, such as the planting of the fig tree on May 15, 1948, marking the final generation, and the Signs of the Heavens are declaring that we are in the final stages of the sign of LEO, i.e. we are in the LAST DAYS. That being the case, you are witnessing a fulfillment of Acts 2:17, which is also a quote from the prophet Joel as Peter explained.

Let's read it and then examine it.

Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Do you believe we are in the last days?
OK, then this prophecy has to and is coming to pass, right now!
Hello?

God is pouring out His spirit on all flesh, i.e. worldwide, through the sons and daughters of the disciples of Almighty God, i.e. His children, both male and female. And they are PROPHESYING, i.e. TEACHING the PROPHETS. And because of the increase in knowledge of these last days, and through the Spirit that He is pouring out upon His servants, we are able to SEE THE VISIONS that the prophets saw! YES!

What did you think when you read Acts 2:17?
That people would start to dream up New Stuff, "new visions"?

There is nothing new under the sun!
It has all been written before, of old, in His Word.
Jesus Christ has foretold us all things, in His Word.
He said so Himself in Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."

Is this not the most awesome time to live in the history of mankind?

It is so fascinating and exhilarating to see the scriptures come to pass almost daily!

So get ready to "see" Ezekiel's 1st Vision.

Here it is:

[2] In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
 

[3] The word of the LORD came expressly unto 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.

When the word of God comes expressly to a man of God and the LORD personally takes hold of him, i.e. personally shows up to speak to him, you can bet that what He has to say is of utmost importance. Now understand what is about to be described: As the last few words of verse one declare, the heavens are opened up for Ezekiel, the veil between the dimensions is parted, and good old Ezekiel is ABOUT TO SEE GOD.

Of course God doesn't fly around like Casper the Friendly Ghost. You should know that He has a Beautiful and Magnificent Palace and Throne in heaven, which John colorfully describes in the Book of Revelation. And He sits on His throne, surrounded by the 4 Zoon, living beings, and the Shekinah Glory sparkles and flashes forth from His Throne like a Prism or Rainbow of Colored Lightning.

Now let's think just a moment before we go on. Do you think God's technology was any less sophisticated back in the days of Ezekiel, that it is today? Creation hasn't changed, and man hasn't even come close to matching the wonders and intricacies of the universe. But even so, imagine if you will, trying to describe Television, or a 747 Jumbo Jet, or a Microwave oven, or even a Cellular Telephone to someone just 300 years ago. Electricity hadn't even been discovered then. You couldn't use even simple words like plastic or batteries, etc., in your description.

Think about it, because what you are about to read is the description of the high-tech, shall we say interstellar vehicles, that came from heaven, with the throne of God on board one of them. If you must look ahead to verse 26 to document that, then by all means do so. However, Ezekiel had only a very limited vocabulary based on nature and the elements and the primitive technology and transportation of his day, like wheeled carts and chariots pulled by animals.

Here is Ezekiel's description of what he saw as translated in the King James Bible. 

We will note other translations to help with clarity:

Ezek. 1:4
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 colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
Please note the definition of two words used in this verse, for it will help in understanding the other translations:
(1) The word "colour" used here is the Hebrew word "ayin" which literally or figuratively means "eye", and is used here in the sense of "to see" or "appeared as".

(2) The word "amber" is "chashmal" and means "polished spectrum metal" or "shiny polished bronze".

So as verse 1 says, the heavens opened up and Ezekiel looked and saw what appeared to be a storm of fast moving clouds coming toward him, and "a mass of fire that flashed continually; and in the fire there was something that shone like polished brass" (Living Bible).

Here are two more shots:

"I saw a storm wind coming from the north, a vast cloud with flashes of fire and brilliant light about it; and within was a radiance like brass, glowing in the heart of the flames". (N.E.B.)

"I looked; a stormy wind blew from the north, a great cloud with light around it, a fire from which flashes of lightning darted, and in the center a sheen like bronze at the heart of the fire." (J.B.)

Do you begin to get the picture?

Needless to say, Ezekiel had never seen a plane, or a jet, or a helicopter, or a rocket, or a Space Shuttle. Imagine him trying to describe some UFOs coming directly toward him. That is exactly what he is doing. Hang in there, there's more! Don't forget, you are fortunate in that you have the ability to understand what Ezekiel is describing here, because of the increased knowledge and technology of this generation.

Now, before we read any further, let's go to our study of Revelation chapter 4 and review some excerpts concerning our Father's throne.

This is the apostle John speaking.
Rev. 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Wow, here we go! John saw a throne in heaven and Someone was sitting on it. Guess who?
[3] And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Notice that He who sat on the throne was likened unto beautiful, translucent gemstones, the significance of which we'll discuss shortly. For now, just see the picture.

Now also visualize in your mind's eye a beautiful rainbow glowing about the throne with its magnificent prisms of light beaming forth.

You are "seeing" the "shekinah glory" of Almighty God.

[6] And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
What John saw he described as a sea of glass which resembled crystal before the throne. Can you imagine all this?  It must have been absolutely stunning in beauty and brilliance and purity!

Perhaps it is unfortunate that the translators of the King James Bible used the word "beasts" to describe these living beings. Today the word "beast" is often synonymous with "monster" and is used to describe creatures such as Godzilla and one's spouse. But then again, if very few people ever even read the Book of Revelation, especially since many ministers tell folks they'll be gone in a "rapture" and don't need to read it, what difference does it make? The wise in this generation will check it out anyway. And so it is that the Greek word used here is "zoon" and simply means "living being".

And once again, there is nothing really new described here by John, for we have record of these entities elsewhere in God's Word. Their first mentioned way back in the Book of Genesis, for these "zoa" are the cherubim of Genesis 3:24 that were placed at the east of the garden of Eden to prevent access to the "Tree of Life", i.e. they were guards whose purpose was to protect.

Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
And so it is that these "zoon" are cherubim, guards, that stand at the throne of God.

John now gives us a more detailed description of their appearance:
Rev. 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
If this is new to you, if this is the first time you're reading about the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle, then you are probably perplexed and filled with wonderment. That is why the Book of Revelation seems mysterious and sounds bizarre to some!  But once you become familiar with the Word of God and have read it all with some degree of understanding these beings will be appear completely natural to you.

Let's read one more verse describing the "zoon".

[8] And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
These guards do not require sleep and they are not capable of exercising free will that could lead to rebellion.

The phrases "full of eyes before and behind" and "full of eyes within" come from a figure of speech which has lost its meaning in the translation from Greek into English. It simply means that they looked all around, a thing which guards do. It is much the same as the "flaming sword which turned every way" in Genesis 3.

We've discussed figures of speech in previous studies. In English, for example, when a person dies we might say "he kicked the bucket". That is a figure of speech that has nothing to do with buckets. It means he died. But such is not a figure of speech in French. So if we translate "kicked the bucket" into French, the Frenchman would never think of death (except dying while trying to figure out why some poor Christian would be kicking buckets around).

Let's now go back even farther in the Word, to the Book of Numbers, chapter 2, and understand what these symbols are. If you are fortunate to have a Companion Bible, on page 181 you will find a diagram of the encampment of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness of Sinai. Each of the Twelve Tribes had its own standard, i.e. flag, which went before them.

Look! The standard of Judah is the lion, the standard of Reuben is a man, the standard of Ephraim is the bull, ox, and the standard of Dan is the eagle.

The encampment from the Book of Numbers:

                                                      (N)
                                     DAN
                                (Eagle)
 
 

(W)      EPHRAIM                                JUDAH      (E)
         (Taurus)                                    (Lion)
 
 

                                   REUBEN
                                    (a Man)

                                        (S)

Mysterious symbols in the Book of Revelation? Not so!  You will also notice that Judah is on the east side. Read Ezek. 1:10. It says the lion was on the right side! Of course it was!
Rev. 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
When the living beings give glory and honour and thanks, then:
[10] The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
[11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
He has created all things for His pleasure, which includes you and me. We have our children to give us pleasure and company and family. If you have ever had children, and one of them comes to you and puts his or her arms around your neck, and gives you a big hug and kiss, and says "Mommy (or Daddy), I love you", then you will know the joy and the pleasure which our Father seeks from His children.
Do you see that there are 4 Living Beings, the 4 Zoon, present at the throne of God. John saw them and described them for us as looking like, a Lion, a Calf, a Man, and an Eagle. These are exactly the same as the Standards, the flags, of the tribes of His people Israel.

Well, guess what? These same 4 Living Beings are coming toward Ezekiel in their highly polished bronze vehicles. How exciting!

When the President of the United States travels overseas to visit a foreign leader, he hops aboard Air Force One which takes off and is then escorted by Fighter Jets to his destination.

You and I have no problem whatsoever understanding what was just described, because we have actually seen 5 tons of shiny metal fly so many times that it is not at all unusual to us. It's normal everyday life. 

But imagine someone 2500 years ago who actually saw something like a Jumbo 747 and four F-17 Fighter jets land right before his very eyes!

Well, Ezekiel did see "something like that", only the vehicles that he saw were circular and more high-tech than our crude propulsion aircraft of the 21st century!

Ezekiel actually saw Universe One, carrying the King of Kings on board, escorted by the Four Zoon, the Guardian Cherubim, piloting their Highly Polished Bronze Vehicles (as Ezekiel called them). Later on in chapter 10 of his book, he will call them "Flying Wheels"! Got it?

Let's pick up the action as Ezekiel sees this Vision of a Lifetime and tries his best to describe it for you and me!

Ezekiel 1:5
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.
Keep in mind that Ezekiel sees both these shiny space craft vehicles with the four emblems of the four faces, i.e. the standards of Israel, painted or perhaps carved on them (as all aircraft have, like the Presidential Seal is on Air Force One), and the Zoon that are INSIDE the vehicles as verses 20-21 document.
[6] And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Since these vehicles are circular, like saucers, these four faces would be emblazoned on them exactly as the standards of the encampment of Israel in their North, South, East, and West positions with, as verse 10 will show, the Lion on the right side!
[7] 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.
If you lived 2500 years ago and had never seen a flying machine of any kind, how would you describe tripod style landing gear? Think of the Eagle that landed on the moon and its landing pods, like the sole of a calf's foot, at the end of the un-jointed gear (straight feet). The landing gear on these vehicles didn't have wheels because they did not need to roll down a runway to lift off, for they used a technology for propulsion that man hasn't discovered yet.

This incredible sight must have blown Ezekiel's mind!

Ezekiel 1:8
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Ezekiel is still describing the vehicle's structure and decals, or emblems.
[9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
This was amazing to Ezekiel. These vehicles not only flew in perfect formation, like the Blue Angels, with their wings tips together, but they always faced forward no matter which direction they went. A helicopter can pretty much do that, but there is nothing in the universe as fast and mobile as these highly polished bronze vehicles that Ezekiel saw!

The next verse gives the same exact description of the four faces as we read about in Rev. chapter 4 concerning the Zoon, the four Cherubim Guards at the throne of God. They are the same faces as the N, S, E, W standards (emblems or banners) of God's nation of Israel in Numbers 2. There is nothing strange about this at all.

Ezekiel 1:10
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.
Here's Rev. 4:7 just as a reminder and a comparison to show how perfect and consistent the Word of God is from the Law (Num. 2), to the Prophets (Ezek. 1), to the Revelation (Rev. 4). Our Father is same Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.
Rev. 4:7
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
These four Living Beings are always "round about the throne" of God in heaven. And when He left heaven to visit Ezekiel, they naturally came along and stayed "round about the throne", which Ezek. 1:26 shows was on board the mother ship in midst of these four vehicles .
Rev. 4:6
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Ezekiel continues:
Ezekiel 1:11
Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.

[12] And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

This really does not take much of an imagination for 21st century mankind, especially for the generation that grew up with Star Trek and the U.S.S. Enterprise.

How would a person 2500 years ago describe energy cells, beacons, flashing laser beams, etc.? How about just something as simple as the colored lights on top of a police cruiser?

[13] As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Remember, the pilots of these "Flying Wheels" are the four Zoon and wherever they go there is an intense brightness.
Ezekiel 1:14
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
That about describes how fast UFOs go, according to those who claim to have seen them. Ezekiel says they are as fast as a flash of lighting. When the Zoon go Zoooom, they're gone!
[15] Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
"As I stared at all of this, I saw four wheels on the ground beneath them, one wheel belonging to each." (Living Bible)
Ezekiel calls these circular flying discs, wheels. I mean, what other terminology could he use. I suppose he could have called them flying pancakes. But the words "flying saucer" would not be coined until the generation that was able to understand what he saw was born. You see, these "wheels" were not rolling vertically like those on a chariot. They were horizontal, which we will see in vs. 17.
[16] The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
The four wheels all had the same appearance like sparkling chrysolite and interspaced with the wheel in the middle, where the throne of God is and He who sits on it, both of which we will read about soon.
Ezekiel 1:17
When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
These "wheels" did not go like the wheels Ezekiel was used to seeing roll alongside his cart. They were horizontal, on their sides, and when they flew they didn't even turn or spin. They just went!

Imagine Ezekiel seeing all of this! Are you able to see (understand) what he saw?

Some people don't think that there are any "things" in the spiritual dimension, so that when you die and go to heaven (assuming you have accumulated enough points by going to church regularly and making sufficient monetary contributions to be in good standing on the church roster) you really go sit on some cloud and play a harp, and sing "Holy, Holy, Holy" all day long. Wait a minute, harps ARE things! How do they reconcile that?

Note: I'm not knocking going to church or giving, but for some that's about all their Christianity consists of and they ignore His Word.

Then too, many folks tell their kids that Santa Claus travels around the world in his sleigh pulled by his cherubims, the reindeer, lead by Ruldolph, and they go forth as a flash carrying he who brings gifts and good tidings to the world from out of the "north". Ho, ho, ho? Not so! It makes you wonder if someone isn't sort of mocking Ezekiel chapter 1, doesn't it? What do the Zoon at the throne of God say? Rev. 4:8 "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

Would Satan mock God and His mode of transportation? Do you think our Father looks like the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent fat boy dressed in red and white? White robes are the dress of the saints and their Christ. Rev. 19:13 says concerning the description of Christ, "And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." And how about Santa's white beard and hair? Rev. 1:14 "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;" Oh, that was Christ's description, not Santa's. Hmmm.

Anyway, here's another question to consider. What have you always been taught happened to Elijah, the great prophet? I don't know about you, but I was taught that he got sucked up into the middle of a giant whirlwind. This belief was confirmed when I saw the Hollywood movie, "The Wizard of Oz", and Dorothy and Toto made the trip by tornado to Munchkin Land.

But is that really what happened to Elijah? Let's check it out.

2 Kings 2:1
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
This word "whirlwind" is the EXACT same Hebrew word "caar" that Ezekiel saw coming toward him from out of the north. You can read the entire account in 2 Kings, so let's skip to verse 9:
[9] And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
[10] And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
Elisha will see Elijah taken up in a "whirlwind".
[11] And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Look up the word "chariot" in Strong's Concordance.

 It is:
rekeb, reh'-keb, Hebrew 7393; from Hebrew 7392 (rakab); a vehicle; by implication a team; by extensive cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the upper millstone :- chariot, (upper) millstone, multitude [from the margin], wagon.
This was not bad weather! It was same the highly polished bronze fiery vehicle that Ezekiel describes in more detail. This one landed between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah was taken on board and up he went into the heavens! Yes, he flew bye, bye!

I know someone is going to ask,
"Are you saying that Elijah was taken up in a UFO 
(Unidentified Flying Object)?
"

The answer is NO!
He was taken up in an IFO (Identified Flying Object),
for Ezekiel identified them for us.

Again, no one until the 20th century could have even asked that question, much less have it understood!

Think about it.

[12] And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel,
How would Elisha have known it was the CHARIOT of ISRAEL, unless he saw the EMBLEMS of ISRAEL, i.e. the faces of the LION, the MAN, the OX, and the EAGLE?

If you saw a plane land with the American Eagle on it you would KNOW that it was a UNITED STATES PLANE, right?

[12 cont.] ... and the horsemen thereof...
Here's the word for "horsemen":
parash, paw-rawsh', Hebrew 6571; from Hebrew 6567 (parash); a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting [compare Hebrew 5483 (c*uwc*)]); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collective) cavalry :- horseman.
Yep, Elisha saw the same chariot drivers that Exekiel saw!
[The words "aviation pilots" and "astronauts" didn't exist, 2500 years ago .]

Isn't this fascinating?

Well, guess what?
You may get your chance to see some vehicles like these real soon.
We'll talk about that later in this Book of Ezekiel.
Just know for now that they do exist.

Let's return to Ezekiel and finish reading his description of these "chariots of fire"!

Ezekiel 1:18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
The word "dreadful" is better translated "awesome" for us today! These circular vehicles had windows around them that Ezekiel could see into, and there were living creatures inside (vs. 20)!
[19] 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.
This is no big deal to us. When the plane takes off, all those we see through the port holes go up too! But imagine Ezekiel seeing this 2500 years ago! How awesome indeed it must have been. It isn't written but I'll bet it "knocked his socks off"! (Don't you just love figures of speech?)
Ezekiel 1:20
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.
The living creature, the Zoon, was in the vehicle and Ezekiel could see him!
Ezekiel 1:21
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.
He just couldn't get over this, could he?
Shiny spectrum metal wheels with living beings inside that just take off into the sky, with the beings inside, and whiz around and land at will.
Unbelievable, to him.
[22] And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
Try these translations:
"Above the heads of the living creatures was, as it were, a vault glittering like a sheet of ice, awe-inspiring, stretched over their heads above them." (N.E.B.) or...

"The sky spreading out above them looked as though it were made of crystal; it was inexpressibly beautiful." (Living Bible)

[23] And under the firmament were 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 under the vault their wings were level, each with one pair touching the next Creature and one pair covering its body." (Moffat)
Ezekiel 1:24
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
"And as they flew, their wings roared like waves against the shore, or like the voice of God, or like the shouting of a mighty army. When they stopped they let down their wings." (Living Bible)
These verses are pretty much self explanatory when you know what is being described. They "let down their wings" when they stood? Sure, they lowered their landing gear! Only our generation of these end times can really understand it. Even Ben Franklin and company would be unable to grasp this, because they never saw "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
[25] And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
Wait until we read whose voice this is!
[26] And above the firmament 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.
There was a throne, like a sapphire stone, and Someone was sitting on it!
Ezekiel 1:27
And I saw as the colour 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.
"From His waist up, he seemed to be all glowing bronze, dazzling like fire; and from his waist down he seemed to be entirely flame, and there was a glowing halo like a rainbow all around him." (Living Bible)
These same descriptions can be read in Rev. 1 and Rev. 4.
[28] 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.
The rainbow that surrounds the throne of God is the "Shekinah Glory", that Sparkling Prism Radiance that is present wherever He goes. John saw it when he was taken to the throne in heaven, and Ezekiel saw it when the heavenly throne was brought to him.

Here's John's matching account:

Rev. 4:2
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

[3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

So there you have it.
The Creator of the Universe has decided to personally come down from heaven in His vehicle, ISRAEL ONE, to speak to the priest and the prophet, Ezekiel! What an honor and a privilege for Ezekiel! Of course he is flat on his face right now, probably shaking in his boots (without his socks, which have been blown off).

Now, this is extremely important!
Even as it would be this final generation of the last days that God would pour out His Spirit upon, to be able to see [understand] the vision that Ezekiel saw, so too is it for this last generation to understand what God is about to tell Ezekiel.
Why?
Because it was given to him for this generation, because it applies to this final generation.

I keep repeating over and over again: We live in the most exciting time in the history of mankind, bar none!

Sure, Ezekiel got see these vehicles, and he did a great and magnificent job of describing them for us! And just as stunning a sight as it was for Ezekiel... get ready... for we will get to see things, including the vehicles, in the very near future that will be even more spectacular.


To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


This"American Wisdom Series" pamphlet

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address: americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration, or e-mail us
at the address shown on our home page.

Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.