The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1204 Ezek kc 1-2

 Imagine Ezekiel trying to describe some UFOs coming directly toward him.

                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.

[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?

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.

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.


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