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?

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 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.

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.

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:

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!

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.

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.

(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".

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.)

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:

                                     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.

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.

[6] And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

[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.

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.

[9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Ezekiel 1:14
And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

[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)

[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.

Ezekiel 1:17
When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they 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.

[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.

[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.

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.

[12] And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel,

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...

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.

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.

[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.

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.

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.

[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.

"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)

[25] And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.

[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.

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)

[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.

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.

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.