Journal Through the Bible: Week 80 Tuesday

source

Ezekiel chapter 1

This book opens with Ezekiel's vision of Heaven and a view of the Throne room of God! What an awesome way to begin!

This vision was received in the 5th year of King Jehoiachin's captivity. Remember Jehoiachin? He was also called Jeconiah or Coniah. He was the son of Jehoiakim and the grandson of Josiah. God cursed Jehoiachin and said that his posterity would never sit upon the throne of David.

Does God issue any commands?

• God does not speak in this chapter.

Does God make any promises?

• God does not speak in this chapter.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The image of the four living creatures that were one is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ as presented in the gospels. Ezekiel saw the face of a man: the gospel of Luke presents Jesus' humanity; he saw the face of a lion: Matthew presents Jesus as King of the Jews from the tribe of Judah; he saw the face of an ox: Mark presents Jesus as the suffering servant, the one who bears our burdens; and he saw an eagle: John presents Jesus as God. Jesus is God and Man, King and Servant and yet He is One! This is what Ezekiel saw. Notice also that the living creatures never turned but went straight forward toward whichever direction they wanted to go. James 1:17 says that with God there is no shadow of turning. He does as He wills. The living creature moved as in a flash of lightning just as the Word of God is swift and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword. John tells us that Jesus is the Word. The living creatures also included an apparatus of wheels with eyes in every direction. This might signify the omniscience and omnipresence of God. The spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
• The man on the Throne had the same appearance as the man that visited Daniel and that John saw in his vision recorded in Revelation. John was specifically told that the man was Jesus in his vision! (See Daniel 10:95-6 and Revelation 1:9-20)

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Revelation 4:7 tells of John's vision of the living creatures before the Throne leading worship to God. We will participate in the worship service there.
• The vision of the Throne, the rainbow around it, the living creatures, the appearance of Jesus as brighter than the sun are all sights we will see with our own eyes when faith becomes sight.