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EZEKIEL 1:1-28
LESSON #2
THE GLORY OF THE LORD
MEMORYVERSE: PSALMS 8:1
v THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL BEGINS WITH AFANTASTIC VISION OF THE GLORY OF GOD. IT IS A GLIMPSE INTO HEAVEN ITSELF.
v EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT THE HAND OFTHE LORD WAS THERE UPON HIM (3)
Ø HE WILL USE THIS PHRASE TO INTRODUCEEACH OF HIS 7 REVELATIONS FROM GOD.
v READ EZE 1:1-3 INTRODUCTION TO A VISION 593 BC
Ø EZEKIEL HAD BEEN IN THE BABYLONIANCAPTIVITY FOR 5 YEARS WHEN HE SAW THIS VISION.
Ø EZEKIEL WAS 30 YEARS OLD. WITH THISVISION GOD CALLS HIM TO BE A PROPHET INSTEAD OF A PRIEST.
§ IT IS INTERESTING THAT THIS BOOK BEGINSWITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THE ULTIMATE DESIRE OF A PRIEST WAS TO SEE THE PRESENCE OF GODONCE A YEAR IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. HOWEVER, EZEKIEL IS NOT IN JERUSALEM. HE CANNOTFUNCTION AS A PRIEST AWAY FROM THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. HE HAS NO HOPE TO SEE THE GLORY OFGOD! AND YET, GOD DOES WHAT MAN DOES NOT EXPECT. HE SHOWS EZEKIEL HIS GLORY.
v READ EZE 1:4-14 THE MANIFESTATION OF THE PRESENCE OFGOD
Ø SYMBOLS OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD:
§ WHEN EZEKIEL SAW THE PRESENCE OF GOD,HE DISCOVERED THAT HUMAN VOCABULARY IS EXTREMELY INADEQUATE TO DESCRIBE THIS GLORIOUSPRESENCE. THEREFORE, IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO DESCRIBE A SPIRITUAL BEING, HE USES VISUALPICTURES AND SYMBOLS. THESE, TOO, ARE VERY INADEQUATE, BUT THEY ARE THE BEST THAT MAN CANDO. REMEMBER, IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT AN INTERPRETATION, WE WILL USE THE BIBLE ITSELF TOEXPLAIN THESE VISIBLE SYMBOLS.
§ A WHIRLWIND OUT OF THE NORTH (4)
· THE BIBLE CONSISTENTLY SAYS THAT THELOCATION OF GODS THRONE IS IN THE NORTH BEYOND THE CELESTIAL HEAVENS. (ISA 14:13 ISA 48:2 PSA 75:5-7)
· THE BIBLE USES THE SYMBOL OF AWHIRLWIND TO INDICATE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF THE LORD:. ( 2KI 2:1 JOB 38:1 PRO 10:25 ISA66:15)
§ A BURNING FIRE
· THERE ARE TWO ACTIONS TO FIRE THAT THEBIBLE USES IN RELATION TO GOD:
¨ 1. FIRE IS USED TO CLEANSE AND BURN OUTTHE USELESS PARTS. (1COR 3:13-15)
¨ 2. FIRE IS USED TO DESTROY (REV 19:20)
· OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE (HEB 12:29)
¨ THE IDEA PORTRAYED BY THE WORDCONSUMING IS THAT NOTHING IS WORTHY OR ABLE TO STAND IN GODS PRESENCE;THAT NOTHING IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND TOTAL DESTRUCTION.
¨ THE IDEA OF BRIGHTNESS OF LIGHT IS ALSOCONVEYED BY THE WORD FIRE.
Ø JESUS SAID HE WAS THE LIGHT OF THEWORLD (JOH 8:12).
Ø THE SHEKINAH GLORY IN THE TABERNACLEAND THE PILLAR OF FIRE BY NIGHT THAT LED THE ISRAELITES THROUGH THE WILDERNESS (EXO 13:21)IS THE SAME PRESENCE OF GODS GLORY.
¨ THE IDEA OF AN ETERNAL BEING IS ALSO PORTRAYED BY THE WORD FIRE THAT NEVER GOESOUT.
Ø THIS IS THE SAME GOD THAT APPEARED TOMOSES IN THE BURNING BUSH. (EXO 3:2)
Ø THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES (5-14)
§ WHO ARE THEY?
· LATER IN THE BOOK, EZEKIEL TELLS USTHEY ARE CHERUBIM ANGELS. (EZE 10:20)
¨ READ GEN 3:24
Ø THESE ANGELS HAVE THE JOB OF GUARDINGTHE PRESENCE OF GOD:
§ THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (EXO 26:1,31; 36:8,35)
§ THE MERCY OF GOD (EXO 25:22; 37:9)
§ THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD (1SAM 4:4 PSA80:1
PSA 99:1 EZE 1:22,26)
· THEY ARE THE ANGELS CLOSEST TO GOD.
¨ GOD TOLD MOSES TO MAKE A TABERNACLE INTHE WILDERNESS JUST LIKE THE TABERNACLE IN HEAVEN. HE MADE GOLDEN CHERUBIM ANGELS TO GUARDTHE MERCY SEAT OVER WHICH THE PRESENCE OF GOD DWELT. (EXO 25:19)
· THE APPEARANCE OF THE CHERUBIM:
¨ THE LIKENESS OF A MAN (5)
Ø IN OTHER WORDS THEY HAD THE APPEARANCELIKE THE BODY OF A MAN.
§ EXCEPT THEY HAD 4 WINGS. (6,8)
· THIS PORTRAYS AN ABILITY OF MOVEMENTAND ACTIVITY.
§ EXCEPT THEY HAD FEET LIKE A COWSHOOF. (7)
· IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD SPECIFIEDCERTAIN ANIMALS AS EITHER CEREMONIALLY CLEAN OR UNCLEAN. THE DETERMINATION WAS MADEACCORDING TO AN ANIMALS HOOF AND WHETHER OR NOT HE CHEWED HIS FOOD. (LEV 11:3)
¨ THEREFORE, THE HOOF OF A COW INDICATESTHAT THE ANGELS ARE CEREMONIALLY CLEAN BEINGS.
§ EXCEPT THEY WERE THE COLOR OF BRONZE(7) AND THEY WERE VERY BRIGHT LIKE LAMPS (13)
· BRONZE IS A BIBLICAL SYMBOL OF TESTING.
¨ THESE ANGELS HAVE PROVED THEIRFAITHFULNESS TO GOD.
§ THEIR WINGS TOUCHED EACH OTHER (9)
· THE ILLUSTRATION SEEMS TO INDICATE THATTHEY FORMED A SQUARE AROUND THE CHARIOT.
¨ THEY WERE IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACHOTHER.
¨ THE FOUR FACES (6,10)
Ø THESE FOUR FACES PORTRAY THE HIGHESTFORMS OF LIFE CREATED BY GOD TO INHABIT THE EARTH.
Ø THESE FOUR FACES PORTRAY THE WAY GODHAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. THE BIBLE REVEALS JESUS TO US INTHE 4 GOSPELS:
§ 1. THE FACE OF A MAN
· THE BOOK OF LUKE REVEALS JESUSHUMANITY.
· MAN IS THE HIGHEST FORM OFINTELLIGENCE.
§ 2. THE FACE OF A LION
· THE BOOK OF MATTHEW REVEALS JESUS ASTHE KING OF KINGS.
¨ THE LION IS CONSIDERED THE KING OFBEASTS.
¨ JESUS IS CALLED THE LION OF THE TRIBEOF JUDAH. (REV 5:5)
· THE LION IS THE HIGHEST FORM OFSTRENGTH IN WILD ANIMALS.
§ 3. THE FACE OF AN OX
· THE BOOK OF MARK REVEALS JESUS AS THEBEARER OF MANS BURDENS IN THE SAME WAY AN OX CARRIES MANS BURDENS.
· THE OX IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF STRENGTHIN DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.
§ 4. THE FACE OF AN EAGLE
· THE BOOK OF JOHN REVEALS JESUS AS THESON OF GOD IN THE SAME WAY AN EAGLE FLIES HIGHER TO THE HEAVENS THAN ANY OTHER BIRD.
· THE EAGLE IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLYINGANIMALS.
Ø THESE FOUR FACES WERE SYMBOLS ON THEBANNERS OF FOUR OF THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL
§ MAN = TRIBE OF REUBEN
§ LION = TRIBE OF JUDAH
§ OX = TRIBE OF EPHRAIM
§ EAGLE = TRIBE OF DAN
§ WHEN THE ISRAELITES CAMPED IN THEWILDERNESS, THEY FORMED A CROSS WITH THE ARK AND THE LEVITES IN THE CENTER. AT THE FOUR POINTS OF THE CROSS WERE THE 4 BANNERS WITHTHESE SYMBOLS.
§ THE ACTIVITY OF THE 4 CHERUBIM:
· THEY WENT EVERY ONE STRAIGHTFORWARD WHEREVER THE SPIRIT WAS TO GO (12)
¨ THESE ANGELS FOLLOW THE PRESENCE ANDDIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
· THE LIVING CREATURES RAN ANDRETURN ED LIKE THE APPEARANCE OF A FLASH OF LIGHTNING (14)
¨ THESE ANGELS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY ANDVERY FAST.
v READ EZE 1:15-25 THE GREAT CHARIOT OF GOD
Ø THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY SAYTHAT EZEKIEL IS DESCRIBING A CHARIOT. HOWEVER, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH HE IS DESCRIBING SOMETYPE OF VEHICLE WITH WHEELS EVEN THOUGH HE DOES NOT NAME THE VEHICLE.
§ THE CHARIOT IS THE MOST LIKELY VEHICLEFOR THESE WHEELS. WHY?
· WE KNOW THAT FROM THE WHOLE BIBLE THEREIS AN UNSEEN SPIRITUAL BATTLE IN PROGRESS. THE BIBLE ENABLES US TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENESOF THIS UNSEEN BATTLE IN NUMEROUS PLACES:
¨ 2KI 6:15-17 DAN 10:12-14 JOB 1:6-12
Ø DAN 10:12-14 TELLS US THAT ANGELS AREINVOLVED IN THIS SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
· THE BATTLE CHARIOT WAS THE WAR MACHINE OF EZEKIELS TIME. IT WASPULLED BY 4 HORSES INSTEAD OF CARRIED BY 4 CHERUBIM. :
· THE BIBLE USES THE WORD CHARIOTIN RELATION TO THE CHERUBIM AND GODS THRONE (1CHR 28:18)
§ THE UNUSUAL DESCRIPTION OFEZEKIELS CHARIOT WHEELS:
· 1. THE COLOR OF BERYL (CRYSOLITE) (16).
¨ THIS IS THE COLOR OF A PALE YELLOWGREEN. THE COLOR GREEN IS A SYMBOL OF NEWLIFE.
Ø IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO CONVICTS USOF OUR SIN AND REVEALS JESUS CHRIST TO US. HE ENABLES US TO BE BORN AGAIN AND TO RECEIVE ANEW LIFE IN CHRIST. (JOH 14:16-17 JOH14:26 JOH 15:26-27 JOH 16:8, 13, 14)
· 2. A WHEEL INSIDE A WHEEL (16)
¨ THESE WHEELS ENABLE THE CHARIOT TO GOIN ANY OF THE 4 DIRECTIONS ON EARTH WITHOUT TURNING. THERE IS NO FRONT OR BACK TO THECHARIOT.
Ø THE WAR CHARIOT OF EZEKIELS DAYWAS A FAST MACHINE BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT CAUSING IT TO TURN OVER. THISSPIRITUAL CHARIOT DOES NOT HAVE THAT LIMITATION.
· 3. TALL RIMS WITH EYES ALL OVER THEM(18)
¨ THE EYES ARE A SYMBOL OF THEALL-KNOWING CHARACTER OF GOD. GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEESAND KNOWS EVERYTHING.
· 4. THE WHEELS GO WHERE THE 4 LIVINGCREATURES GO (19).
¨ EZEKIEL IS CLEAR TO TELL US THAT THECHARIOT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHERUBIM GO TOGETHER.
· 5. THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVINGCREATURE WAS IN THE WHEELS (21)
¨ THIS IS THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRITIN SYMBOLIC FORM.
§ NOTICE THAT THE RIDER OF THE CHARIOT ISOBVIOUSLY NOT PRESENT. WHY?
· THE CHARIOT IS A DESCRIPTION OF THEPRESENCE AND GLORY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOLYSPIRIT IS TO ELEVATE GOD, THE FATHER, AND JESUS CHRIST, THE SON. HE NEVER CALLSATTENTION TO HIMSELF.
· READ JOH 16:13
v READ EZE 1:26-28 THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE SON
Ø DESCRIPTION OF THE THRONE OF GOD (26)
§ 1. THE COLOR OF SAPPHIRE BLUE
· THE COLOR BLUE IN THE BIBLE IS THESYMBOL OF HEAVENLY AUTHORITY.
¨ ONE OF THE COLORS USED IN THETABERNACLE OF MOSES TIME WAS THE HEAVENLY COLOR OF BLUE.
§ 2. THE LIKENESS OF THE APPEARANCEOF A MAN (26)
· HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS JESUS CHRIST,THE SON, AND NOT GOD, THE FATHER?
¨ HE HAS THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN. WHENJESUS CHRIST CAME TO THIS EARTH AS A BABY, HE TOOK ON HIMSELF THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN.
§ 2. FIRE, LIGHT, AND BRIGHTNESS WERE INHIM AND AROUND HIM. (27)
· NOTICE THAT HIS FACE IS NOT CLEAR TOEZEKIEL BECAUSE NO MAN CAN SEE GOD AND LIVE. (1JOH 4:12 EXO 33:18-23) HIS BRIGHTNESS MAKESHIM UNAPROACHABLE TO HUMAN FLESH.
§ 3. THE RAINBOW (28)
· OTHER VISIONS OF THE LORD ALSO TELL USABOUT THE RAINBOW AROUND THE THRONE. (REV 4:3)
¨ THE RAINBOW IS A SYMBOL GIVEN BY GOD TONOAH AFTER THE FLOOD. IT WAS AN ETERNAL PROMISE THAT HE WOULD NOT DESTROY THE EARTH BYFLOOD AGAIN.
¨ THEREFORE, THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF THERAINBOW IS MERCY.
§ 4. THE CRYSTAL FIRMAMENT ABOVE THECHARIOT (25)
· JOHN ALSO SAW THE CRYSTAL SEA AROUNDTHE THRONE IN REVELATION (REV 4:6)
v INTERPRETATION SUMMARY:
Ø WHAT IS EZEKIEL TRYING TO TELL US ABOUTGOD?
§ THIS VISION IS THE GLORY OF GOD IN THEPRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE SEE GREATINSIGHT (EYES) AND GREAT ACTIVITY (WINGS AND WHEELS). NOTICE THAT ONE WHEEL TOUCHES THEEARTH (15). IN OTHER WORDS, GOD DESIRES TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO MANKIND ON EARTH BY THEACTIVITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE CHARIOT ANDITS WHEELS COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE SON OF GOD ON THE THRONE. HE IS THE OMISCIENT ANDOMINIPRESENT GOD.
§ EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN IS COORDINATED TOWORK TOGETHER TO BRING US GODS REVELATION OF HIS SON BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. GODSPLAN IS MOVING STRAIGHT FORWARD (9). GOD IS CONTINUOUSLY WORKING HIS PLANWITHOUT CEASING (WHEELS). THE CHERUBIM GUARD THE WORKING OF GODS PLAN.
v WHAT DID EZEKIEL HEAR?
Ø 1. THE NOISE OF THE CHERUBIMS WINGS(24) WHICH SOUNDED LIKE RUSHING WATER.
Ø 2. THE VOICE OF GOD (25)
v EZEKIELS RESPONSE:
Ø EZEKIEL FELL ON HIS FACE BEFORE GOD. WESEE THIS SAME RESPONSE THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE BY ANYONE WHO COMES INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
v HOW DOES EZEKIELS VISION OF THEPRESENCE OF GOD COMPARE WITH JOHNS VISION IN REVELATION 4 AND 5?
Ø JOHNS VISION HAS A LOT MOREDETAIL ABOUT JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE IT COMES AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION.
Ø EZEKIELS VISION HAS MORE DETAILABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE EZEKIEL IS A PRIEST CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THEHOLY SPIRIT.
Ø THE CRYSTAL SEA, THE RAINBOW OFPROMISE, AND THE UNAPPROACHABLE BURNING BRIGHTNESS OF GOD IS OBVIOUS IN BOTH VISIONS.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 2 AND 3
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 1
Ø DOES EZEKIEL 1 CAUSE YOU TO HAVE MORERESPECT FOR GOD?
Ø HOW WILL THIS CHAPTER CHANGE THE WAYYOU ACT TOWARD GOD IN YOUR DAILY LIFE THIS WEEK?
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 2 AND 3
Ø READ EZE 2
§ WHAT COMMAND DOES GOD GIVE EZEKIEL?
§ HOW DOES THIS COMMAND RELATE TO THECHRISTIAN LIFE?
§ WHAT ONE WORD DESCRIBES THE PEOPLE OFISRAEL?
Ø READ EZE 3
§ OF WHAT SIGNIFICANCE ARE VERSES 1-3?
§ WHAT DID GOD MEAN WHEN HE SAID THATEZEKIEL WOULD BE A WATCHMAN (3:17)?
v MEMORY VERSE: MATTHEW 24:42
