A Vision of God Ezekiel

The Setting Ezekiel one of 10,000 captives taken to Babylon with Jehoiachin – 2 Kgs He is a priest and has now reached the age of 30 – Num. 4.3 His first vision is one of the most amazing descriptions of the glory of God in Scripture

The Vision (Ezek 1:4 NKJV) Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Cannot but think of the pillar of fire and cloud of the Exodus

The Vision The description of the living creatures The throne And the One above the throne We cannot help but be in awe of this scene

The Vision Not of this world – past, present or future Not of the first heaven or the second heaven, but the third…spiritual (only Ezekiel saw it) Easy to lose ourselves pondering what these things are, how they work, what they represent… We will consider this Vision from the “ground up”

The Wheels The “Wheels” – vv15-21 – No doubt some trying to figure out how to make something like this – Cannot – They were full of eyes – the “spirit of the living creatures (Cherubim) was in them” They were a means by which the Cherubim transport the things above?

The Living Creatures The “living creatures” – Four faces, four wings, four hands – Full of eyes – – Identified as Cherubim – These beings guarded the gate to the Garden of Eden and Tree of Life – Gen Two Cherubim adorned the Ark of the Covenant – Ex

The Enthroned One The Throne – vv22 & 26 The One who was above it – – Physical description – Unapproachable light – 1 Tim – Cannot help but think of the angelic representation of Christ in Revelation His words to Ezekiel…2.1

The Enthroned One Who was it? – God (“the glory of the Lord” – 1.28) – The Father? Or the Son? John 1.18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John speaking of Christ) (John 6:46 NKJV) "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.” (Jesus speaking of Himself)

Why Consider It? "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.“ Hebrews Hebrews 2.3 John 12.48

Why Consider It? How dare we change what He said? How dare we doubt that His works are righteous and sufficient for His will? – The word – The church How dare we judge His judgments? – Against sin in the world – The Judgment itself

Why Consider It? Who are we, flesh and blood, unclean, unholy, unworthy…to think we can hide from Him – He knew the thoughts of man while on earth – He knows our thoughts now – He sees all (“full of eyes on every side”)

Why Consider It? We WILL face Him in Judgment – (Heb 4:12-13 NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. {13} And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Why Consider It? We WILL face Him in Judgment – (2 Cor 5:10 NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Why Consider It? We WILL face Him in Judgment – (Rom 14:10-12 NKJV) But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. {11} For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." {12} So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Why Consider It? We WILL face Him in Judgment – Heb “It is a fearful thing…” – Heb “For our God is a consuming fire.” – 2 Thess. 1.7b-8 “…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”