- 1.WHEN YOUR WORLD CRUMBLES EZEKIEL CHAPTER 1 JUNE 15, 2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI USA
2. Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the
LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and
pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough
to receive it. 3. Whats the number one thing? 4.
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608004121869748387&pid=1.7 5. 1
Corinthians 10:31 NKJV 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 6. J. Vernon McGee
Thru the Bible Commentary, Vol. 25: Ezekiel. Nashville, TN: Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 1991. 7. A Prophet for our Time: Ezekiel by
Chuck Missler Adventuring Through the Bible by Ray Stedman 8. The
Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament 9.
Revelation 4 The Throne Room of Heaven 1 After these things I
looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first
voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
10. Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place
after this. 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne
set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 11. 3 And He Who sat
there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and
there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an
emerald. 12.
http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608051980712477111&pid=1.7 13.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I
saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they
had crowns of gold on their heads. 14. 5 And from the throne
proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire
were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
15. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And
in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living
creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 16. 7 The first living
creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf,
the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth
living creature was like a flying eagle. 17. 8 The four living
creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and
within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: 18.
http://www.biblefood.org/holycast.jpg Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! 19. 9 Whenever the living
creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sits on the
throne, Who lives forever and ever, 20. 10 the twenty-four elders
fall down before Him Who sits on the throne and worship Him Who
lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying: 21. 11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor
and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist
and were created. 22.
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EZEKIEL CHAPTER 1 23. The story of Ezekiel is the story of human
life and the book begins with a tremendous vision of God, because
all life starts with God. 24. God is the greatest fact in
existence! Anyone who wants to think logically about life must
always begin with God. 25.
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That is where the Bible begins. 26. *This book of Ezekiel begins,
then, with a mystic vision of God. *The glory of the prophet
Ezekiel was that he saw God more clearly than any of the other
prophets. 27. *If your heart needs to be set on fire by the
revelation of the character and glory of God then study Ezekiel.
*He is the prophet who saw the great glory of God! 28. The book
opens dramatically with the vision that Ezekiel saw by the River
Chebar (kebAWR), in the land of Babylon: 29. Ezekiel 1:1-4 NKJV
Ezekiels Vision of God 1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year,
in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, 30. as I was
among the captives by the River Chebar (kebAWR), that the heavens
were opened and I saw visions of God. 31.
http://www.temkit.com/08-Bible-Prophecy/Knowing-Prophecy/images/captivek.jpg
2 On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of
King Jehoiachins captivity, 32. 3 the word of the LORD came
expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi (booZEE my
contempt), in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar
(kebAWR); 33. and the hand of the Lord was upon him there. 4 Then I
looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a
great cloud with raging 34. fire engulfing itself; and brightness
was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of
amber (golden), out of the midst of the fire. Ezekiel 1:1-4 NKJV
35. In his captivity, Ezekiel lived at the River Chebar (kebAWR),
which was the great shipping canal branching off from the Euphrates
above Babylon. 36.
http://ehsworldstudiesjackoboice.wikispaces.com/file/view/riversofcush.jpeg/158270521/riversofcush.jpeg
37. http://atlantipedia.ie/images/AncientSumeria2.jpg 38. *Used for
irrigation, it was the primary settlement location of the Jewish
captives. *Rivers became a place they regularly gathered for prayer
(see Acts 16:13). 39. Acts 16:13 13 And on the Sabbath day we went
out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily
made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 40.
http://i39.tinypic.com/ehly0o.jpg Apparently Ezekiel was there
interceding with the other captives when the Lord called him to his
new ministry. 41. Isaiah was worshiping in the temple when God
called him (Isa. 6); Paul & Barnabas were engaged in worship at
Antioch when they received their call (Acts 13:1-3). 42. When
Ezekiel went to the prayer meeting, it was just like any other day;
but the Lord made it a turning point in his life. 43.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKfTmDgd0iY/UrDFIM62orI/AAAAAAAAAWo/2Ttp31mx15c/s1600/right+place+right+time.jpg
We never know what a difference a day will make when we're in the
right place in the path of duty. 44. In Ezekiel 1:2 one of the last
kings of Judah, Jehoiachin (598-597 B.C.) has been taken captive by
the Babylonians (2 Kings 24:15) and lived in exile in Babylon. 45.
King Jehoiachin's life is the best illustration of the maxim:
"During prosperity a man must never forget the possibility of
misfortune; 46. http://s2.hubimg.com/u/6070285_f248.jpg and in
adversity must not despair of prosperity's return" (Seder 'Olam R.
xxv.). 47. In verse 3, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in the
form of a vision, and the hand of the Lord laid hold of him and
claimed him for special service. 48.
http://eisakouo.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/hand-of-god.jpg The
word of the Lord brings enlightenment and the hand of the Lord
brings enablement (see Ephesians 1:15-23). 49. Ephesians 1:17-18
NKJV 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Him, 50. 18 the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:17-18 NKJV 51. Romans 5:1-2 NKJV 1 Therefore, having
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, 52. 2 through Whom also we have access (Hebrews 4:16)
by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 NKJV 53. Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV 15 For
we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without
sin. 54. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need
(when your world crumbles). Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV 55. Romans 5:3-5
NKJV 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance,
character; and character, hope. 56. 5 Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit Who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NKJV 57. There are
not enough containers in the whole world to hold all that love. 58.
http://withfriendship.com/images/h/36506/into-babylonian-captivity.jpg
In Ezekiel 1:4, what was significant about the windstorm coming
from the north? 59. Because of the weather patterns, storms usually
came from the N or the NW and because of geography, invasions from
empires other than Egypt always came from the N. 60. Like a
windstorm, this was the direction one could look to for Gods
judgment to come, since the Assyrians and Babylonians both invaded
from that direction. 61. *Ezekiel saw bright light around the cloud
and an enfolding fire, like molten metal, within the cloud. *Both
are reminders of the holiness of God, for our God is a consuming
fire. 62. http://shadowness.com/file/item7/185151/image_t6.jpg 63.
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64. Ezekiel 1:5-14 NKJV 5 Also from within it came the likeness of
four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the
likeness of a man. 65. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had
four wings. (Seraphim have 6) 7 Their legs were straight, and the
soles of their feet were like the soles of calves feet. 66. They
sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8 The hands of a man
were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four
had faces and wings. 67. 9 Their wings touched one another. The
creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight
forward. 68. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the
face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right
side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and
each of the four had the face of an eagle. 69. 11 Thus were their
faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched
one another, and two covered their bodies. 70. 12 And each one went
straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and
they did not turn when they went. 71. 13 As for the likeness of the
living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire,
like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the
living creatures. 72. The fire was bright and out of the fire went
lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in
appearance like a flash of lightning. Ezekiel 1:5-14 73. In Ezekiel
10:15 and 20, Ezekiel identified the living creatures as the
cherubim, heavenly creatures first mentioned in Genesis 3:24. 74.
Genesis 3:24 NKJV 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed
cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword
which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. 75.
http://www.live4god.org/Adam_and_Eve018.jpg 76. Cherubim are
mentioned throughout the Hebrew Bible (O.T.) and once in the N. T.
in reference to the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews
9:5). 77.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQckUVQaEChPp4zt76eaECMYXXyxjpJwFVud7fx9CVDyYAUTlE65g
78. Hebrews 9:3-5 NKJV 3 and behind the second veil, the part of
the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 79. 4 which had
the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides
with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aarons
rod that budded, 80. and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above
it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of
these things we cannot now speak in detail. Heb 9:3-5 81. The four
living creatures had the body of a human, straight feet like that
of a calf, four faces and four wings, with human hands under the
wings. 82.
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83.
http://sunshineinthestorm.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/fourlivingcreatures.jpg
Of special interest are their four faces: a man, a lion, an ox, and
an eagle (Ezek. 1:10). 84.
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Man is the highest of God's creatures, being made in the image of
God. 85.
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The lion is the greatest of the untamed beasts of the forest, the
King of the Jungle. 86.
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The ox is the strongest of the domesticated beasts of the field.
87.
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The eagle is the greatest of the birds and is even a picture of God
(Deuteronomy 32:11-12). 88. But there is also a connection here
with the covenant God made with Noah (and with us) and with every
living creature after the Flood (Genesis 9:8-17). 89. Genesis
9:8-10 NKJV 8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him,
saying: 9 And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you
(man) and with your descendants after you (that would be us), 90.
10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds
(eagle), the cattle (ox), and every beast of the earth (lion) with
you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.
Genesis 9:8-10 NKJV 91. The presence of the cherubim before the
throne of God is assurance that God remembers His promise and cares
for His creatures. 92. This, then, is a revelation of the greatness
and the majesty of God told in symbolic form. 93.
http://trueknowledgeorg.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/blog-mysteryofgod.jpg
We can't interpret all of this, because there is much mystery about
the person of God. 94.
http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608025081321753493&pid=1.7 What
Ezekiel sees is the power and the majesty of God. 95. It is
interesting that the four living creatures setting forth the
character of God are always described as having the faces of a
lion, a man, an ox, and an eagle. 96. Throughout all of history
these living creatures have symbolically represented certain
qualities of Gods character. 97. *A lion is always a picture of
sovereignty, of supremacy---"the king of the beasts." *A man is the
picture of intelligence, of understanding. 98. *An ox is always the
symbol of servitude, of sacrifice. *And an eagle is the symbol of
power and deity, of soaring over all creation. 99. Now the
significant thing is that the four gospels present exactly these
same qualities in Jesus Christ. 100. He appears first in the Gospel
of Matthew as the King---the lion, the king of beasts, the
sovereign of all. 101. He appears in the Gospel of Mark as the
servant, the ox. In the Gospel of Luke, He is man in his
intelligence, in his insight, in his understanding of life. 102.
And in the Gospel of John He is deity (the eagle). These four
reflect the character of Jesus Christ. 103. Now, even though
Ezekiel doesn't understand this, even though he doesn't perceive
the significance of his vision; he saw nonetheless the glory of God
in the face of Jesus. 104.
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105. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV 6 For it is God Who commanded light to
shine out of darkness, Who has shone in our hearts to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ. 106.
http://wordincarnate.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/transfiguration2.jpg
107.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWEBwrcpjyw/URZfQ7K36kI/AAAAAAAAAq8/uKlJqtFkYf0/s1600/GraceToGlory.jpg
Exodus 34:29-30, 35 - the skin of Moses face shone 108. God reveals
Himself through Christ and through us! Ezekiel saw clearly the
revelation of God in Jesus Christ. 109. Ezekiel 1:15-21 NKJV 15 Now
as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the
earth beside each living creature with its four faces. 110.
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16 The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the
color of beryl (BER-l), 111.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KhKeQaL9Nnw/TnZQqtW2I7I/AAAAAAAABH4/SRF4MG2vfhA/s1600/WHEEL-WITHIN-WHEEL.jpg
and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their
workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 112. 17
When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they
did not turn aside when they went. 113. 18 As for their rims, they
were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes,
all around the four of them. 114. 19 When the living creatures
went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures
were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 115. 20
Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the
spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the
spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 116. 21 When
those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when
those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up
together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in
the wheels. Ezekiel 1:15-21 NKJV 117. These wheels looked like a
yellow or greenish-yellow precious stone; they were very high, as
though reaching from earth to heaven, and their rims were awesome
and full of eyes. 118.
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119. It was indeed an awesome sight, the huge wheels, the living
creatures, the enfolding fire, and the eyes in the rims of the
wheels. 120.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/TruthisAlive/THE-RIVER-THRONE-VISION.jpg
121. So they could move with almost the speed of light. Their
movement was like a lightning bolt - the appearance of a flash of
lightning. 122. http://www.lovingjustwise.com/09_1pr6a.jpg Ezekiel
is limited to using human language - trying to describe their
appearance. 123. *This is the third time Ezekiel mentions this, so
it's obviously quite remarkable to him. *He has not ever seen
anything like this on the earth. 124. *Ezekiel mentions this three
times so it's obviously quite remarkable to him. *He has not ever
seen anything like this on the earth. 125. Ezekiels vision of the
four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and
omniscience of God. 126. These wheels were associated with the four
living creatures (Ezekiel 1:4), who were later described (Ezekiel
10:5, 20) as cherubim, angelic beings appointed as guardians of the
holiness of God. 127.
http://pastoralin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/The-Holiness-of-God-2009-National-Conference.jpg
128. Most Biblical scholars hold to the idea that the Spirit of God
gave direction to the wheels through direct knowledge of and access
to the will of God. (instant obedience) 129. The wheels symbolize
the omnipresence of God, while the eyes on their rims suggest the
omniscience of God, seeing and knowing everything. 130. This vision
appeared to Ezekiel as a powerful imagery of movement and action
demonstrating the characteristics of Gods divine nature. 131.
Ezekiels vision presented God as being on a chariot- like throne,
His glory both supreme and immanent, existing in and extending into
all the created universe. 132. As such, the whole revelation by God
in this vision to Ezekiel, i.e., the cherubim, the chariot, the
Spirit, and the wheels, emphasized their unity and coordination.
133. As terrifying as this vision was, it vividly displayed the
majesty and glory of God (Ezekiel 1:28), Who came to Ezekiel and
the children of Israel in the midst of their Babylonian exile. 134.
It reminded them of His holiness and power as the Lord of all
creation during their darkest days. 135. The message was clear:
though His people were in exile and their nation was about to be
destroyed, God was still on the throne and able to handle every
situation! 136. The lesson for us today is that, through His
marvelous providence, God moves in the affairs of all nations to
work out His own unseen plan, always at work, intricately designed,
never wrong, and never late (Romans 8:28). 137.
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*He is not going to have any losers on His team! 138. Romans 8:11
NKJV 11 But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
139. Romans 8:14-18 NKJV 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of
God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit
of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
by whom we cry out, Abba, Father (Daddy). 140. 16 The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirsheirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified
together. 141. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:14-18 NKJV 142. Romans 8:22-39
NKJV 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with
birth pangs together until now. 143. 23 Not only that, but we also
who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan
within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption
of our body. (We have to groan to be grown) 144. Romans 8:26-39
NKJV 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do
not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit
Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered. 145. 27 Now He Who searches the hearts knows what the mind
of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God. 146. 28 And we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose. 147. 29 For whom He foreknew, He
also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He
might be the firstborn among many brethren. 148. 30 Moreover whom
He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also
justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 149. 31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us? 32 He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things? 150. 33 Who shall bring a charge against Gods elect? It
is God Who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Who
died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand
of God, Who also makes intercession for us. 151. 35 Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? 152. 36 As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all
day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 153. 37 Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who
loved us. 154. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor
things to come, 155. 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created
thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:26-39 NKJV 156. Of the many
fascinating Scriptural descriptions of heavenly things in Ezekiel's
vision, this one of chapters 1 and 10 is by far the most stunning
and complex. 157. The prophet had to describe in the Hebrew
language what he saw, which was so incredible and foreign to his
experiences as a human. 158. The Apostle Paul explained our limited
vision and understanding of spiritual things: 159. 1Corinthians
13:12 NKJV "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to
face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am
known." 160. The description is full of the splendor of flashing
light, so brilliant that the details are minutely revealed, but so
dazzling that they are not clearly seen. 161. The "rings were full
of eyes" (verse 18). Since men's eyes are for seeing, and man is
made in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), we can safely assume
that they are meant for the same. 162. The great number of eyes on
the rings may portend or symbolize how great is God's awareness and
direction of events. 163. Ezekiel 1:22-25 NKJV 22 The likeness of
the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the
color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 164.
23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one
toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each
one had two which covered the other side of the body. 165. 24 When
they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many
waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of
an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 166.
25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads;
whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 167. In Ezekiel
1:22, what is the firmament of crystal? This likely is the sea of
glass, as clear as crystal, mentioned in Revelation 4:6. 168. *This
awesome expanse looked like sparkling ice (crystal) and stood over
the heads of the cherubim. *Now we get an almost total picture: a
heavenly chariot with four wheels, moving quickly from place to
place at the direction of the Lord. 169. *As it moved, the noise of
the wings of the cherubim sounded like the noise of great waters
coming together, "like the voice of the Almighty," and like the
sound of a mighty army (Ezekiel 3:13; 10:5; Psalm 46:3; Revelation
1:15; 14:2; 19:6). 170. The mobility of the wheels suggests the
omnipresence of God; the eyes, His omniscience; and the elevated
position, His omnipotence. 171. Ezekiel was beholding a
representation of the providence of God as He worked in His world.
But one more item remained. 172. Ezekiel 1:26-28 NKJV 26 And above
the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in
appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was
a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 173.
http://polination.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/sea-of-glass-like-crystal-or-sapphire-tilework.jpg
174. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as
it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around
within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw,
as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 175.
http://www.spiritwatch.org/throne.jpg 176. 28 Like the appearance
of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of
the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the
likeness of the glory of the LORD. Ezekiel 1:26-28 NKJV 177.
http://www.gracedoctrine.org/prepschool/2ndcomingofjcpt6_files/image004.jpg
178. http://www.beadsmanufacturers.com/product/95674.jpg throne, in
appearance like a sapphire stone (v26) 179.
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.607995016549567800&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0
the throne was azure blue 180.
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on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of
a man high above it.(v26) 181.
http://thepalmbeachcandlecompany.com/images/amber.jpg His waist and
upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber (v27) 182.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3093/3175868244_a8fc1c488e.jpg 183.
http://www.truthforlife.org/static/uploads/daily051013.png Like the
appearance of a rainbow in a cloud (v28) 184.
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The sapphire throne had a rainbow around it (covenant grace). 185.
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186. Noah saw the rainbow after the storm (Gen. 9:13- 16), the
Apostle John saw it before the storm (Rev. 4:3), but Ezekiel saw it
in the midst of the storm - in control of the storm. 187.
Revelation 4 The Throne Room of Heaven 1 After these things I
looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first
188. voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take
place after this. 189. 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and
behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 190. 3
And He Who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in
appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in
appearance like an emerald. 191. 4 Around the throne were
twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders
sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on
their heads. 192. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings,
thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before
the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 193. 6 Before the
throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of
the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full
of eyes in front and in back. 194. 7 The first living creature was
like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third
living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living
creature was like a flying eagle. 195. 8 The four living creatures,
each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And
they do not rest day or night, saying: 196. Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! 197. 9 Whenever the
living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sits on
the throne, Who lives forever and ever, 198. 10 the twenty-four
elders fall down before Him Who sits on the throne and worship Him
Who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying: 199. 11 You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory
and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will
they exist and were created. 200.
http://harshikaram.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/rainbow.jpg 201. In
His wrath, God remembers mercy (Habakkuk 3:2b). 202. Habakkuk 3:2b
2b O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst
of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. 203. Ezekiel
realized that he was beholding the glory of the Lord (Ezek. 1:28),
and he fell on his face in awesome fear (Ezekiel 3:23; Daniel 8:17;
10:9, 15, 17). 204. The "man" he saw upon the throne was a
preincarnate appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. (See Ezek. 8:2
and 40:3.) 205.
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206. In Ezekiel 1:28, what is the glory of the Lord here? A: This
is also called the "Shekinah glory", and was manifested by the
brilliant appearance and general awe that surrounded Gods throne.
207. The wheels depicted God's omnipresence and the eyes His
omniscience. Here the throne speaks of God's omnipotent authority.
208.
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209.
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210.
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211.
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212.
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213.
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214.
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215. The glory of the Lord is one of the key themes in Ezekiel
(3:12, 23; 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18-19; 11:22-23; 39:21; 43:2, 4-5;
44:4). 216. The prophet will watch God's glory leave the temple and
go over the Mount of Olives, and he will also see it return to the
kingdom temple. 217. Because of Israel's sins, the glory left the
temple; but God's promise is that one day the city of Jerusalem and
the temple will be blessed by the glorious presence of the Lord.
218. The city will be called Jehovah Shammahthe Lord is there
(Ezekiel 48:35). 219.
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220. The greatest reward a person can ever have is the presence of
the Lord! 221. Now we can begin to grasp the message that God was
giving His prophet. 222. *Though His people were in exile and their
nation was about to be destroyed, God was still on the throne and
able to handle every situation. *He is above the storm! 223. *In
His marvelous providence, He moves in the affairs of nations and
works out His hidden plan. *Israel wasn't the victim of Babylonian
aggression. 224. It was God who enabled the Babylonians to conquer
His people and chasten them for their rebellion, but God would also
bring the Medes and the Persians to conquer Babylon, and Cyrus,
king of Persia, would permit the Jews to return to their land. 225.
Romans 11:33 NKJV Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His
ways past finding out! 226. No matter what message God gave him to
preach, or what opposition arose from the people, Ezekiel would be
encouraged and strengthened because he had seen the mighty throne
of God in the midst of the fiery trial. 227. He had seen the glory
of God! 228. END Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old
Testament 229. BEGIN RAY STEDMAN 230. Ezekiel 1:5a NKJV 5a Also
from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. 231. And
he describes these creatures to us. Each had four faces---the faces
of a man, an eagle, an ox, and a lion. 232. These four faces turned
in every direction, faced every way. After he saw the four living
creatures, he saw certain wheels. 233. These are described in an
old song: "Ezekiel saw a wheel, way up in the middle of the air;
the big wheel ran by faith and the little wheel ran by the grace of
God, a wheel in a wheel, away in the middle of the air." 234.
Ezekiel saw that these wheels were turning, one wheel within the
other. 235. As he watched he also saw a firmament above, shining in
splendor, and above the firmament, as he lifted his eyes higher, he
saw a throne. And on the throne sat a man. 236. *Now, if you have
read the book of Revelation you will recognize great similarities
to what John saw. *John also saw four living creatures. 237. He,
too, saw a throne, and on the throne a man. 238. Ezekiel 1:26-28
NKJV 26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness
of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness
of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high
above it. 239. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward
I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire
all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and
downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness
all around. 240. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on
a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
Ezekiel 1:26-28 NKJV 241. Then in chapters 2-9, Ezekiel moves
quickly into prophecies at great length that have to do with the
failure of man. 242. Ezekiel 2:4-5 NKJV 4 For they are impudent and
stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to
them, Thus says the Lord GOD. 243. 5 As for them, whether they hear
or whether they refusefor they are a rebellious houseyet they will
know that a prophet has been among them. Ezekiel 2:4-5 NKJV 244.
Ezekiel 5:7-8 NKJV 7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you
have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all
around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments,
nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are
all around you 245. 8 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Indeed I,
even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in
the sight of the nations. Ezekiel 5:7-8 NKJV 246. Ezekiel 8:16 NKJV
16 So He brought me into the inner court of the LORDs house; and
there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and
the altar, 247. were about twenty-five men with their backs toward
the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they
were worshiping the sun. Ezekiel 8:16 NKJV 248. Ezekiel 10:18a NKJV
18a Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the
temple 249. Ezekiel 11:23 NKJV 23 And the glory of the LORD went up
from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on
the east side of the city. 250. As Ezekiel watches in visions, he
sees the glory of God departing from the temple in Jerusalem,
leaving the inner court and moving to the outer court, and then
rising and moving out to the Mount of Olives, and rising up from
there. 251. Of course, this prophecy was fulfilled when our Lord
moved out of the temple, down across the Kidron Valley, up the side
of the Mount of Olives, and into the Garden of Gethsemane. 252. And
later, after the crucifixion and the resurrection, He ascended from
that mountain into glory. 253. God sends the message to His people
through Ezekiel that the reason His glory is departing is because
they have not followed Him but the world around them. 254. Ezekiel
11:12 NKJV 12 And you shall know that I am the LORD; for you have
not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done
according to the customs of the Gentiles (the world) which are all
around you. 255. But God always carries out His plan that involves
forgiveness and grace and love for those who do follow His ways.
256. Ezekiel 11:17-20 NKJV 17 Therefore say, Thus says the Lord
GOD: I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the
countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the
land of Israel. 257. 18 And they will go there, and they will take
away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there.
258. 19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new
spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh,
and give them a heart of flesh, 259. 20 that they may walk in My
statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My
people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:17-20 NKJV 260. At this
point there comes a lengthy passage where Ezekiel traces the
degradation of man, the result of men's rejection of God's grace.
261. And he tells how God struggles with those people, calling
them; how He tries to win them, to waken them to the foolishness of
turning their backs on the glory of God. 262. At last they go
through times of difficulty and heartache and punishment, as God
seeks constantly to bring them to their senses, to waken them to
what they are 263. doing---to show them that man is made to
fellowship with God and that without God he only goes farther and
farther into weakness and folly and degradation. 264. Here you find
the reasons why man is debauched and degraded, and Ezekiel sets
forth the righteousness of God's judgment. 265. When man chooses to
avoid the God Who made him, what else is there but judgment? 266.
If we neglect God, Who is utterly essential to our being, and we
refuse to give heed to His love and His grace, then the only thing
left for us is to experience the results of turning our backs to
Him. 267. The prophet sees through all the judgment that came upon
this people, he sees through to the forces behind. 268. In chapter
28 there is a remarkable passage where the prophet speaks about the
judgment upon the land of Tyre and Sidon. 269. He speaks of the
prince of Tyre and, behind him, an individual whom he calls the
king of Tyre. 270. Most Bible scholars have recognized that,
because of the height of vision from which this prophet speaks, he
is talking not only about the actual prince of the city of Tyre---
271. the man who was then on the throne in that seafaring
city---but he is looking beyond him and the visible things of Tyre,
to that sinister individual he calls the king of Tyre. 272. This
king symbolizes what are referred to in the New Testament as
principalities and powers, the world rulers of this present
darkness who manipulate things on 273. earth and cause events we
see recorded in our daily newspapers. In other words, these are the
Satanic powers. 274. In chapter 28 you have a passage that many
Bible scholars think can be fully understood only as it applies to
the fall of Satan himself. 275. And this is one of only two
passages in the whole Bible that describes the fall of Satan: 276.
Ezekiel 28:2 NKJV 2 Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus
says the Lord GOD: Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, I
am a god, 277. Ezekiel 28:12b-13a NKJV 12b You were the seal of
perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13a You were in
Eden, the garden of God; 278. Ezekiel 28:15 NKJV 15 You were
perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity
was found in you. 279. Ezekiel 28:17-18a NKJV 17 Your heart was
lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the
sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before
kings, That they might gaze at you. 280. 18a You defiled your
sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of
your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; Ezekiel
28:15-18a NKJV 281. END RAY STEDMAN
