With ezekiel, the heavens were opened, the visions came, and the express word also came. A member of a priestly family, he was taken to babylon in the first deportation 597 b. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very words of the prophet. God approaches ezekiel as the divine warrior, riding in. Comparing his vision to babylonian iconography reveals that ezekiel saw a divine throne chariot of the heavenswidely described in the ancient biblical world. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric and difficult to get close to, but he is worth the time and effort to get to know. His latest datable utterance can be dated about 570 bc, 22 years after his first. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a fascinating book filled with strange and powerful visions. Ezekiel saw the very presence of god, who revealed to him plans for the his people and how the temple, the house of god was involved in god s plans. It combines farout visions, judgments of violent destruction and death, and predictions of peace and consolation into a spicy prophetic gumbo.
Besides clarity of structure, the book of ezekiel reveals symmetry. Depicted is the throne of god, the 4 living creatures, 4 whirling wheels, crystal. References to the creatures recur in texts of second temple judaism, in rabbinical merkabah chariot literature, and in the book of. The phrase you shall know that i am the lord recurs 33 times throughout the text. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel. Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. The vision of the desecrated temple fit for destruction chs. Deported to babylon by the river chebar in 597 bc, ezekiel. Some of the visions are obscure in their details, but their point is clear. Visions of judgment 411 the prophet receives a series of strange signs and visions that reveal the wickedness of the people and the coming judgment. In chapter 43, ezekiel sees again a vision like before 43. The book of ezekiel opens and concludes with visions of the glory of god. As a sign to the jews ezekiel was commanded not to mourn his wifes death.
Therefore his mission began near the river chebar, in mesopotamia, where he saw visions of god, when the heavens were opened ch1 v1 this wording is important. Upwards of 75 times god expresses his own concerns in the book as for my names sake or that ye shall know that i. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. On the fifth of the monthit was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin the word of the lord came to ezekiel the priest, the son of buzi, by the kebar river in the land of the babylonians. The story of the prophet encountering god spawned merkavah mysticism, aptly named for the merkavah or chariot on which ezekiel rode to the heavens. But in a wonderful way, the book of ezekiel is sandwiched by two great visions of god. On the fifth day of the fourth month, the sky opened up and i saw visions of god. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway. This lengthy vision has been the subject of much speculation and various interpretations through the years. Apr 22, 2018 for people like israel and us, who are wondering if god has a plan, ezekiels visions give both hope and certainty. Ezekiel is a priest who is called by god to deliver his messages. The first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel served as the textual starting point for.
He subsequently prophesied until 585 and then is not heard of again until 572. Ezekiel 1 is the first chapter of the book of ezekiel in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his. Ezekiels vision of gods chariot became the biblical text most important to. Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of god to his exiled people. Ezekiels vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of god. Ezekiels vision of god now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives. Already in the vision of ezekiel and the earlier vision in revelation, the most prominent feature is light. In a vision, god sets ezekiel down in a valley full of dry. The heavens opened and the widely respected priest received a vision from god. And in eternity the city does not need the sun or the or the moon to shine on it, but the glory of god gives it light, and the lamb is its lamp revelation 21. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians.
The prophets vision concerns four living creatures that served as a type of chariot for the divine throne, the place from which the likeness of the glory of the lord. Christians sometimes disagree on the time and the place of their fulfillment, but not the certainty of that fulfillment. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. While he punishes israel for their idolatry and disobedience, his love for his creation mankind prevails in the end. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel observed by the prophet ezekiel. God spoke many prophecies through ezekiel using words, parables, visions, and similitudes strange things to point to something greater.
Ezekiels inaugural vision in my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while i was among the exiles by the kebar river, the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. A depiction of ezekiel s vision of god and the cherubim as described in the bible at ezekiel chapter 1 and 10. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. Ezekiel s religious call came in july 592 when he had a vision of the thronechariot of god. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god a. Ezekiels vision of god above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire. The appearance of the four living creatures was like burning coals of fire. The heavens were opened and, the prophet declares, i saw visions of god. If what we minister is truly god s word god s hand will follow. Each of these beings had four different faceshuman, eagle, lion, and ox. So let us take a closer look at what ezekiel sees and hears. The visions and oracles of the prophet ezekiel by dr.
If the first is a vision of god s glory leaving his people, then the other slice of the sandwich is a quite magnificent vision of a new temple, to which god s glory cloud returns. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. Matthaeus merian, drawing of ezekiel s vision 1670 merian, a swiss engraver, provides a lot of detail in this little drawing. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. Outline of the book ezekiel s vision and commission ch. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth.
This book contains prophecies attributed to the prophetpriest ezekiel, and is one of the books of the prophets. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. Ezekiel s visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. Ezekiel 1 new revised standard version nrsv the vision of the chariot. Ezekiel is addressed by god as son of man 93 times a man who humbly and faithfully shared gods truth despite lukewarm response from his people ezek 33. Followers of this type of mysticism sought to recreate similar experiences and ascend into god s realm. The first chapter of ezekiel is about the vision of god. There are two more wheel facets that are described. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. The sinfulness of humanity this theme cannot be separated from gods glory.
He was to prepare himself as god had prepared himself for the death of his beloved city ezekiel 24. The prophet describes massive visions of god s spiritual forces in action behind the scenes and blueprints for the future. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet. Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel deserved this judgment, and also that gods justice creates hope for the future. Ezekiel study guide the kingdom of god as overarching.
Through their coordination, god is able to move and administrate. He receives visions, and his message is to confront gods sinful nation, i am sending you to the sons of israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against me. Their fast movements resembled flashes of lightning. When ezekiel was 30 years old, in the late spring or summer of the year, he was living among the exiles by the kebar river in the land of the babylonians. The glory and sovereignty of god the book of ezekiel opens and concludes with visions of the glory of god. One facet is the rings were full of eyes ezekiel 1. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures. The prophet ezekiel was one of the captives of the babylonian conquest in 606 b. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god ezekiel 1. God returns from the exile, having promised to return the people to the land 36. Ezekiel had his vision in babylon as one of the captive exiles ezek. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god.
As we learned in the preceding chapter, ezekiel was in babylon, living among his fellow exiles in a community by the river chebar evidently a navigable, manmade canal that branched off from the river euphrates and later rejoined it. The book of ezekiel is considered one of the major prophetic books of the old testament after jeremiah and isaiah. In fact, this theory proved so convincing to one nasa scientist, josef blumrich 192002, that he wrote a whole book on it, including specs. The prophet, fondly called son of man, was really a man of the spirit. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. As the book opens, it is the thirtieth year probably the thirtieth year of his own life and the prophet is in babylon by the river chebar. A comment on ezekiels vision of godthe chariot of the lord. Ezekiel had his vision in babylon as one of the captive exiles ezek 1. In visions of god he took me to the land of israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose southern slope was a structure that resembled a city. Ezekiels vision of gods chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. The glory of god may well be viewed as the theme of the book, because ezekiel s ministry begins with a vision of god s glory and emphasizes it throughout the book 1. Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiel s inaugural vision. The prophets vision concerns four living creatures that served as a type of chariot for the divine throne, the place from which the likeness of the glory of the lord spoke to ezekiel vv. The book of ezekiel features one of the eeriest scenes in the bible, a vision of god raising an army of dead mens bones from their graves and bringing them back to life ezekiel 37.
Ezekiel 1 nkjv ezekiels vision of god now it came bible. Dating in ezekiel hold pointer over verse for popup 1. Ezekiel s first vision like the rest of those recorded in that thrilling prophetic book is rich with meaning, both for him and for faithful servants of jehovah today. The book ends with god showing ezekiel how the temple will be rebuiltsoon to be an episode of this old old old old house, and tells him how the land will be distributed among the different tribes of israel and god s presence will return to jerusalem. The great number of eyes on the rings may symbolize how great is god s awareness and direction of.
And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel. Jan 30, 2018 ezekiel had his vision in babylon as one of the captive exiles ezek 1. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiel s probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. The heavenly chariot, though, makes one last appearance in ezekiel s book. Since eyes are for seeing, and man is made in the likeness of god genesis 1. The book is divided into three major sections based on the visions they contain namely israels judgment, which is detailed on chapters 1 to 24, judgment of nations. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. It is because of the glory of god that the failings of israel and indeed. The sinfulness of humanity this theme cannot be separated from god s glory. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Thats just one of many symbolic visions and performances of this ancient prophet, who predicted the destruction of israel and the idolatrous nations around it. As terrifying as this vision was, it vividly displayed the majesty and glory of god ezekiel 1.
Perhaps in a personal diary, he recorded the exact date on which the first vision occurred. Ezekiels vision of god s chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. John rightly observes that no man has ever seen god in the true sense. The living creatures, living beings, or hayyoth hebrew. Ezekiel 1 was chosen as the haftarah for the first day of shavuot, 1 as it picks up on the theme of divine revelation, which is what the festival celebrates. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to god s plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. His name, which in hebrew is yehezqel god strengthens was very much in keeping with the mission god planned for him. The four living creatures with four facesezekiel chapter 1. Throughout the book the phrase that is repeated over and over again is, that you may know that i am the lord. In the new king james version, this chapter is subtitled ezekiels vision of god. What is the significance of ezekiels description of gods. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah.
It was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin when the word of god came to ezekiel. Their wings sounded like a sound of rushing waters and their. The first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel served as the textual starting point for the merkavah mysticsand hints at an image of god. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. The book is based on the account of the visions of ezekiel considered to be the third of the major prophets. In ezekiel 4048 ezekiel sees a detailed vision of a grand and glorious temple. He engages in startling symbolic activities to teach god s people. In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day. The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes.
Cooper installment 2 the call and commission of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. These wheels were associated with the four living creatures ezekiel 1.