06 June 15, 2014 Ezekiel Chapter One, When Your World Crumbles

WHEN YOUR WORLD
CRUMBLES
EZEKIEL CHAPTER 1
JUNE 15, 2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
USA

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.”

What’s the number one thing?

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608004121869748387&pid=1.7

1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you
eat or drink, or whatever
you do, do all to the glory
of God.

J. Vernon McGee
Thru the Bible
Commentary, Vol. 25:
Ezekiel. Nashville, TN:
Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1991.

A Prophet for our Time:
Ezekiel
by Chuck Missler
Adventuring Through the
Bible by Ray Stedman

The Bible Exposition
Commentary (BE Series) -
Old Testament

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,

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

http://www.biblefood.org/holycast.jpg
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to
come!”

9 Whenever the living
creatures give glory and
honor and thanks to Him
Who sits on the throne,
Who lives forever and
ever,

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:

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.”

EZEKIEL
CHAPTER 1

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.

God is the greatest fact in
existence!
Anyone who wants to
think logically about life
must always begin with
God.

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.608028422806504002&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0
That is
where
the
Bible
begins.

*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.

*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!

The book opens
dramatically with the
vision that Ezekiel saw by
the River Chebar
(kebAWR), in the land of
Babylon:

Ezekiel 1:1-4 NKJV
Ezekiel’s Vision of God
1 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 (kebAWR),
that the heavens were
opened and I saw
visions of God.

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
Jehoiachin’s
captivity,

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);

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

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

In his captivity, Ezekiel
lived at the River Chebar
(kebAWR), which was the
great shipping canal
branching off from the
Euphrates above Babylon.

http://ehsworldstudiesjackoboice.wikispaces.com/file/view/riversofcush.jpeg/158270521/riversofcush.jpeg

http://atlantipedia.ie/images/AncientSumeria2.jpg

*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).

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.

http://i39.tinypic.com/ehly0o.jpg
Apparently Ezekiel was
there interceding with the
other captives when the
Lord
called him
to his new
ministry.

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).

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.

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.

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.

King Jehoiachin's life is
the best illustration of the
maxim:
"During prosperity a man
must never forget the
possibility of misfortune;

http://s2.hubimg.com/u/6070285_f248.jpg
and in adversity must not
despair of prosperity's
return"
(Seder 'Olam R. xxv.).

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.

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).

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,

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

Romans 5:1-2 NKJV
1 Therefore, having been
justified by faith, we
have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus
Christ,

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

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.

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

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.

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

There are not enough
containers in the whole
world to hold all that love.

http://withfriendship.com/images/h/36506/into-babylonian-captivity.jpg
In Ezekiel 1:4, what was
significant about the
windstorm
coming
from
the north?

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.

Like a windstorm, this
was the direction one
could look to for God’s
judgment to come, since
the Assyrians and
Babylonians both invaded
from that direction.

*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”.

http://shadowness.com/file/item7/185151/image_t6.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E_Kj7gF6OsU/UkEeKcCtmRI/AAAAAAAAfeI/OH0Z-jQFZQo/s1600/Christ+return1%5B1%5D.jpg

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.

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.

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.

9 Their wings touched one
another. The creatures did
not turn when they went,
but each one went straight
forward.

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.

11 Thus were their faces.
Their wings stretched
upward; two wings of
each one touched one
another, and two covered
their bodies.

12 And each one went
straight forward; they
went wherever the spirit
wanted to go, and they
did not turn when they
went.

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.

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

In Ezekiel 10:15 and 20,
Ezekiel identified the
living creatures as the
cherubim, heavenly
creatures first mentioned
in Genesis 3:24.

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.

http://www.live4god.org/Adam_and_Eve018.jpg

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).

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQckUVQaEChPp4zt76eaECMYXXyxjpJwFVud7fx9CVDyYAUTlE65g

Hebrews 9:3-5 NKJV
3 and behind the second
veil, the part of the
tabernacle which is called
the Holiest of All,

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,
Aaron’s rod that budded,

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

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.

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608001914272023731&w=242&h=182&c=7&rs=1&pid=1.7

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).

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQ_V6W8oQos/Too0jH3c_jI/AAAAAAAAAFI/oNaiTWx5I5U/s1600/creating_adam.jpg
Man is the highest of
God's creatures, being
made in the image of God.

http://incrediblesnaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Forest-Lion-by-greg-du-toit.jpg
The lion is the greatest of
the untamed beasts of the
forest,
the
King of
the
Jungle.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDXsPxFAOqJKv4Tq2GzB5YmSvipM5NbkUHdwfbVw42if04kS2mjA
The ox is the strongest of
the domesticated
beasts
of the
field.

http://funbaz.com/wallpapers/birds/eagles/downloads/eagle-for-cliff-063.jpg
The eagle is the greatest of
the birds and is even a
picture of God
(Deuteronomy 32:11-12).

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).

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),

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

The presence of the
cherubim before the
throne of God is assurance
that God remembers His
promise and cares for His
creatures.

This, then, is a revelation
of the greatness and the
majesty of God told in
symbolic form.

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.

What Ezekiel sees is the
power and the majesty of
God.

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.

Throughout all of history
these living creatures
have symbolically
represented certain
qualities of God’s
character.

*A lion is always a picture
of sovereignty, of
supremacy---"the king of
the beasts."
*A man is the picture of
intelligence, of
understanding.

*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.

Now the significant thing
is that the four gospels
present exactly these same
qualities in Jesus Christ.

He appears first in the
Gospel of Matthew as the
King---the lion, the king
of beasts, the sovereign of
all.

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.

And in the Gospel of John
He is deity (the eagle).
These four reflect the
character of Jesus Christ.

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.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T_pwKfo5X1Q/TVHVTdyrJ9I/AAAAAAAAB_Y/F4Pl4CameaM/s1600/king_of_glory.jpg

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.

http://wordincarnate.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/transfiguration2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mWEBwrcpjyw/URZfQ7K36kI/AAAAAAAAAq8/uKlJqtFkYf0/s1600/GraceToGlory.jpg
Exodus 34:29-30, 35 - the
skin of Moses’ face shone

God reveals Himself
through Christ and
through us!
Ezekiel saw clearly the
revelation of God in Jesus
Christ.

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.

http://gehnabazaar.com/images/imagesite/green_beryl_round_280x280.jpg
16 The appearance of the
wheels and their
workings was like
the color of
beryl (BER-əl),

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.

17 When they moved, they
went toward any one of
four directions; they did
not turn aside when they
went.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It was indeed an awesome
sight, the huge wheels,
the living creatures, the
enfolding fire, and the
eyes in the rims of the
wheels.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r289/TruthisAlive/THE-RIVER-THRONE-VISION.jpg

So they could move with
almost the speed of light.
Their movement was like
a lightning bolt - the
appearance of a flash of
lightning.

http://www.lovingjustwise.com/09_1pr6a.jpg
Ezekiel is limited to using
human language - trying
to describe their
appearance.

*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.

*Ezekiel mentions this
three times so it's
obviously quite
remarkable to him.
*He has not ever seen
anything like this on the
earth.

Ezekiel’s vision of the four
wheels dramatically
illustrates the
omnipresence and
omniscience of God.

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.

http://pastoralin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/The-Holiness-of-God-2009-National-Conference.jpg

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)

The wheels symbolize the
omnipresence of God,
while the eyes on their
rims suggest the
omniscience of God,
seeing and knowing
everything.

This vision appeared to
Ezekiel as a powerful
imagery of movement and
action demonstrating the
characteristics of God’s
divine nature.

Ezekiel’s 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.

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.

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.

It reminded them of His
holiness and power as the
Lord of all creation during
their darkest days.

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!

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).

*He is not going to have
any losers on His team!

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.

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).”

16 The Spirit Himself bears
witness with our spirit that we
are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs—heirs of
God and joint heirs with
Christ, if indeed we suffer
with Him, that we may also be
glorified together.

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

Romans 8:22-39 NKJV
22 For we know that the
whole creation groans and
labors with birth pangs
together until now.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

30 Moreover whom He
predestined, these He also
called; whom He called,
these He also justified;
and whom He justified,
these He also glorified.

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?

33 Who shall bring a charge
against God’s 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.

35 Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword?

36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are
killed all day long;
We are accounted as
sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things
we are more than
conquerors through Him
Who loved us.

38 For I am persuaded that
neither death nor life, nor
angels nor principalities
nor powers, nor things
present nor things to
come,

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

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.

The prophet had to
describe in the Hebrew
language what he saw,
which was so incredible
and foreign to his
experiences as a human.

The Apostle Paul
explained our limited
vision and understanding
of spiritual things:

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."

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.

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.

The great number of eyes
on the rings may portend
or symbolize how great is
God's awareness and
direction of events.

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.

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.

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.

25 A voice came from
above the firmament
that was over their heads;
whenever they stood, they
let down their wings.

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.

*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.

*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).

The mobility of the
wheels suggests the
omnipresence of God;
the eyes, His omniscience;
and the elevated position,
His omnipotence.

Ezekiel was beholding a
representation of the
providence of God as He
worked in His world.
But one more item
remained.

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.

http://polination.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/sea-of-glass-like-crystal-or-sapphire-tilework.jpg

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.

http://www.spiritwatch.org/throne.jpg

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.

http://www.gracedoctrine.org/prepschool/2ndcomingofjcpt6_files/image004.jpg

http://www.beadsmanufacturers.com/product/95674.jpg
“throne, in appearance like
a sapphire stone” (v26)

the throne was azure blue

http://esdotcarter.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/ezekielsvision2.jpg
“on the likeness of the
throne was a likeness with
the appearance
of a man high
above it.”(v26)

http://thepalmbeachcandlecompany.com/images/amber.jpg
“His waist and upward I
saw, as it were, the color
of amber” (v27)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3093/3175868244_a8fc1c488e.jpg

http://www.truthforlife.org/static/uploads/daily051013.png
Like the appearance of a
rainbow in a cloud (v28)

http://newheavenonearth.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/sky.jpg?w=640
The sapphire throne had a
rainbow around it
(covenant grace).

http://newbreedmovement.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/rainbow-around-the-throne.jpg

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.

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,
“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.

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.

“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to
come!”

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.”

http://harshikaram.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/rainbow.jpg

In His wrath, God
remembers mercy
(Habakkuk 3:2b).

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.

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).

The "man" he saw upon
the throne was a
preincarnate appearance
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(See Ezek. 8:2 and 40:3.)

http://sapphirethroneministries.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/sea-of-glass-like-crystal-or-sapphire-tilework.jpg

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 God’s
throne.

The wheels depicted
God's omnipresence and
the eyes His omniscience.
Here the throne speaks of
God's omnipotent
authority.

http://blogs.blueletterbible.org/blb/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2011/08/omnipotent.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X-PiJwkIiDs/T7m5NNvZ-PI/AAAAAAAAE5g/rV7UTXx89tI/s1600/Omnipotent.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/49/58/f9/4958f90b35c70d92ef20a91deb4340f5.jpg

http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.607992585599060941&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9

http://annscookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/beforethethroneofgodabove.jpg

http://transforminggrace.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/throne-of-glory-justice-and-grace.jpg

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).

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.

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.

The city will be called
“Jehovah Shammah—the
Lord is there” (Ezekiel
48:35).

http://spiritualbattleground.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/7-jehovah-shammah.jpg

The greatest reward a
person can ever have is
the presence of the Lord!

Now we can begin to
grasp the message that
God was giving His
prophet.

*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!

*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.

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.

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!

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.

END—
Bible Exposition
Commentary (BE Series) -
Old Testament

Ezekiel 1:5a NKJV
5a Also from within it
came the likeness of four
living creatures.

And he describes these
creatures to us.
Each had four faces---the
faces of a man, an eagle,
an ox, and a lion.

These four faces turned in
every direction, faced
every way.
After he saw the four
living creatures, he saw
certain wheels.

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."

Ezekiel saw that these
wheels were turning, one
wheel within the other.

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.

*Now, if you have read
the book of Revelation
you will recognize great
similarities to what John
saw.
*John also saw four living
creatures.

He, too, saw a throne, and
on the throne a man.

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.

Then in chapters 2-9,
Ezekiel moves quickly
into prophecies at great
length that have to do
with the failure of man.

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.’

5 As for them, whether they
hear or whether they
refuse—for they are a
rebellious house—yet they
will know that a prophet
has been among them.
Ezekiel 2:4-5 NKJV

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’—

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

Ezekiel 8:16 NKJV
16 So He brought me into
the inner court of the
LORD’s house; and there,
at the door of the temple
of the LORD, between the
porch and the altar,

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

Ezekiel 10:18a NKJV
18a Then the glory of
the LORD departed from
the threshold of the
temple

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.

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.

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.

And later, after the
crucifixion and the
resurrection, He ascended
from that mountain into
glory.

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.

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.

But God always carries
out His plan that involves
forgiveness and grace and
love for those who do
follow His ways.

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.”’

18 And they will go there,
and they will take away
all its detestable things
and all its abominations
from there.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Here you find the reasons
why man is debauched
and degraded, and
Ezekiel sets forth the
righteousness of God's
judgment.

When man chooses to
avoid the God Who made
him, what else is there but
judgment?

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.

The prophet sees through
all the judgment that
came upon this people, he
sees through to the forces
behind.

In chapter 28 there is a
remarkable passage
where the prophet speaks
about the judgment upon
the land of Tyre and
Sidon.

He speaks of the prince of
Tyre and, behind him, an
individual whom he calls
the king of Tyre.

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---

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.

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

earth and cause events we
see recorded in our daily
newspapers.
In other words, these are
the Satanic powers.

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.

And this is one of only
two passages in the whole
Bible that describes the
fall of Satan:

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,

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;

Ezekiel 28:15 NKJV
15 You were perfect in your
ways from the day you
were created,
Till iniquity was found in
you.

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.

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

06 June 15, 2014 Ezekiel Chapter One, When Your World Crumbles

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (6)

Similar to 06 June 15, 2014 Ezekiel Chapter One, When Your World Crumbles

Similar to 06 June 15, 2014 Ezekiel Chapter One, When Your World Crumbles (20)

More from First Baptist Church Jackson

More from First Baptist Church Jackson (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

06 June 15, 2014 Ezekiel Chapter One, When Your World Crumbles