EZEKIEL LESSON 1
We see that the priest, the prophet Ezekiel is the penman of this
book. Ezekiel was from an upper middle-class family. At the time of
his prophecy, the northern kingdom had already been in captivity about
100 years. The first part of this is prophecy directed at Judah and
Benjamin. We will discover that Ezekiel is in Babylon when this
prophecy is given. Historians tell us that he lived in Tel-Abib in the
land of the Chaldeans. He was, probably, about 30 years old when he
began to prophesy. Those who worked in the temple, usually began at
about 30 years of age. Jesus' formal ministry began when He was 30
years old. It is believed by many that Ezekiel began to prophesy in
about 595 B.C.
For the book of Ezekiel to be profitable for us to study, we must
look beyond the literal happenings, and apply these things to our life
today. These studies are looking into the spiritual, rather than the
literal meaning of the Scriptures. The name, "Ezekiel", means whom God
will strengthen. We will see Ezekiel speak with inspiration from God
many times in the book. He uses "thus saith LORD" over and over.
We will, now, begin with Ezekiel 1:1 "Now it came to pass in the
thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the
month, as I [was] among the captives by the river of Chebar, [that]
the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God."
As I said above, the 30 years I believe to be the age of Ezekiel
when this happened. The setting is in captivity. It is strange to
begin the book with the word "now". I believe that he is saying, there
was a separation of his life up until this time. Now, he has accepted
the role God intended for him all along. "The heavens were opened" is
an expression stating that this was not Ezekiel's doing. This was a
miraculous act of God. In the following Scripture, we see the heavens
opened at the baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon him:" One other time, that is mentioned
specifically, is at the stoning of Stephen. Acts 7:56 "And said,
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God." We can easily see from these Scriptures, this
type of thing seldom happens. When they do happen, God is revealing
something to man. The visions of God were not night dreams, but
something that happened while he was fully awake. These visions were
to reveal something from God to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 1:2 "In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the
fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,"
We will notice in Ezekiel that he did not recognize Zedekiah's
reign. Zedekiah had been put into power by Nebuchadnezzar, and Ezekiel
did not consider him, truly king. There had been many false prophets
who said that Judah would not stay in captivity. They prophesied the
fall of Babylon within 2 years. The true prophets, like Ezekiel and
Jeremiah, were prophesying no such thing.
Ezekiel 1:3 "The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the
priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river
Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him."
The word "expressly" shows us, that even if others were there,
they did not hear the Word God sent to Ezekiel. This Scripture shows
us that Ezekiel was not only a prophet, but priest, as well. This is
the only mention of Buzi in the Bible. The "hand of the LORD" speaks
of the power that came into Ezekiel from the touch of the LORD. The
hand, also, symbolizes work. If the work is connected with God, then
it is a holy work. The priests were anointed on the thumb of their
right hand, showing that their work was to be holy. The land of the
Chaldeans is Babylon. Ezekiel was a priest in exile. He was with his
people. He did not prophesy in the palace, as Daniel did. He
prophesied in the country in exile. Remember, Jeremiah remained in
Jerusalem with the people who were left. All three prophesied the same
thing, but to different people in different places.
Ezekiel 1:4 "And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of
the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a
brightness [was] about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour
of amber, out of the midst of the fire."
Many times, the presence of God is spoken of as being in the
north. The Hebrews had always feared the power coming from the north.
We see in the following Scripture, that God speaks from the whirlwind.
Job 40:6 "Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and
said," We see in the following Scripture, the movement of the power of
God in the whirlwind, as well. II Kings 2:11 "And it came to pass, as
they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a
chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and
Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." God revealed Himself in
a fire by night, and a smoke by day to the Israelites. There is no
question in my mind, that this is speaking of a presence of Almighty
God. Hebrews 12:29 "For our God [is] a consuming fire." The word
translated amber, here, means bronze. "Bronze" symbolizes judgement.
The Lord is the Judge of all the world. This is speaking of God.
Ezekiel 1:5 "Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of
four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the
likeness of a man."
We have studied in some of our other books, that these 4 living
creatures are symbolic of the 4 gospels, and more specifically Jesus
in the 4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This likeness of a
man is speaking of Jesus in the book of Luke, which shows the manhood
of Jesus. Notice, this likeness came from the middle. We will find
that the middle of the wheel is Jesus in the books of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John. The focal point of the entire Bible is Jesus in the 4
gospels. We must, also, look at the word "appearance". This reveals
there is a symbolic meaning here.
Ezekiel 1:6 "And every one had four faces, and every one had four
wings."
"Four" means universal. This message is for those in captivity
everywhere, and not just for those of Judah captive here. The wings
symbolize the rising above the earthly to the heavenly. "Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
[and] they shall walk, and not faint." Everyone has a time in his
life, when he would like to fly away from his troubles. This would be
especially true of those in captivity.
Ezekiel 1:7 "And their feet [were] straight feet; and the sole of
their feet [was] like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled
like the colour of burnished brass."
"Burnished brass" symbolizes judgement. The straight feet could
be speaking of their walk before God on the straight and narrow path.
The calf mentioned, here, is speaking of the book of Mark, which shows
the miracles of Jesus. The calf symbolizes work.
Ezekiel 1:8 "And [they had] the hands of a man under their wings
on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings."
The book of Luke is symbolized by the face of man. These 4 faces
mean they were looking to all mankind, and not just the Hebrews. This
shows the strength of the Lord to hold all of humanity up. It is Jesus
in these 4 gospels, who lifts them up to the heavenlies. Each of the
four gospels reach out to the 4 corners of the earth. These 4 faces in
each appearance reach to the north, south, east, and the west. This
just shows the universality of the gospel.
Ezekiel 1:9 "Their wings [were] joined one to another; they
turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward."
God's power to lift them up is not separated. All of God's
children are united in their belief of God. They moved forward and not
backwards. They were on the path which leads to God.
Ezekiel 1:10 "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had
the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they
four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the
face of an eagle."
Now we see the four faces. The "eagle" symbolizes God and
therefore the book of John, which shows Jesus as God the Word. The
"lion" symbolizes the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Matthew. The "ox"
and the calf are the same. They both symbolize work in the book of
Mark. The "face of the man" is seen in Luke, which shows the manhood
of Jesus. These four books show the fullness of Jesus. Each of these
had four faces, and each had a message for the entire world.
Ezekiel 1:11 "Thus [were] their faces: and their wings [were]
stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to
another, and two covered their bodies."
Notice, these wings and faces were lifted to heaven. Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John are all lifting Jesus heavenward. These are not
earthly messages in these books, they are looking to heaven. They are
not like the Old Testament, which is caught up in the law. They are
reaching into heaven to God. Flesh and blood bodies cannot rise to
heaven. The body that rises to heaven is the spiritual body.
I Corinthians 15:50 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption." I Corinthians 15:44 "It is sown a natural body; it is
raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a
spiritual body." The natural body, in Ezekiel here, cannot rise to
heaven. It is covered with the wings, because it is not the heavenly
body. The wings, which lift up, are speaking of the spiritual body
which rises to heaven.
Ezekiel 1:12 "And they went every one straight forward: whither
the spirit was to go, they went; [and] they turned not when they
went."
God does not change His ways. He is straightforward. James 1:17
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning." God does not turn from side to side. His approach
is the Truth. The path is narrow that leads to righteousness. There is
no looking back, or turning back, for the believer, any more than
there is for God. The Spirit is the movement of the Word in the
Gospels. The Word is alive, it is not stagnant.
Ezekiel 1:13 "As for the likeness of the living creatures, their
appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, [and] like the appearance
of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire
was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning."
Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the Baptizer in fire. This
constant fire, or Light, is speaking of the brightness of the Lord
Jesus in the Gospels. It is Jesus who shines forth from these 4 books.
It is His fire that purges our sins away. The same appearance was in
the burning bush, and in the fire by night that led the Hebrews. He is
the Lamp, which brings Light to the whole world. Hebrews 9:2 "For
there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick,
and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary." The
candlestick symbolized the Light of Jesus in the church. He was the
table and the bread on the table, as well. In the 2nd chapter of
Revelation, the candlesticks are the seven churches. The Light in the
candlestick is Jesus. His Light goes forth through His church. This is
what the lightning is speaking of. We, Christians, should show forth
His Light.
Ezekiel 1:14 "And the living creatures ran and returned as the
appearance of a flash of lightning."
This is speaking of the message that goes forth to the whole
world from the Gospels. The appearance shown is Jesus, the Light of
the world.
Ezekiel 1:15 "Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one
wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces."
This wheel shows the movement of the Gospels in the earth.
Ezekiel 1:16 "The appearance of the wheels and their work [was]
like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and
their appearance and their work [was] as it were a wheel in the middle
of a wheel."
This "wheel in the middle of the wheel" is like the hub of the
wheel, which the outer wheel circles around, controlled by the hub of
the wheel. Jesus, in the 4 Gospels, is the hub of the wheel. He is the
focal point of the Bible; from Genesis to Malachi points to Jesus;
from Acts to Revelation points back to Jesus in the Gospels. The
outside of the wheel is the entire Bible. The inside wheel, or hub, is
Jesus in the 4 gospels. Jesus is in the entire Bible. We do not always
see Him spoken of by the name Jesus. Sometimes He is Lord, sometimes
He is the Word, sometimes He is Light. All are speaking of the
personage we call Jesus. His name always describes what He is doing at
the time. Jesus means Saviour. That was His name when He came to the
earth as our Saviour. He is, also, Emmanuel {God with us}. There are
98 names that Jesus was called by in the Bible. All the work on this
earth is caught up in the Bible {wheel}. The power in the wheel is the
Spirit of God. The beryl is, probably, the color of fire or blood.
The one likeness in all four Gospels is Jesus.
Ezekiel 1:17 "When they went, they went upon their four sides:
[and] they turned not when they went."
This just speaks of the unchanging message of the Gospels.
Ezekiel 1:18 "As for their rings, they were so high that they
were dreadful; and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them
four."
The fact that they were full of eyes, shows the great wisdom they
contain. The rings are, probably, speaking of the wheels being in a
circle. They were so high they reached to heaven.
Ezekiel 1:19 "And when the living creatures went, the wheels went
by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth,
the wheels were lifted up."
This shows that the 4 living creatures {Gospels} are part of a
greater whole. They all work together. When the Gospels are lifted up,
the entire Bible is elevated, as well. They all are in harmony of
movement.
Ezekiel 1:20 "Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went,
thither [was their] spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over
against them: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in the
wheels."
The law of the Old Testament, and the grace of the New Testament,
are all bound up together in Jesus. The types and shadows of the Lord
Jesus are throughout the Old Testament. You just cannot separate the
Bible. It all compliments each other. Each book of the Bible is a
piece of the whole. They are separate books with one message. To truly
understand the Spirit in the Word of God, one must study it all. We
understand better who Jesus is, if we study the tabernacle in the
wilderness and the sacrifices made therein. Each item tells us
something else about the greatness of Jesus. Colossians 2:9 "For in
him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The spirit of
life was in the living creatures. Jesus is Life.
Ezekiel 1:21 "When those went, [these] went; and when those
stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth,
the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the
living creature [was] in the wheels."
This, again, speaks of the harmony of the Gospels with the rest
of the Bible. The Spirit of God is in His Word, the Bible.
Ezekiel 1:22 "And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of
the living creature [was] as the colour of the terrible crystal,
stretched forth over their heads above."
The wisdom of the Gospels is the wisdom from above. It is the
wisdom of God Himself. Terrible, here, means beyond finding out.
Romans 11:33 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways
past finding out!" The crystal over their heads speaks of the great
peace they bring.
Ezekiel 1:23 "And under the firmament [were] their wings
straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered
on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their
bodies."
Firmament, in the verse above, is the visible arc of the sky. The
body of man wants to be hidden from the view of God. This is the
meaning of the wings covering. The physical body of man will be
changed, before it can enter the heavenlies. Its corruption must be
changed to incorruption.
Ezekiel 1:24 "And when they went, I heard the noise of their
wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty,
the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they
let down their wings."
The great waters, many times, speaks of large amounts of people.
We have been speaking of the written Word in the wheel. Now, it has
extended to the spoken Word {the voice of speech}. This Word is what
brings people to God. Romans 10:8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh
thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of
faith, which we preach;" Jesus is the Word of God. That Word is the
written Word throughout the pages of the Bible. He preached on the
earth. The message He brought, and that His followers bring, is the
spoken Word. This is what creates the host {large number of believers}
clothed in white robes around the throne of God in heaven. The spoken
and written Word of God is what saves people.
Ezekiel 1:25 "And there was a voice from the firmament that [was]
over their heads, when they stood, [and] had let down their wings."
God speaks from the heavens to the people on earth through the
Gospels. They cannot raise themselves to heaven. God will raise them
up in Jesus.
Ezekiel 1:26 "And above the firmament that [was] over their
heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire
stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the
appearance of a man above upon it."
Just as there was a holy of holies in the tabernacle in the
wilderness, there is a throne in heaven. Jesus is the likeness of man
that is seated on the right of the Father. He took on the likeness of
fleshly man, when He was on earth. God is a Spirit. Man was made in
the image of God. Man is a spirit housed in flesh. Man's likeness to
God is in the spirit. Mankind saw the image of God in Jesus. He was
the fulness of the Godhead bodily. He {Jesus} told the disciples the
following. John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time
with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me
hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?"
Jesus opened the way to the throne of God for all believers.
Ezekiel 1:27 "And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance
of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even
upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as
it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about."
This Fire and Light are both speaking of the presence of God.
Most times, when people see the presence of God, they see fire, as
Moses did in the burning bush.
Ezekiel 1:28 "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud
in the day of rain, so [was] the appearance of the brightness round
about. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the
LORD. And when I saw [it], I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of
one that spake."
The bow in the cloud is speaking of the rainbow. The rainbow
reminds us of the covenant God made with mankind. It will not rain
enough again to flood the entire earth. God said it, it is so. The
rainbow shows God's faithfulness. The fire of judgement is overcome by
God's love for mankind. His new covenant is in Jesus. The complete
reverence of God by Ezekiel will not let him stand. He falls face down
and worships Him. While Ezekiel is lying on his face, God speaks.
Ezekiel 1 Questions
1. Who is the penman of this book?
2. Ezekiel was from an upper _____________ family.
3. How many years had the northern kingdom been in captivity, when
Ezekiel began prophesying?
4. Who is the first of the prophecy directed to?
5. Where was Ezekiel, when he prophesied?
6. How old was he, when he began to prophesy?
7. How old was Jesus, when He began His formal ministry?
8. What must we do, for the book of Ezekiel to be meaningful to us
today?
9. What does the name "Ezekiel" mean?
10. What are three words Ezekiel speaks often in this book?
11. What happened in verse 1?
12. Why does the author believe this book was started with the word
"now"?
13. Name two other times when the heavens were opened?
14. What is God doing, when the heavens open?
15. Why is Jehoiachin mentioned, instead of Zedekiah?
16. What does the word "expressly" show us?
17. What was Ezekiel, besides a prophet?
18. What was his father's name?
19. What does the "hand of the LORD" speak of?
20. Why were the priests anointed on the thumb of their right hand?
21. Ezekiel was a priest in ________.
22. Where did Daniel prophesy?
23. Where did Jeremiah prophesy?
24. What message do we receive from Job chapter 40 verse 6?
25. Who was carried to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by a chariot
of fire?
26. How had God revealed Himself to the Israelites in the wilderness
wanderings?
27. Quote Hebrews chapter 12 verse 29.
28. What does "bronze" symbolize?
29. Also out of the midst thereof came the ____ of ____ ____ _____.
30. Who is the focal point of the Bible?
31. What did the 4 living creatures symbolize?
32. What does the number "4" mean?
33. Quote Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31.
34. What does "burnished brass" symbolize?
35. Each of the four Gospels reach out where?
36. What does the face of the "eagle" symbolize?
37. What does the face of the "calf or ox" symbolize?
38. What does the face of the "lion" symbolize?
39. What does the face of man symbolize?
40. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 50.
41. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 44.
42. What items in the tabernacle in the wilderness symbolize Jesus or
His church?
43. What is the wheel in the middle of the wheel?
44. Where was the spirit of the living creatures?
45. What did the abundance of eyes symbolize?
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