Audio Download

Ezekiel 1:1-14 The Living Creatures

[Study Aired January 22, 2024]

Introduction

Before we go into the details of this chapter, let’s take a look at who Ezekiel was. The name Ezekiel means ‘strengthened by God’, and he grew up in Jerusalem where he trained to become a priest in the temple. Unfortunately, he was part of the second group of captives taken together with King Jehoiachin to Babylon. He was the author of the Book of Ezekiel which entails the visions the Lord gave him. The Book of Ezekiel is regarded as one of the five books of the major prophets of the Bible. These five books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel. 

The first vision that Ezekiel had was about the throne of God which highlighted the four living creatures and whirling wheels. He also had visions regarding the new temple and the restored people of Israel. 

Today’s study focuses on the living creatures Ezekiel saw in the vision from the Lord. 

Ezekiel in Babylon

Eze 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.
Eze 1:2  In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,
Eze 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.

Ezekiel was by the river Chebar in Babylon where many Israelite exiles had settled, when the Lord appeared to him. Chebar means ‘far off’. What this implies is that living by the river Chebar takes us far off from the Lord, since by the rivers of Babylon we cannot worship the Lord. Being among the captives means that we were together with our brothers and sisters in Babylon or the churches of this world before the Lord came to us.

Psa 137:1  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Psa 137:2  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 
Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
Psa 137:4  How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?

The river of Chebar, or the river of Babylon, represents the false doctrines that we imbibe during our sojourn in the churches of this world before Christ shows up at the door of our heart and mind. These false doctrines make us worse off or take us far away from the Lord (the meaning of Chebar). This is what Apostle Peter has to say about this:

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity [False doctrines], they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

It was during our sojourn in Babylon that the Lord came to open our heavens to start understanding the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. The time that this vision of the Lord came to Ezekiel is very significant. We are not told what the thirtieth year refers to. However, we know that the number thirty on a positive note signifies being given the power to reign. We can therefore say that it is when our heavens open and we are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven that we are also given the power to reign over our flesh.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

The fifth day of the month, or the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, implies that our stay in Babylon is all part of the grand design of the Lord to show us His grace through faith. The fact that Ezekiel was part of Jehoiachin’s captivity implies that our bondage, or captivity to the flesh, is only for a period of time. This is because Jehoiachin was released later by the king of Babylon (Christ) to become a king over the kings in Babylon (to reign over the world). In the fullness of time, as we are set free completely from the prison of the flesh (the first resurrection), we are given a change of garment by the Lord, and we shall reign with Him. 

Jer 52:31  And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,
Jer 52:32  And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,
Jer 52:33  And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. 
Jer 52:34  And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

In verse 3, we are given to know that the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel. Before this time, although Ezekiel was a priest, he did not have an encounter with the word of the Lord. In other words, it is when our heavens are opened that we hear clearly what the Lord is saying to us in the spirit. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

We are also told in verse 3 that the hand of the Lord was upon Ezekiel even during these difficult times in Babylon. That is to say that even when we did not know Him, He was there with us all along and ordering our steps. How much more when we have come to know Him? Surely, He will bring us to an expected end!! The work the Lord has started in us, He will surely bring to completion!! There are times in our lives when we are going through hard times and cannot see the light of day. In the midst of our tribulation, the hand of the Lord is upon us, just as in Ezekiel’s situation in Babylon the Lord was with Him.

Psa 138:7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 
Psa 138:8  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. 

Php 1:6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The Whirlwind from the North

Eze 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. 

When Christ comes to us, while we are yet sinners and spending our time in Babylon, to show us the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, He comes with His judgment. The whirlwind Ezekiel saw is a symbol of the Lord’s judgment as shown in the following verses:

Jer 23:19  Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

Jer 25:32  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

This is what Brother Mike said in his study of the Book of Revelation about the significance of the north where the whirlwind was coming from. The fact that the tribe of Dan was to be on the north during Israel’s travels and when they settled in the land, tells us of the meaning of the symbolism of ‘the north.’ Dan means ‘judge.’

Gen 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.

Num 2:25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan [shall be] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Apart from the whirlwind, which speaks of our judgment, Ezekiel also saw a great cloud and fire infolding itself. The great cloud represents the cloud of witnesses or the elect who had persevered and won the prize and therefore serve as witnesses to us that the Lord who has begun a good work in our lives will see to its completion.  The fire infolding itself also speaks about our judgment as it is by judgment that we learn righteousness.  One version explains the fire infolding itself to mean fire coming one after another. In some versions, it means fire flashing forth continuously. What is significant is that our judgment is not carried out all at once but comes one after another. If we look back at what we have gone through in this life, it is like the fire flashing forth continuously, that is, being judged continuously just like the three Hebrew young men being in the fire continuously until they were delivered.

Jud 1:14  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints [the cloud], 
Jud 1:15  To execute judgment upon all [the fire infolding itself], and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 

Eze 1:4 And, looking, I saw a storm-wind coming out of the north, a great cloud with flames of fire coming after one another, and a bright light shining round about it and in the heart of it was something coloured like electrum. (BBE) 

Eze 1:4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. (ESV)

The brightness around the great cloud with fire infolding itself signifies the Lord’s coming to His saints with His words. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

In the middle of the fire was the color amber which many versions of the Bible translate as polished metal. 

Eze 1:4  I saw a windstorm blowing in from the north. Lightning flashed from a huge cloud and lit up the whole sky with a dazzling brightness. The fiery center of the cloud was as shiny as polished metal, (CEV)

A polished metal is one that has been refined resulting in the removal of dirt and all the dross. What the polished metal in the midst of the fire signifies is that our fiery trials remove all that contaminates our walk with Christ so that we can be presented blameless before God.

Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Coming to Know The Four Living Creatures

Eze 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.
Eze 1:6  And everyone had four faces, and every one had four wings.

In the midst of the storm, out of great clouds and fire appeared the four living creatures who were likened to man. This implies that these four living creatures represent the elect who were the target of the storm and fire. Being four means that they signify the whole of the elect of every generation. In the Book of Revelation, we are made certain of their identity as the Lord’s elect as follows:

Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Each of the four living creatures which represent the whole of the Lord’s elect had four faces of a lion, ox, man and an eagle. 

Eze 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.

Later in the Book of Revelation, each of the four living creatures has a specific face of either a lion, calf, man, or an eagle. 

Rev 4:7  And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

What we must realize is that Ezekiel was shown these four living creatures to know the end result of the Lord’s judgment of our old man. In other words, the result of the Lord’s judgment is for us, His elect to become like Christ. The four faces of the living creatures show us who the Lord was when He was here on earth and is now working in us to become like Him. In the spirit, it therefore does not matter whether each of the living creatures has four faces or one as we must bear all the four faces of Christ. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

The number four means the whole of the matter, and therefore the four faces show us the whole of Christ while He was here on earth. The face of a lion shows us the Lord as the lion of the tribe of Judah. The Gospel of Matthew describes the Lord as a lion of the tribe of Judah. Like a lion, the Lord did not turn back from all the trials and tribulations that He encountered in this life. He will not rest until He makes our enemies (our flesh) a footstool, that is, defeat our enemies. What He starts, He is able to bring to completion!!

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Pro 30:30  the lion, which is mightiest among beasts and does not turn back before any; 

Isa 31:4  For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The Lord is also described as an ox. This is especially portrayed in the Gospel according to Mark where the Lord worked tirelessly during His time here on earth. We are given indication of this as Mark uses the expression “and straightway… and immediately.” This implies that as His elect, the Lord is tirelessly working out our salvation.

Pro 14:4  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Mar 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Mar 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

The living creatures also had the face of a man. The Gospel according to Luke shows us Jesus as a man. That is why at the beginning of the Book of Luke, Luke traced the genealogy of Christ to Adam, the son of God. The Lord Jesus was a man in every way. That is why He represents us as our High Priest since He went through all that we are going through. As a result, we are able to come boldly before Him to receive mercy and grace at our point of need.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The living creatures all had the face of an eagle. The Gospel of John focuses on the revelation of the Lord from a heavenly perspective of an eagle which represents the spiritual realm. In other words, John paid attention to the spiritual aspect of the life of Christ since it is the spirit that gives life. We must therefore focus on having our spiritual understanding enlightened as we seek to know Christ.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

As an eagle, the Lord is bearing us, His elect, on His wings as He protects us and leads us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. In conclusion, as Christ is, so are we. We therefore must have the faces of a lion, ox, man, and an eagle.

Deu 32:9  For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Deu 32:10  He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 
Deu 32:11  As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
Deu 32:12  So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

It is also instructive to note that the four living creatures have four wings. We know that it is only birds or fowls of the air that have wings. This means that the four living creatures are likened to fowls of the air. We know from the Lord’s teaching that fowls of the air indicate the spiritual realm. What this signifies is that, although the Lord’s elect (living creatures) are men, they live in a spiritual realm. In other words, we have been raised to live in heavenly places with Christ. The fact that the living creatures have four wings signifies that the whole of the elect lives in the spiritual realm. 

Mat 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:

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eze 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. 
Eze 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 feet of the four living creatures being straight means that their walk before the Lord is not crooked. In other words, they are blameless before God. The soles of their feet being like that of a calf is very interesting. The feet of human beings are very soft and are susceptible to being easily pierced by a sharp object. Those of a calf are very hard and are not vulnerable to being hurt easily. What this means is that as His elect, it is not easy to derail our walk before the Lord. This is because the Lord protects our walk before Him. 

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psa 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

The feet of the four living creatures sparkling like burnished brass is to remind us of the feet of our Lord Jesus when He appeared to John in the island of Patmos. The burnished brass (copper) signifies the fiery trials we experience in this sinful flesh. Our Lord Jesus was the first to be judged in this life, and as we are following His footsteps here on earth, our feet are being burned in the furnace (judged) so that we shall be blameless before the Lord.

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 
Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Having the hands of man under their wings in verse 8 shows our dual citizenship. We live in the flesh here on earth, but at the same time, we are seated in heavenly places in the spirit.

Eze 1:9  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. 
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 1:12  And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

To understand what is said by their wings being joined one to another, we need to look at the function of the wings as stated in the following verse:

Eze 10:5  And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.

The sound of their wings is the same as the voice of the Lord. This implies that the joining of their wings means that they have one mind and say the same thing. In verse 11, the two wings which are joined one to another therefore means that they speak the same thing as witnesses of Christ.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

As indicated, the wings signify the spiritual realm. The two wings protecting the body in verse 11 therefore suggest that in walking in the spirit we do not defile the body or fulfill the desires of the flesh. Our protection in Christ is by walking in the spirit or obeying His words. 

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The wings of the living creatures stretching upward in verse 11 affirms the fact that the wings of the living creatures signify the spiritual realm as shown in the following verse:

Ecc 3:21  Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

In verse 9, when the living creatures were moving, they went straight ahead. In verse 11, we are given additional information about this straight-ahead movement. That is, we are shown that they move according to the spirit. This suggests that they are led by the spirit to focus only on the prize of the higher calling. They do not look back to focus on the flesh. In other words, the elect do not remember their past experiences (look back) as they forge ahead through the Holy Spirit to focus on the prize of the Lord’s higher calling.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Eze 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.
Eze 1:14  And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

The appearance of the living creatures as burning coals of fire with lightning emanating from the fire all signify the judgment of the elect which causes us to become the lamps of the world, giving light to those in the household of faith, first in this life and later to the whole world. 

Mat 5:14  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 
Mat 5:15  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Mat 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The running and returning of the living creatures as the appearance of a flash of lightning in verse 14 is to show us that our struggles (running and returning) in this life are all preparing us to become judges (Flash of lightning) in an age to come.

Rev 20:4  Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

May the Lord continue to help us to become like Him as we focus on the prize of His higher calling. Amen!!