Meaning Of a Wheel?
Hi Mike,
What does a wheel spiritually mean in Ezekiel?
D____
Hi D____
You ask what the wheels in Ezekiel mean? Wheels are mentioned in two chapters in Ezekiel. They are mentioned in both chapters one and ten. Here are a few verses from chapter one:
Eze 1:15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
Eze 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.
Eze 1:17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Twice we are told “the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels,” and since the wheels are “upon the earth,” and yet are seen only in relation to the throne of God, and since “God dwells with men,” it becomes obvious that these wheels in Ezekiel typify that upon which the throne of God within us is carried about. The fact that there is a “wheel within a wheel, is nothing less than Christ within His elect:
So what then is the difference between the wheels and the creatures if indeed “the spirit of the living creatures is in the wheels?”
The answer lies in the fact that we are told in verse 15, “Behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creature.” And again in verse 20, “Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go.” So the wheels “upon the earth” are led by the spirit in the creatures. The spirit in the creatures are the heavenly counterpart of the wheels upon the earth, and we are even told that the creatures have the power to “lift the wheels up from the earth” (verses 19 -20).
So it is “in spirit” only that we, too, are “seated with Christ in the heavens.”
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly [ places] in Christ Jesus:
The key to understand what are these wheels is in understanding what are the living creatures, because we are told “the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.” So what are these four living creatures?
A close comparison of the descriptions of these “four living creatures” mentioned in Ezekiel 1 and 10 with the four living creatures of Rev 4 and 5 will reveal that they are the same four creatures. The only difference is that it is revealed in Revelation that while the creatures in Ezekiel have but four wings, the creatures in Revelation have 6 wings. This does not make them different creatures, it makes them more clearly revealed for what it is they symbolize.
Those with eyes that see the things of the spirit, know that the number six, in the final book of Revelation, connects these four creatures with mankind. Is that really the case? Let us not speculate about what the symbols of God’s Word means. Let’s always let the scriptures interpret the scriptures. It will always be “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little,” but those with eyes that see and ears that hear, will not then be snared by the wild speculations of men who cannot understand God’s Word as it is written line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. So here now is what the creatures themselves reveal about themselves. When we come to know what these creatures reveal about themselves, then we will know what are the wheels of Ezekiel. Just who are these four creatures which are “in the midst of and round about the throne of God?
Rev 5:8 And when he [ the Lamb] 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.
“You have redeemed us to God out of every nation tongue and people, and we will reign on the earth.” On the earth is where the wheel within a wheel is said to be in Ezekiel. And it is also the overcomers only who are promised rulership with Christ on this earth during the millennium.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But it is the nations within us which must first be dealt with. If those nations are not first conquered we will be found unworthy to rule outward nations.
These four creatures, as well as the four and twenty elders “in the midst of and round about the throne of God,” identify themselves as God elect overcomers who will be given power over the nations. “You have redeemed us, and we will reign on earth.”
But this is the significance of the wheels as opposed to the creatures:
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
What is meant by “the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels?” What is “this treasure [ which] we have in earthen vessels?” That treasure in earthen vessels and the spirit of the living creatures, is one and the same. Here is what that treasure and that spirit is:
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
How do we know that this spirit is the spirit of Christ in us? Here is how we know:
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
So those ‘four living creatures’ whose spirit is in the wheels, could never claim that they are God redeemed overcomers if they did not possess the “spirit of Christ.” And notice this amazing fact:
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.
What is likened to lamps in the book of Revelation?
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
That’s right, the four creatures are given the spirit of Christ, whose spirit is the spirit of His Father, which spirit is also called “the seven spirits of God”. But Christ, His Father and the seven spirits of God are, in reality all one and the self same spirit:
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
So we are forced to see that “all things are of God.”
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all thing s, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
But for the purpose of communicating with His creation, God has symbolized His entire message to mankind in words which are “not according to man’s knowledge.”
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Things that are “spiritually discerned” are the “hidden wisdom” spoken in parables which only the spirit can discern with spiritually discerning eyes and spiritually attuned ears. With such eyes and ears we can see that “the wheels upon the earth” are the same thing as “this treasure in earthen vessels,” or “Christ come in the flesh,” that flesh being both the flesh of His physical body as well as the flesh of His spiritual body, which body we are:
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels [ Christ in our flesh], that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike
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