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Introduction

Here is what we must keep in mind as we read all these Old Testament prophecies:

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

That especially includes all of the symbols of all of these prophecies concerning “the patterns of the things of the heavens themselves.” The heavens are where God dwells in His temple, in His people. We will not belabor that already established truth, but we must keep our focus on the Truth that Heaven and all these things about the kingdom of the heavens are all within each and everyone of us. All these writings concerning “a door opened in heaven” and “the pattern of the heavens themselves” are not written aforetime for others. They are written for you and for me.

Last week we followed the scriptures concerning these four beasts from their first mention in the Garden of Eden in Genesis three through Exodus and then to Ezekiel one. In Genesis their number is not even given, but we did become familiar with the Biblical term ‘cherubim’, and we were given to know that these creatures “Keep the way of the tree of life with a flaming sword.” We know from the  gospels and from the book of Revelation that Christ is both “the way” of the tree of life and that He is “the life” of that tree of life.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

So it is Christ’s “way” with His fiery words that is kept by these cherubims which “keep the way of the tree of life… which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” So, for those with eyes that see, we are being told right from the beginning that “the way of the tree of life” is a fiery way. It is “the word that Christ speaks to us.”

Gen 3:24 So he [God] drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

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.

It’s simply not possible that the tree of life can be anything other than Christ and His words of life.

Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

The next time these cherubims appear in scripture is in Exodus where we discovered that they shadow the mercy seat, which Ezekiel one shows us is a type of the throne of God. Does no one ask, what became of the tree of life? Where was Eden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life from Adam to Noah? Where were these cherubims all those 1500 or so years? The answer is that Eden, the serpent and those trees were used to symbolize spiritual realities, and after they had served as the symbols of  those spiritual realities, they were no more needed than a physical altar and physical animal sacrifices after the sacrifice of Christ. The point is that the “tree of life” was a type of Christ who is the spiritual throne of God. Christ tells us plainly that His Father dwells in Him.

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Therefore His Father’s throne has always been in Christ, and the tree of life, which was rejected by Adam and Eve in favor of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, was really nothing more or less than the rejection of the the throne of God for the throne of Satan, typified by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was the rejection of  the things of the spirit in favor of the things of the flesh. And this is all “after the counsel of His own will.”

Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

We learned in Exodus that it is from His throne that God speaks to His people “from between the cherubims.”

Exo 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Num 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that [was] upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Psa 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

Isa 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

In Exodus we also learned much more about the meaning of the phrase “round about the throne,” because we saw that the cherubims were not just shadowing the mercy seat, but they were also everywhere in the tabernacle of Moses and everywhere in the temple of Solomon. They were woven into the veil that comprised the tabernacle and made up its walls and doors. They were carved into the walls and doors of the temple, and in the temple they were covered with pure gold. But we also discovered there in Exodus, that the cherubims were even on the bases of the lavers which were made of copper, in the court of the altar. Our earlier studies in the spiritual significance of base metals in scripture, showed us that the significance of finding that the cherubims are also of copper, and they are found in the court of the altar is that God’s elect are his elect from “before times eonian,” or as the KJV puts it, “before the world began.”

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

Here in Exodus we are shown only that there were but two cherubims shadowing the mercy seat, and we were told only that they had two wings with which they covered the mercy seat throne.

The next place we encountered these cherubims was in Ezekiel one. Here we were told that “the heavens were opened.” We have learned from this chapter we are covering in Revelation, that an “open heaven” is an exponentially increased knowledge of heavenly things, and sure enough, Ezekiel sees much, much more concerning “the pattern of the things in the heavens.” It is here in Ezekiel that we learn for the first time that there are four creatures around the throne, that they are like fire and like lamps of fire. We learned that they each have four faces, that those four faces are the face of a man, a lion, an ox and a flying eagle. We saw that there was a very close relationship between the four creatures and four wheels which are like a wheel within a wheel. We learned that these wheels are full of eyes before and behind, and we learned that the relationship between the four creatures and the four wheels was so close that we are told that “the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.”

All of this throne scene, we are told, is surrounded by a rainbow and it is all said to be “the glory of the Lord.”

Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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.

Mat 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Now let’s go over to chapter 10 and see what else we can learn:

Ezekiel 10

Today we will examine the next entry where these four living creatures are found. Today we will examine Ezekiel 10.

Eze 10:1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
Eze 10:2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
Eze 10:3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
Eze 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.
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.
Eze 10:6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
Eze 10:7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
Eze 10:8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
Eze 10:9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
Eze 10:10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
Eze 10:11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
Eze 10:12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
Eze 10:13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
Eze 10:14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Eze 10:15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This [is] the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
Eze 10:16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
Eze 10:17 When they stood, [these] stood; and when they were lifted up, [these] lifted up themselves [ also]: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in them.
Eze 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Eze 10:19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above.
Eze 10:20 This [is] the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
Eze 10:21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their wings.
Eze 10:22 And the likeness of their faces [was] the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

Four Characteristics of “The Pattern of The Things of The Heavens Themselves” Mentioned in Chapter One Which Are Not Mentioned in Chapter Ten

First:

This whole vision is presented only in chapter one as “a whirlwind out of 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.

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.

Ezekiel chapter nine, describing the judgment of Jerusalem coming out of the north, the killing of the offering on the north side of the altar, and Israel’s judgment coming out of the north country, all tell us that this entire vision of “the pattern of the things of the heavens themselves” is a vision of the judgment of the deeds done in this “marred in the hand of the Potter… vessel of clay,” which we call this body.

Eze 9:2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them [was] clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.

Lev 1:11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.

Eze 8:5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.

Jer 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

It is this verse 4 which explains the tone of both the book of Ezekiel and of Revelation. Both books are the judging of God’s people and the purging of “the pattern of the things of the heavens themselves.”

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.

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 A nd said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Second:

That these creatures have “the likeness of a man” is mentioned only in chapter one. The spiritual significance of this statement is obvious in light of what they tell us of themselves in Revelation five.

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;

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.

This statement at the very beginning of this “open heavens” vision tells us up front who these “four living creatures” symbolize.

Third:

The feet of the cherubims are described in chapter one, but are not mentioned in chapter ten.

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.

Doesn’t “feet like brass” sound familiar?

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.

What the copper feet, both of these creatures and of Christ, reveal to us is that Christ and these “four living creatures” have one and the same experience walking in bodies of sinful flesh. It is a fiery experience, and it is experienced in sinful flesh, typified by copper, as the best the flesh has to offer. That is the spiritual significance of the best of the base metals, copper. That is the spiritual significance of “feet of fine brass as if they burned in a furnace.”

It is of utmost spiritual significance that the only copper in the tabernacle of Moses was the sockets which supported the pillars in the door of the sanctuary. The sanctuary is  the first room of the tabernacle, which housed the golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the golden altar.

Exo 26:36 And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
Exo 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

We all must become familiar with the things of the sanctuary before we can be the cherubims which shadow the throne of God and do and perform the work of that throne. As we come into the holy place called the sanctuary, we must first come before the door to the holy of holies. We come to God by coming up out of the earth, where we were all but dust to begin with. We have to be copper before we can be gold just as we have to be the first Adam with “all that is in the world,” before we can become Christ and “the things of the heavens themselves.” The only way to God is through the ‘five golden pillars, standing on sockets of brass in the house of God.’

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Fourth:

The fact that the wings are joined together is mentioned in chapter one, but not in chapter ten.

Eze 1:9  Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

The very mention of ‘wings’ reveals that the spirit is involved in this revelation. Wings are peculiar only to the fowls of the air, and Christ himself tells us that the fowls of the air represent the spirit world, be it the dove which represents the holy spirit or the evil spirits which devour the seed planted in the soil of our souls.

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:

Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

While these “wings… joined one to another” is not specifically mentioned in the tenth chapter, the spiritual significance of this phenomenon is mentioned in chapter ten when we are told:

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… as the voice of the Almighty God when He speaks,” is an incredible concept. For “their wings [to be] joined on to another,” as they are in flight, these “living creatures” must, of necessity be “of one mind and of one judgment,” a concept completely foreign to the mind of the natural man. Yet that is what we are told of these four living creatures. Now, who in the New Testament are to be “of one mind?”

Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

That is the spiritual significance of ” Their wings were joined one to another… the sound of the cherubims’ wings was… as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. These ‘wings joined one to another” belong to those who are these cherubims:

Isa 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.

Fifth:

The fifth thing mentioned in chapter one which is not mentioned in chapter ten is the fact that there is a rainbow around the throne of God.

Eze 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.
Eze 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.
Eze 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 colors of the rainbow are mentioned here and in Gen 9, where we read:

Gen 9:8 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
Gen 9:9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
Gen 9:10 And with every living creature that [is] with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
Gen 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Gen 9:12 And God said, This [is] the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that [is] with you, for perpetual generations:
Gen 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Gen 9:14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
Gen 9:15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Gen 9:16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
Gen 9:17 And God said unto Noah, This [is] the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that [is] upon the earth.

The not too subtle reminder in promising not to destroy all flesh with water, is that God has done so in the past, and is quite capable of doing so in the future. The fact that the promise is “the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh,” is actually a warning that there are other means at God’s disposal with which he will destroy all flesh. The destruction of all flesh is essential to the destruction of death. If there were not two resurrections, we could conclude that the kingdom of God within is the fullness of that kingdom. But there are but two resurrections. The first is the resurrection of the blessed and holy firstfruits, and the second is all others. But this second resurrection is the destruction of both death itself and the destruction of Satan himself.

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

The only way to destroy death is to destroy all flesh. As long as flesh is being perpetuated, death is being perpetuated, and Satan is still ruling over death. But Satan will himself be destroyed and then death will also die:

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

So the rainbow, whether it is “in the cloud” or “around the throne,” both are in the clouds.

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.

The clouds typify “so great a cloud of witnesses.”

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The “great cloud” of Ezekiel 1 and the “great cloud” of Heb 12 are one and the same “cloud of witnesses” in who God dwells and in whom is the “throne of God.” The rainbow in the cloud reminds us that God rules both on earth and is heaven. Both Joseph and the daughters of the king wore coats of many colors as a sign of the rulership they wre given.

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Gen 37:7 For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

2Sa 13:18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
2Sa 13:19  And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

God’s elect are to be a nation of kings and priests, and are to be seated with Christ in the heavens where is located that “bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain,” which throne appears as the brightness of that rainbow.

Eph 2:6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms— all because we are one with Christ Jesus.(NLT)

Summary

All we have had time to cover today are these five characteristics of chapter one which are not mentioned in chapter ten.

1) The fact that these “four living creatures have the likeness of a man” tells us that these four living creatures are just who they tell us they are in Revelation five.

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;

2) Christ’s feet of fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, are the same feet of brass found on these four living creatures. Brass feet are the symbol of our walk in these “marred in the hand of the Potter… vessels of clay” (Jer 18:4). The fact that the only copper found in the tabernacle of Moses, is the sockets which support the five pillars through which all who enter the tabernacle must pass, reminds us of our earthy origins and the fact that God is calling light out of darkness, and the fact that “that is not first which is spiritual but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual” (1Co 15:44).

3) Christ’s feet of “fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace,” are the same feet of brass found on these four living creatures. Brass feet are the symbol of our walk in these “marred in the hand of the Potter… vessels of clay” (Jer 18:4). The fact that the only copper found in the tabernacle of Moses, is the sockets which support the five pillars through which all who enter the tabernacle must pass, reminds us of our earthy origins and the fact that God is calling light out of darkness, and the fact that “that is not first which is spiritual but that which is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual” (1Co 15:44). The feet of these cherubims and Christ’s feet are both said to be copper. We walk upon our feet, and we saw that the walk of Christ and the walk of these four living creatures has both been in bodies of sinful flesh, “marred in the hand of the Potter… vessels of clay.” Copper being the best of the base metals, is not seen in the tabernacle of God except as the feet or “sockets” of the pillars which comprise the door to the tabernacle through which all must pass. No one comes to God except through this door and Christ is that door, and in Him we too are that door with five pillars standing on sockets of brass, or more correctly copper.

4) We saw that the spiritual significance of “their wings were joined one to another” is telling us that these creatures and those who they typify, are of absolute necessity, “of the same mind.” Having “wings” tells us that there is a spirit in these “four living creatures.” It tells us that the spirit in them is “one spirit.” Any thing less is disastrous and will lead to spiritual death.

5) Finally we saw that the rainbow mentioned in chapter one is the sign of the power and rulership of God both in heaven and on earth.

Psa 76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

Coats of “many colors were worn both by Joseph and by the daughters of the king, because they were rulers.

Next week we will see more of the spiritual significance of the wings of these four living creatures. We will see two examples which will demonstrate for us that when the wings of these creatures are “lifted up from the earth,” God’s elect are elevated into the heavens and proclaim heavenly words from the mouth of God. That will be but one of many of the similarities between these two chapters. That is what we will examine next week as we see the things which both of these chapters have in common.  This is all “a door opened in heaven,” to show us “the patterns of the heavenly things themselves.”