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Rev 4:6-7 – Part 6 – Sixteen Characteristics Which Chapters 1 and 10 of Ezekiel Have in Common.

Updated March 1, 2024

Introduction

Let’s begin by again remembering that all these glorious descriptions we are being given of the throne of God in the realm of the heavens are really just “patterns of the things of the heavens… figures of the true… heaven itself.”

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [“the blood of bulls and goats” vs 13 and 19]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

As we are studying these “figures of the true” we must remember that Ezekiel is not ministering to himself, because he had no idea that these were “patterns of things in the heavens” or that they were but “figures of the true.” It was given to Peter to reveal that to us in these verses.

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Understand that “the True” is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is knowing this revelation that “brings grace to us.” You and I now know that “the True” heavens are not just one of us, but all who are in Christ and all in whom Christ dwells. We now are given to know that all the things in the temple were merely “patterns of the true” things within the true temple, “figures of the True.”

So now we can understand where Christ went when “a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Now we know where the true heavens into which He ascended are. Now we know what is the true house and tabernacle into which He has entered and in which He now dwells.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The “Ye are the temple of God” must be understood as being both corporately and individually all the patterns of all the things in that one temple ‘which temple we all are.’ “Ye are the body of  Christ” must be understood as being both corporately and individually a ‘many-membered body’ with “each member in particular” carrying out its own predestined function in that “one body.” So also is “the temple of God” and “so also is the Christ.” “The one temple has “many mansions” within it, and every great man’s house has within that one house many “vessels.”

Joh 14:2  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is [the] Christ.

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

“The Lord knows them that are His.” His house has “not only vessels…” yet “a man” becomes “a vessel unto honor” if he is purged of  the “wood and earth” which are in the “great house.”

So these patterns are figures of the true ‘you’ and the true ‘me’ into which Christ has ascended and in which He now dwells. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is the secret which has been hidden from the ages.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of [the] Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
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:
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

The Riches of The Glory of This Mystery

It is “the riches of the glory of this mystery” that we have taken time to examine and which we now continue to examine. We have eight more characteristics of these patterns of the things of the heavens which we will now examine.

9) The four wheels were “as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.” This is common to both chapters.

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 10:10  And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.

This is a figure and a pattern of what we will understand “in that day.” Just as the Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father, so, too, we are in Christ, and Christ is in us:

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

The spirit of the living creature is in the wheels and they have “one likeness” because it is the “one spirit” of Christ in both:

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.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

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:

It is the wheels which we are told are “upon the earth”, and we are plainly told that “Christ in you” is our “hope of glory.” Both He and we have experienced what it is to be “upon the earth.”

10)  The color of the four wheels is beryl. These beryl-colored wheels are common to both chapters.

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 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.

I could find nothing that told me the color of beryl, but I did find this verse of scripture describing Christ himself:

Dan 10:6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

The Hebrew word for ‘beryl’ is:

H8658
תַּרְשִׁישׁ
tarshı̂ysh
tar-sheesh’

Probably of foreign derivation (compare H8659); a gem, perhaps the topaz: – beryl.

When we look up H8659 we find that it is basically the exact same word:

H8659
תַּרְשִׁישׁ
tarshı̂ysh
tar-sheesh’

Probably the same as H8658 (as the region of the stone, or the reverse); Tarshish, a place on the Mediterranean, hence the epithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a Persian and of an Israelite: – Tarshish, Tharshish.

The scholars all agree that “the color of beryl” is the color of the sea, that being either blue or a blue green.

Since we have already been told that His body is “the appearance of fire” it should be plain that these four wheels all being “the color of a beryl stone” is just another way of telling us that this particular pattern of the things of the heavens is also like Christ.

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.

As always, anything associated with Christ is also associated with fire;

Luk 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

11) The wheels being full of eyes round about” is common to both chapters:

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 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.

We have already seen in the things that were peculiar to chapter 10, where we saw that these eyes are not just in the wheels but also all over the cherubims, that these eyes are eyes to see the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, which understand that all things are ours, past, present and future.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

So our whole body, our backs and our hands and our wings “and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.”

This is what these eyes signify and if we have the spirit then we, too, can see the things of the spirit:

Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Here is the New Testament interpretation of this Old Testament figure:

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ [is] God’s.

If we are “full of eyes round about,” then we see what is, what was and what will be. We understand that “all things are ours, things present, or things to come.” We see it all, and we see it in our own bodies, our backs and our hands and wings. We ‘see’ or understand that it is all ours, because we are “full of eyes round about.”

12) The firmament above the living creatures is common to both chapters 1 and 10.

In both chapters this firmament above the living creatures is the color of a sapphire. The phrase describing the color “as the color of the terrible crystal” or like the color of fearful or dreadful ice is only found in chapter 1, but the color itself is common to both chapters.

Eze 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 first thing we need to realize is the spiritual significance of the word ‘firmament.’ Here is what Strong’s tells us about the meaning of this word:

H7549
ra^ qi^ ya?
raw- kee’- ah
From H7554; properly an expanse, that is, the firmament or (apparently) visible arch of the sky: – firmament.”

“Raqiya, from 7554, properly an expanse.” What does H7554 have to reveal to us about how this expanse is achieved? Here is the meaning of the root of this word translated ‘firmament.’

H7554
ra^ qa?
raw- kah’
A primitive root; to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication to overlay (with thin sheets of metal): – beat, make broad, spread abroad (forth, over, out, into plates), stamp, stretch.

Is not this exactly what God does with us? Does He not expand our moral and spiritual understanding by hammering us until we are conformed to the image of His Son?

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

The root of this word ‘raqa‘ is also found in this verse of scripture:

Exo 27:20  And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

Here is Strong’s definition of the Hebrew word translated ‘beaten’ in this verse:

H3795
ka^ thi^ yth
kaw- theeth’
From H3807; beaten, that is, pure (oil): – beaten.

Christ was beaten for us, and we, too, are beaten for His body’s sake:

Mar 13:9  But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

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:

That is the root meaning of the Hebrew word translated ‘firmament.’ It is there in the ‘firmament’ of our lives that Christ is working with us all and where we are being “beaten for the light to burn always.”

The firmament is said to be “as the color of the terrible crystal.” What is “the color of the terrible crystal?”

Chapter 10 and 1 both explain.

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 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.

While sapphires may come in other colors, they are generally blue. The firmament is said to be ice blue, and if you will read our study on colors, you will see that the color blue is associated with the things of the heavens themselves, especially as it pertains to these patterns we are now studying.

Colors – The Color Blue, Part 1

There is a reason why both the sea and the heavens are blue, and why the earth appears as a blue planet in all the photos taken from outside our atmosphere.

Here is Strong’s Definition for ‘crystal.’

H7140
qerach  qo^ rach
keh’- rakh, ko’- rakh
From H7139; ice (as if bald, that is, smooth); hence, hail; by resemblance, rock crystal: – crystal, frost, ice.

King James Corncordance entries for the Hebrew word translated ‘crystal.’

H7140
qerach  /  qo^ rach
Total KJV Occurrences: 7
frost, 3
Gen_31:40, Job_37:10, Jer_36:30
ice, 3
Job_6:16, Job_38:29, Psa_147:17
crystal, 1
Eze_1:22

Since the word ‘crystal’ is apparently better translated as ‘ice’, and its color is “as it were a sapphire stone”, the “terrible crystal” is apparently blue. It is the color of the heavens, the color upon which all the holy things sat and in which all these patterns and figures of the things of the heavens were to be wrapped before they could be moved by the Levites who were not priests.

Num 4:5  And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
Num 4:6  And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
Num 4:7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

Num 4:9  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

Num 4:11  And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
Num 4:12  And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put [them] on a bar:

13)  The description of the sound of the wings of the living creatures, is common to both chapters.

The sound of the wings of the four living creatures is like the sound of Niagara Falls. It is “as the voice of the Almighty”, the noise of great waters, the noise of a host. It is as the voice of all of His people. When they stood they “let down their wings.”

Eze 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.
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.

Christ is our wings and our protection. His wings are our armor. When we stand, we stand in His armor and in “the shadow of His wings.”

Psa 36:7  How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Psa 91:4  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

We will pause here for now and do the last three characteristics which are common to Ezekiel chapter 1 and chapter 10 in our next study.