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| 1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. |
It came to pass – A portion of this prophecy was written before the final troubles upon Judah; the remainder, after the complete overthrow. The entire prophecy was given in Babylon. R4881:1
Written in the Chaldaic language, this prophecy is full of symbolism and has been termed the apocalypse of the Old Testament. R3624:3
As I was – Carried miraculously forward to some of the captives residing by the river Chebar. R4881:5
Heavens were opened – Ezekiel, like John, seems to represent the living saints. (Rev. 4:1) R530:4*
Visions of God – Related not only to natural Israel, but also to spiritual Israel. R3624:6
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| 2 On the fifth of the month, (it was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,) |
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| 3 the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him. |
Ezekiel – Ranks amongst the great prophets. R4881:1
Represented the Son of Man, the great Teacher, the Redeemer; and also the members of the Bride of Christ, used as his mouthpieces. R4881:5
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| 4 And I looked, and behold, a stormy wind 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 look of glowing brass, out of the midst of the fire. |
Out of the north – The seat of divine empire. D653 [D653:2]
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| 5 Also out of the midst thereof, the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. |
Living creatures – Cherubim are always connected with the immediate presence or throne of God. R529:6*
Personifying the attributes of God: Power, Wisdom, Justice and Love. R529:6*
We can hear the Power, Wisdom, Justice and Love of God proclaiming in perfect harmony the glory and honor of our Father. R530:5*, R2372:4
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| 6 And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings. |
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| 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 as the look of burnished brass. |
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| 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: |
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| 9 their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. |
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| 10 And the likeness of their faces was the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle. |
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| 11 And their faces and their wings were parted above; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. |
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| 12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the Spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went. |
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| 13 And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, as the appearance of torches: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright; and out of the fire went forth lightning. |
Coals of fire – Or like fire, as all spirit beings are described in Scripture. R2350:1[R2349:11]
Went forth lightning – Diffusions of knowledge. R511:2[R511:6]
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| 14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. |
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| 15 And I looked at the living creatures, and behold, one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, toward their four faces. |
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| 16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was as the look of a chrysolite; and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. |
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| 17 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not when they went. |
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| 18 As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and they four had their rims full of eyes round about. |
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| 19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. |
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| 20 Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither would their spirit go; and the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. |
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| 21 When those went, they went; and when those stood, they stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up along with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. |
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| 22 And there was the likeness of an expanse over the heads of the living creature, as the look of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. |
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| 23 And under the expanse 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. |
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| 24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, a tumultuous noise, as the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings; |
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| 25 and there was a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood, they let down their wings. |
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| 26 And above the expanse 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 a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. |
A throne – Or chariot, supported by the living creatures, or cherubim; also represented in the Mercy Seat of the Tabernacle. R529:6*[R529:21]
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| 27 And I saw as the look of glowing brass, as the appearance of fire, within it round about; from the appearance of his loins and upward, and from the appearance of his loins and downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. |
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| 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 Jehovah. And when I saw, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke. |
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