Jesus Christ in the Four Living Creatures of Ezekiel 1
Test the spirits to see whether they are from God, 1 John 4:1--THSD!
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.--Matthew 5:16-18 (KJV)
WELCOME TO THE FIRE OF THE LORD
Where the subject is the Holy Spirit and you
He is the Light of the World
Jesus, the Son of YHVH, was born to speak the words of his father to the world as man and as ruler of all of his father's creation.
Jesus is all of the names attributed to Him because He yielded himself to YHVH and obeyed Him without question.
YHVH comes to us through Jesus. The channel of flow is from YHVH directly to Jesus then through Jesus to all believers and back again in a reverse route. In this way Jesus was and is "Emmanuel, Elohim with us" when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Jesus is not and never was YHVH, but he is Elohim just as His father is Elohim and he is human just as his mother was human.
Ultimately, YHVH is our redeemer because he fulfilled his promise of redemption through his son, Jesus, a.k.a. Yeshuah.
All the philosophical arguments in the world and in all time cannot change the simple truth of this one phrase,
Emmanuel, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23)
All was and is by the person of YHVH's own omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Spirit, a.k.a. Holy Spirit.
The seemingly triune relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has for thousands of years mystified those who have tried to understand it and explain it. The presence and person of the Holy Spirit cries out from the pages of the Bible to be understood by any who are willing to listen.
The Bible is replete with verses and paragraphs and chapters identifying the person of the Holy Spirit. One chapter I am in complete awe of is the first chapter of Ezekiel. Like most of the symbology of the Bible, Ezekiel 1 does require some knowledge of Jewish history, Feasts and items in the temple Holy Place. After all, the Bible is not only rooted in God’s chosen people and his commandments to them, but their Redeemer and Savior are seen in all of these things; so it is wise not to ignore them in interpreting difficult sayings and symbols. And of course, Jesus is from the tribe of Judah on both his mother’s side and his earthly father's side.
The circumstances causing the need for the jog in lineage comes from the evil kings descending from Solomon’s line. Joseph is in the line of Solomon giving Jesus legal right to David’s throne. Mary is descended from David through Solomon’s brother, Nathan, also giving Jesus right to David’s throne. Nathan was like a football handoff play. Satan worked hard to ruin the line of David but God had other plans for a touchdown.
Acts 9:31--Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of YHVH, and in the comfort of the Spirit of YHVH, were multipliedEzekiel 1 provides the images of understanding the mystifying Spirit of YHVH and the Spirit indwelling relationship of the Son of YHVH with YHVH and faithful committed believers.
Pray for YHVH’s wisdom and understanding. He is the only one who can give it to you.
THE TIME OF EZEKIEL’S VISION (Ezekiel 1:1-28)
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 sawvisions of Elohim. 2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, In the days of Ezekiel the twelve tribes of Israel were divided. Two tribes were in the Southern kingdom located in Jerusalem and ten tribes were in the Northern kingdom located in Samaria. The Northern tribes were taken captive by Assyria and dispersed.
The Elohim of the twelve tribes promised to be their Redeemer and to give them comfort if they would only turn to him with all their heart, mind and soul. The following vision is about their Redeemer and Comforter.
The uppermost thing to understand about their Redeemer and Comforter is that he, YHVH, can be everywhere without limit and always be on his throne. YHVH never leaves his throne. He doesn’t have to because he is omnipresent. He sees and knows everything while still on his throne. The power of his Spirit can gently touch a person’s face or destroy an army of thousands as seen in the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt and never leave his throne in heaven. Born-again believers in Jesus can sit at the feet of YHVH in front of his throne in prayer no matter where they are. How is this possible?
The Four Living Creatures are going to show us how it is possible. They are also going to show us who the Redeemer and Comforter is. Is he YHVH? Is he Jesus? Or is he, in fact both as one? How can they be united as one? Jesus said, “I am in my Father and my Father is in me.” Again, how can that be possible if they are two separate persons? The answers are here in this chapter of Ezekiel. Listen to what Ezekiel says.
WHO THE VISION CAME FROM
3The word of YHVH came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of YHVH was there upon him. YHVH came to Ezekiel during the time of captivity. YHVH never left his throne in heaven yet Ezekiel says the hand of YHVH was upon him. The ancient pictographs for the Tetragrammaton “YHVH” which is the Hebrew personal name
of Elohim are: The four letters of Elohim’s name mean the “hand of YHVH is on those who worship, praise and submit to him” and “Love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.”
The Four Living Creatures are going to tell you how.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE VISION
4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind (RUACH) came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber (BRONZE), out of the midst of the fire. THE SON OF MAN
5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. THE LAST SACRIFICE
7And 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. 8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. 9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. THE FOUR ASPECTS OF JESUS’ MINISTRY
10As 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. The four faces represent the four aspects of Jesus’ ministry on the earth.
1. Both son of man and Son of God2. The lion of Judah3. The priestly pure sacrifice for peace4. The eagle represents the watchful eye on God’s people which is the ever watching ever present Spirit of YHVH poured out at Pentecost after Yashuah ascended.STANCE OF WORSHIP AND HUMILITY TOWARD YHVH
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. COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO YHVH
12-And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. FIRE OF THE LAMPSTANDS
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. 14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.THE FIRE OF THE LAMPSTANDS
The structure of the lampstands that stood in the Holy Place are three oil pot stemming off to each side and of the center stem oil pot. The fire of the lampstand is supposed to remain constant. The center stem of the lampstand represents the Spirit of YHVH.
Unlike the familiar Jewish menorah with only seven or nine oil pots, this lampstand has an additional four oil pots under the top six; two stemming to either side of the center stem. The original lampstand of the wilderness Tabernacle was made without seam. The seven oil pots on the top represent the seven spirits of YHVH prophesied as the anointing of the one called the stem of Jesse, who is Yashuah (Isaiah 11:1-3). The lower four oil pots represent the four aspects of the life of Yashuah, just as the four faces of the Four Living Creatures. Together the lampstand represents four aspects of the seamless ministry of Jesus and the outpouring of the promised Spirit of YHVH at Pentecost and ever after.
The fire in the oil pots is the fire of the jealousy of YHVH. Jealousy is an emotion centering on the fear of losing the love of a loved one. YHVH is zealous in that he evokes the image of a loving and protective groom for his bride. We, as sinful humans, are a fickle lot but, when anointed with the seven spirits as given to Yeshuah, a fickle heart changes to a loyal loving heart for our Lord and Savior if we listen to and willingly allow the Spirit to lead and teach us.
THE LIGHTNING CAN BE SEEN FROM AFAR BY ALL as spoken by Jesus
Mat 24:25-31 KJV-- Behold, I have told you before. 26- Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27- For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28- For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29- Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30- And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31- And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
FOUR FACES OF JESUS ON EARTH—HIS MINISTRY AND PURPOSE
15-Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. THE WHEELS EXEMPLIFY TOTAL OBEDIENCE IN THE SPIRIT OF YHVH
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. 17-When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. 18-As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. A wheel inside of another wheel illustrates how the Spirit of YHVH indwells the spirit of a faithful man or woman. In verse 20 we are told that “the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” Jesus willingly and completely submitted his own spirit to the Spirit of YHVH illustrated by the wheel inside the wheel and full of eyes.
John 14:10—Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself (not in my own will): but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
The wheels were very high and powerful and the rings of the wheels were full of eyes. In 2 Chronicles 16:9 we are told: “For the eyes of YHVH run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him."
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. 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. 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. Like the Living Creature, Jesus submitted totally to the indwelling of the Spirit of YHVH. The ancient pictograph (slave ring) of the Hebrew letter “vav” says it all: “I submit myself as a slave and servant to my Elohim.”
THE FIRMAMENT ABOVE THE LIVING CREATURES
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. 23-And under the firmament 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. THE VOICE OF YHVH
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. The wings are part of the living creature’s body, yet when they move they have the sound of the voice of the Almighty. during Jesus' ministry he spoke in the first person voice of his father because he is in his father and his father is in him. A wheel inside of a wheel, both filled with the eyes of YHVH.
John 8: 28 --Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
John 12:49-50--For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
25-And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. Here we have the same voice from heaven that was heard when Jesus was anointed by the seven spirits of YHVH. As YHVH anointed him with his own Spirit he spoke his blessing on his son. YHVH was still on his throne in heaven but his Spirit is shown descending like a dove onto his son. YHVH does not have to leave his throne to accomplish his plan and purpose.
Matthew 3:16-17-- 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 (in Hebrew is Ruach Elohim) descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17-And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
THE THRONE OF YHVH
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. 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. 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 YHVH. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.This chapter in Ezekiel has mystified most Christians and non-Christians, including the Jews.
I hope this study of the Four Living Creatures or Cherubim at the throne of YHVH has helped the reader to understand the complexity of the totally committed relationship between Father and Son and how that relationship is accomplished. I am including a graphic at the bottom of this page to demonstrate the unity of their relationship.
Jesus is the only human born to this earth who could accomplish such a deeply committed relationship and that is because he was born the son of YHVH, both human and Elohim. Jesus was truly “Immanuel, Elohim with us.” He spoke what his father gave him to speak and did what his father commanded him to do. This kind of devotion is the only way the Spirit of YHVH could be poured out at Pentecost and keep being poured out on those who love him until the second coming of Christ and forever.
There is no relationship on this earth that compares to YHVH and his Son. Any effort to explain it in earthly terms is foolishness. But I am going to be foolish for just a moment with this analogy: The government of man requires a President and a Vice President. The Vice President has his own duties to which he attends. In the event of the President's death the Vice President moves to the President's position.
In the Kingdom of YHVH, the Spirit of YHVH is the person of YHVH and is the holiest of holies. He occupies the throne of heaven. There is a throne on the right of YHVH of which Jesus, the son of YHVH, has already assumed. It is through Jesus that the Spirit of YHVH, the holiest one is able to anoint “those whose heart's are perfect toward him.”
The third person of the Trinity is like a Vice President in that he is a second Holy Spirit. The government of YHVH or, I should say the Kingdom of YHVH, has no position or throne for a second Holy Spirit. There is only one Holy Spirit and he is the person of YHVH. YHVH and Son are for eternity. They don’t need a backup replacement.
by EPUB Reader
Adobe Digital Editions
Gemstar/Rocket eBook
Microsoft Reader
Palm eReader
