Glimpse of God's Throne (4 Faced Creatures)

Glimpse of God's Throne 

(4 Faced Creatures)

"The first chapter of Ezekiel gives us the most vivid picture of the nature of the sanctuary of God in heaven.... pay special attention to the following items:—

 

The heavens were opened, and the prophet “saw visions of God.” Verse 1.

 

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 color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 

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. Verses 4, 5.

And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the color of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. 

And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty. 

And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. Verses 22, 24, 25.

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. Verse 26.

And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. Verse 14.

 

Here we see 

--that God’s throne in the heavens

 is composed of living creatures, 

 --and that it is not fixed to one spot, 

but that it moves.  

And they went every one straight forward: whither the Spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. Verse 12.

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 life was in the wheels. 

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 life was in the wheels. Verses 20, 21, margin.

 

The throne was too glorious to be seen and described in detail; and we can form no clear conception of its likeness; but one thing we may learn, namely, that it is full of the Spirit of God, and is so closely in touch with Him that His thought for it is instantly executed. 

Every thought of God is promptly responded to, and carried out, because His spirit fills His throne and temple.

It was to this end that God called His people out of Egypt. 

They were “called out,” and so they constituted the church of the living God, for the Greek word which is rendered “church,” means literally “called out.”"

E.J. Waggoner 

4 Faced  Creatures 

 ... and round about the throne, 

were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 

And the first beast was like a lion,

and the second beast like a calf,

and the third beast had a face as a man,

and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

Revelation 4:6,7

 

...and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 

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.

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. 

Ezekiel 1:16,19,20

 

Each of the 12 tribes had a standard as they camped around the

Sanctuary. On each of the 4 sides were a cornerstone tribe to lead. According to the Jewish Talmud, there is a tradition that says that upon these standards were the images of a Lion (Judah), Ox/Calf (Ephraim), Eagle (Dan) and a Man (Reuben).

Q: Is this symbolic,the wheel within a wheel and the 4 faces, around the Throne of God-- God's plan working out in perfect union?