Having described to us the approach of the storm cloud from the north, and then the cherubic chariot with its living creatures and its wheels, Ezekiel now directs our attention to the most awe-inspiring part of the vision – “The appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh”, which, when Ezekiel saw, he fell upon his face. But first he directs our attention to what he describes as being the “likeness of a firmament” (v.22).
The Firmament
In the book of Genesis the creation of the firmament was the work of the second day of creation. There has been much written concerning the Hebrew conception of the firmament as a great solid arc held up by pillars and having the heavenly bodies fixed to it. Such ideas have no connection whatever with the Bible idea of the firmament.
In Genesis ch.1 the firmament is clearly the whole of the vast expanse visible to the eye of an observer on the earth. The Hebrew word ‘rakea’ (firmament) is from a root word which means ‘to stretch, or spread out’ and denotes simply ‘the expanse’. The birds fly in it, therefore it extends down to our atmosphere (Gen.1:20). It exists between the clouds and the sea, but also beyond the clouds,for the heavenly bodies are set in the firmament (Gen.1:7,14). This firmament is called “heaven” in Genesis 1:8 and in 1:20 the “firmament of heaven”.
The firmament is a very important element in the natural arrangement of things around the earth. It is through and by means of the firmament that the influences of the heavenly bodies, especially the sun, are brought to bear upon the earth. The firmament controls the intensity of the sun’s heat. Because the firmament, or more correctly the lower part of it, consists of certain gases in definite proportions, it is able to co-operate with the sun and cause plants to grow, thus producing man’s food,and as a by product creating oxygen which we require for life. The density of the lower reaches of the firmament is such that water vapour produced by the heat of the sun rises to form clouds which subsequently come down as rain upon the earth. These are, but few of many examples of the way in which the firmament is seen to be the medium through which the influence of the natural heavens is brought to bear upon the earth.
In Ezekiel ch.1 we are considering in apocalyptic vision the rulership of the heavens over the earth. Just as the natural heavens influence the earth for good and for bad, so God bears rule over the nations of the earth. He dwells in his sanctuary – his heavenly temple – and from there presides over the affairs of men. He doesn’t deal directly with men – they would be consumed – but by means of his spirit he is present everywhere (Psa.139:7). He is in touch with all his creation and especially with the movements of men and nations. Men think that they control their own destiny, but the Word declares “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Dan.4:17).
Bringing his influence to bear he creates peace and evil (See Isa. 45:7). If evil comes upon a city, as it did upon Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day, it comes because God wills it (Amos 3:6). This sphere of his operation, this great political expanse in which he exerts his influence, is “the firmament of his power” (Psa. 150:1).
In the Kingdom of God all men will come to acknowledge God’s rulership over the earth; rulership which will be manifested in Christ and the saints. Daniel speaking of this kingdom declared,
“Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake . . . and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the FIRMAMENT; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:2,3).
Jesus used similar language (no doubt a reference to Daniel 12) of the time when the political expanse in which God now operates in the working out of his purpose will have become the place of righteous and everlasting rulership.
“Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt.13:43).
The heavens will indeed “declare the glory of God” and the firmament in a very real sense will manifest his handiwork (Psalm 19:1), for there will be a new creation of immortal rulers enthroned in the heavens to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind.
Upon the Heads of the Living Creatures
The purpose of God as it was being worked out in Ezekiel’s day with the nation of Israel was moving towards a predetermined end. The coming judgments upon that nation, the destruction of the city Jerusalem, the captivity of the people, were all brought about so that God’s purpose might move forwards without hindrance. The end to which all things were moving then, and are still moving today, is expressed in Psalm 8:4-6.
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET”.
“Son of man” here is a scriptural term, as we shall later observe, (next issue) for mankind. God’s purpose is that all things will ultimately be placed under the feet of members of Adam’s race. This purpose of God has not yet been fulfilled. The arrangement in Eden before the fall pointed forward to it, but Paul says,”Now we see not yet all things put under him” (Heb.2:8).
The purpose of God,then, is that ultimately the rulership of the earth will be given to suitable members of Adam’s race, and speaking of this time Paul writes,
“Unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak” (Heb.2:5).
In the arrangement of things in Ezekiel’s vision we have this teaching brought out very clearly. The angelo-cherubic chariot is BELOW the firmament. They are seen there performing the will of God, bringing God’s rulership to bear upon the earth, making his presence felt among the nations. They are in control of events in Ezekiel’s day and ours as God’s purpose is being worked out, but when that purpose is realised they will take an inferior position in the kingdom arrangement of things. Now they are busy in the outworking of God’s will among the nations, but then their administration of “all things” will give.place to that by the “son of man”, who in Ezkiel’s vision is seen upon the throne with all things under his feet, and under whose feet all things relating to the earth will ultimately be placed.
Above the Firmament the Likeness of a Throne
It is to this ultimate consummation of the purpose of God that we are now directed.
“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” (v.26).
The throne is symbolic; it represents that which the cherubic chariot was bringing near to Israel – THE RULERSHIP OF GOD. (See Psalm 11:4; 103:19.)
This rulership of God over the earth is to be ultimately revealed in members of Adam’s race, as we have seen from Psalm 8, and we rejoice in the fact that already the captain of our salvation has been “crowned with glory and honour” and that “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name (THE NAME – R.S.V.) which is above every name” (Philip.2:9). In Jesus now is manifested the rulership of God which ultimately will be visible in the earth. This is what Jesus means when he says,
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev.3:21).
There is only one throne here,not two, as we see from Rev.22:3 where we read of “THE THRONE of God and of the Lamb”, and we can become, with Jesus, part of this throne.
This is part of the drama of Rev. chs. 4 & 5. In ch.4:2 we read of the throne – God’s rulership over the earth -“Behold,a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” In ch.5:6 a slain Lamb is seen in the midst of the throne, and because the Lamb was slain, in 5:9-10 (R.V.) we see men redeemed by his blood becoming KINGS and priests in the earth. “Thou (the Lamb) wart slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue,and people, and nation, and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they REIGN upon the earth.”
Upon the Throne the Appearance of a Man
Once we understand these things we can see immediately why the One upon the throne is presented as the “likeness of the appearance of a man” (v.26). This symbolic man is described as being:-
- From the loins upwards as the colour of amber (R.S.V. bronze) and having the appearance of fire.
- From the loins downward as the appearance of fire.
- Surrounded by a brightness likened unto the bow in the cloud in the day of rain.
1. Loins Upwards
Each of these three divisions of this One on the throne introduces us to wonderful themes of scripture which we can only consider very briefly.
There can be no doubt that here in Ezekiel 1. we have the Rainbowed Angel of Revelation 10, as the following comparison demonstrates:
In Rev.10 the upper part of the man who Ezekiel says is the colour of bronze and has the appearance of fire, is said to be “as the sun”, and this of course connects this man with the “one like unto the Son of man” of Rev. ch.1 whose “countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (v.16). The reference is to Christ and the saints, the Son of man under whose feet all things will soon be placed. Jesus as the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings (Mal.4:2) and then the righteous also “will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13:43). Isaiah 60 speaks of the rising of this One with the face as the SUN. At the present time “darkness” covers the earth, “and gross darkness the people” (v.2). The words of verse 19 have been fulfilled –
“The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee.”
But the prophet speaks of a wonderful time yet to come –
“Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee . . . Gentiles shall come to thy light,and kings to the brightness of thy rising”.
This will be accomplished by this One with the face like the sun, and at this time
“the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shalt thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (vv. 1,3,19,20).
2. Loins Downward
From the loins down this apocalyptic man was like fire, and fire in the Scriptures speaks of judgment. The establishment of these new heavens which will bear rule over all the earth will be accomplished through the outpouring of the judgments of God on the wicked nations of the earth.
“For, behold, the LORD will come with FIRE, and with his chariots (N.B.) like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with FLAMES OF FIRE . . . it shall come,that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory” (Isaiah 66:15,18).
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming FIRE taking vengeance on them that know not God . . . when he shall come to be glorified in his saints” (II Thess.1:7,8,10).
It is interesting to note that in both these passages the result is the establishment of Yahweh’s glory in the earth, and this ties up very nicely with the words of Ezekiel; this appearance of the likeness of a man was, he says, “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh”
Although the angels come with Messiah, the saints too are involved in the work of judgment – it is under their feet, made for the purpose like pillars of fire, that all things are to be subjected. “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a too-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints.”
“For,behold,the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it leave them neither root nor branch . . . And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall, be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the LORD of hosts.’ (Psalm 149:5-9; Ma 1.4:1,
3. The Appearance of the Bow
Round about this man, round about the throne in Rev.4 and upon the head of the mighty angel in Rev.10 was the appearance of the rainbow.1 For the production of a rainbow there must be (1) falling rain, and (2) shining sun.
At the time when the Sun of Righteousness arises and the saints with him are shining forth as the sun, the words of the Psalm will be fulfilled, “He shall come down Like RAIN upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.(Psa. 72:6). David speaking concerning the rulership of God’s anointed declared,
“When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns upon them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.” (II Sam. 23:3&4)
The rainbow, produced by the sun and rain, is thus a very fitting symbol of the “everlasting covenant” (see II Sam.23:5),and when God established his covenant with Noah he directed his attention to the rainbow as a token of the covenant. (Gen.9416-17). •
The rainbow above the throne speaks then of the time when God’s covenant made in Eden, established with Noah, elaborated to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and sworn with an oath to David, will be fulfilled. It speaks of the time when Jesus Christ, his way prepared by Elijah, will come as the messenger (angel) cf the covenant; of Israel restored and brought into the bond of the everlasting covenant; of the time when Yahweh’s doctrine “shall drop as rain”, when the things of the covenant will be known throughout the earth as a result of the work of this apocalyptic man.
The Likeness of the Glory of Yahweh
This appearance of a man upon the throne was, says the prophet,”the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh”.
Speaking of the establishment of the kingdom the Psalmist writes,
“When Yahweh shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory” (102:16).
This is speaking of course of the manifestation of Yahweh’s glory in Christ arid the saints, who as the Son of Man will be revealed as the Light of Israel and the world. (Isa.60:1,2).
Jesus in the days of his flesh manifested the moral glory of the Father. “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father”. In the age to come he will cause to be revealed both the moral and the physical glory of the God of Israel – “the glory of Yahweh shall be revealed, and all fTesh shall, see it together”. We are called to be a part of the glory which is to be revealed; to even now “seek for glory and honour”, with the assurance that ‘hen Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” – the multitudinous Son of Man, the One upon the throne, the likeness of the glory of Yahweh.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One