Above the firmament there was a throne of David restored. While David was king God made a covenant with him. This covenant involved the raising up of one of his descendants to sit upon his throne forever. II Sam. 7:12-16, Acts 2:29, 30. Christ is that promised son of David. The angel Gabriel informed Mary that God would give unto Him the throne of His father David. Luke 1:32. The throne of David was in reality the throne of God, because God placed him there. When Solomon succeeded David as king, it is said that he sat on “The Throne Of The Lord.” I Chron. 29:33. The kingdom of Israel was the kingdom of the Lord. I Chron. 28:5. Because wickedness was practiced, God declared that He would “overturn it: and it (the kingdom and throne) shall be no more until He comes whose right it is; and I will give it Him.” Ezek. 21:26-28. Of Christ it is recorded, “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.” Acts 15:16, Jer. 33:15-21.
The throne had the appearance of a sapphire stone. This is the intense clearness of the heavenly blue. The kingdom to be restored is termed “the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 4:17.
There was the appearance of a man on the throne. This would represent the Lord Jesus Christ as king in Jerusalem, which will be known as the ‘throne of the Lord.” Jer. 3:17. There was the color of amber round about the throne and within it. This was the color of glowing metal and had the appearance of fire. The man from his loins upward and downwards also had this appearance. This color of amber is representative of the Spirit of God with which Christ is imbued. Heb. 12:29. This appearance of fire is a picture of the intense anger, or heat of God manifested through Christ by His Spirit. It is perhaps best described by Isaiah 30:27, “Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, Burning with His Anger, and the burden thereof is heavy. His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue as a Devouring Fire.” It is then a pictorial representation of the “indignation of His anger.” Isa. 30:30.
The Rainbow
There was a brightness round about the throne as the appearance of the rainbow in the day of rain. The rainbow is the symbol of a covenant. God made a covenant with Noah. He placed a rainbow in a cloud as a token of the covenant. Gen. 9:9-17. The rainbow in Ezekiel’s vision would symbolize the establishment of the throne of David according to the covenant made with him. Jer. 33:22-26. There was also the covenant made with Abraham. Luke 1:69-73, Mic. 7:20. The covenants of promise then are signified by the rainbow. After the subsidence of the storm (Isa. 26:20, 21), there will be the “light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” II Sam. 23:4. And also, “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In His days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” Psa. 72:6, 7. This is a visional preview of the glorified saints in their premillenial conquest of the nations.
Summary of Symbols Used
Whirlwind, Great Cloud — stormy warlike mission.
Out Of The North — return from the north region.
Fire—God’s consuming Spirit-directed judgments.
Flashing Continually — in active operation.
Brightness — Spirit of God in manifestation.
Amber (Glowing Metal) — consuming judgments.
Living Creatures — the redeemed as executors of God’s destructive judgments..
Four–universal command and as Israel was divided into four parts during their encampment.
Four Faces — facing all directions and displaying the characteristics of each face: intelligence, prowess, service, and swiftness.
Four Wings — two for flight: divine glory and power. Two for covering—covering of sins.
Feet (Calf’s Foot)—treading down opposition.
Burnished Brass — fiery and destructive operation.
Wings Joined—unit of action. Form of a square when wings extended, form of a when wings are let down.
Turned Not — not to be swerved from their purpose.
Like Burning Coals Of Fire—imbued with the Spirit of God in their execution of His judgments.
Lightning—the Spirit of God in action.
Flash Of Lightning — swiftness of execution.
Wheels — the redeemed are God’s chariot, or vehicles of His Spirit. The Spirit of God becomes their wheels of burning fire.
Beryl — topaz or golden. Apt symbol of the Spirit.
Wheel In Midst Of A Wheel — double wheel. One wheel at right angles inside another. Symbol of command of every direction.
Rings (Rims) Full Of Eyes—universal and complete knowledge and insight. Omniscience.
Rings High—powerful and awesome. Firmament (Sky) — heavenly constitution or state of things. The millennial new heavens.
Terrible Crystal — clear and dazzling in its brightness. Divine purity and righteousness.
Stretched Forth — established or created.
Noise Of Wings — representing a multitude. The saints are indicated.
Let Down Their Wings — when their mission is completed they lower their wings and listen to the voice from above on the throne.
A Throne — the throne of David established in Jerusalem.
Sapphire Stone — the intense clearness of the heavenly blue. A heavenly or divine state.
Man On The Throne — the Lord Jesus Christ as the manifestation of God.
Color Of Amber (Glowing Metal), Fire Round About—the Spirit of God representing His intense anger toward the nations, being manifested through the Lord Jesus Christ and the saints.
Loins Upward & Downwards As Fire — Christ filled with the Spirit of God and reflecting His burning anger in the execution of His judgments.
Rainbow — symbol of a covenant. Abrahamic and Davidic.
Rain—first the storm and then the gentle rain, or showers of blessings upon the people.
Glory Of The Lord — manifested through Christ and the saints.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One