A Chronological Problem
The cherubim of the vision are present through the first eleven chapters of Ezekiel. And there is a problem here. The cherubim are not developed until after the return of Christ. Yet, the cherubim are there in the vision in Ezekiel’s day. Ezek. 10:1. Instructions are given to the man clothed in linen to go in between the wheels of the cherubim and fill his hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city. When the man went in between the wheels of the cherubim, one cherub stretched forth his hand unto the fire between the cherubim, and took thereof and put it into the hands of the man clothed with linen, who took it and went out. Now, how could the man in linen of Ezekiel’s day partake of coals of fire from a cherub, when the cherubim represent the redeemed of mankind many centuries later?
Perhaps this was done in the vision to show the relationship between what the man in linen was told to do, and the cherubim. The redeemed will inherit the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has been in a state of preparation since the beginning of the world. Matt. 25:34. The destruction of Jerusalem was one of the links in a chain of circumstances that would eventually lead to the setting up of the kingdom, and formation of the cherubim as the executors of God’s judgments.
The Linen
The linen that the man was clothed with is a symbol of righteousness. Rev. 19:8. Whatever God does is done in righteousness, as it is written, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” Psalm 145:17. He makes war and destroys in righteousness. Rev. 19:11. The coals of fire represented the wrath of God. The same wrath that will be poured out upon the nations during the pre-millennial period, is the wrath that was poured out upon the city of Jerusalem. It is indignation and wrath “upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” Romans 2:9.
The Departure of the Glory of God
In chapter 10:13, a voice from the One who occupied the throne addresses the wheels of the cherubim as one wheel; “0 whirling wheel,” verse 13. This seems to be a call to them to prepare themselves for rapid motion. Anyway, the glory of the Lord moved from the threshold of the temple back to the original position above the cherubim, verse 18. The cherubim then lifted up their wings and with the wheels moved to the door of the east gate, verse 19.
In chapter eleven, Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit to the east gate of the temple where he is a witness to the wickedness of Israel’s leaders, verse 1,2. God explains to Ezekiel that although He will scatter Israel afar off among the nations, He will be to them as a little sanctuary in those countries. In time He will gather them from the people and give their land back to them.
The cherubim then lifted their wings, and along with their wheels left the east gate and stood upon the mountain on the east side of the city, which was the Mount of Olives. The glory of the God of Israel was over the cherubim when they moved to this mount. Ezek. 11:2,23. It is to be kept in mind that Ezekiel only saw the cherubim and the glory of God in vision, not in reality. The Shekinah glory that was between, or over the cherubim in the Most Holy Place of the Mosaic tabernacle, however was very real. When the glory of God that was over the cherubim of Ezekiel’s vision moved from the temple to the Mount of Olives, it is almost certain that it was then that the Shekinah glory of the temple of Solomon was removed. It is generally accepted that there was no Shekinah glory in the temple of Ezra and Nehemiah, nor in the temple of Herod. It would seem certain that God would remove that which represented Himself from the temple before the destruction of the city and temple by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar. When the glory of the Lord of Israel left the temple in Ezekiel’s vision, it was a representational of the Shekinah glory of the Most Holy Place being removed.
Return of the Glory of God
The vision of Ezekiel one, was shown to Ezekiel in the fifth year of Jehioachin’s captivity. Ezek. 1:2. About a year later, in the sixth year of captivity, Ezekiel was taken in Spirit to Jerusalem and saw the glory of God move from the temple area to the Mount of Olives. Ezek. 8:1. About six years later Ezekiel was informed that the city had been smitted. Ezek. 33:21. About thirteen years later Ezekiel was
show in vision the temple to be erected by the Lord Jesus Christ (the glory of the God of Israel in manifestation. Ezek. 40:1,2, Zech. 6:12,13. And on this occasion, Ezekiel sees a return of the glory of the God of Israel to this temple of the Messiah. Ezek. 43:1-7. He identifies it with the glory that left the temple when he saw the vision of the cherubim.
“The earth shined with His glory.” verse 2. The glory of the Lord in the vision, represents the Lord Jesus Christ who will enter the temple as “The Lord, the God of Israel, the Prince.” Ezek. 44:1-4. The redeemed will function as immortal priests, under the designation of ‘the Sons of Zadok.” Ezek. 44:15,16; 43:19; 48:11. So the glory of God that was in the Most Holy Place, and over the cherubim in the vision, will return anti-typically to the temple in the person of Christ and the saints as the voice of “many waters.” Ezek. 43:2.
The climax of the vision is reached or realized, when God informs Ezekiel, “Son of man, The Place of my Throne, and the Place of the Soles of my Feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my Holy name shall the House of Israel no more defile.” Ezek. 43:7.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One