(Ezekiel 10:1-2) Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them. 2 And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, “Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And he entered in my sight.
The fire taken from between the cherubim and scattered over the city is symbolic of God's judgment, because the Babylonians did burn Jerusalem at that time.
This could be the same "slaying" as we saw (yesterday) in chapter 9, just described in a different way, where God could have allowed demons to influence the Babylonians to attack. And the "angel-executioners" could have diverted the fire away from the (marked) believers and onto the unbelievers...
(Ezekiel 10:3-5) Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord. 5 Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.
Remember that each cherub has a whirling wheel as their base. Then, either the cherubim are stationed around some sort of hearth or altar, or they always have in their midst coals of burning fire...
(Ezekiel 10:6-8) It came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel. 7 Then the cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, took some and put it into the hands of the one clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
For some reason, Ezekiel describes the cherubim again. This time with a few extra details, and instead of describing the one face as the face of a bull - he just calls it the face of "a cherub" - but what does that mean to us? It was probably the first face he saw, and because he was looking at a cherub, he simply called it" the face of a cherub"...
(Ezekiel 10:9-22) Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like the gleam of a Tarshish stone. 10 As for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel. 11 When they moved, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went. 12 Their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were full of eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them. 13 The wheels were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels. 14 And each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 Then the cherubim rose up. They are the living beings that I saw by the river Chebar. 16 Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them; also when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels would not turn from beside them. 17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. 19 When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.
20 These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wings was the form of human hands. 22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one went straight ahead.
From this we see:
- the man clothed in linen (a cherub) assisted God by demonstrating the burning of Jerusalem, by getting coals of fire and scattering it out over the city
- angels can touch fire and not get burned burn
- the Lord is enthroned above the cherubim
- Cherubim described in detail (Ez.10)
* the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them, could mean that this is the angels' "halo" or it is simply the fact that God is above the angels? (vs.10:19)
* four faces: of a "cherub" (bull), a man, a lion, and an eagle
* four wings:
- their wings are very loud, like the voice of God when He speaks
* under their wings are human looking hands
* one wheel is below (and beside) the cherub:
- wheels of other cherubim seem to be able to connect or fit within each other
- the wheel gleams like a Tarshish stone (which has a deep golden hue)
- the wheel make a whirling sound and is (maybe) called "the whirling wheel"
- when they move up or down or in any of the four directions, the wheel moves with them
- when the cherub lifts their wings to fly up, the wheel stops turning
- when the cherub stands still, the wheel stands still
- the spirit of the living being is in the wheel (10:17)
* they are either stationed around some sort of hearth or altar, or they always have in their midst coals of burning fire...(maybe this is their spirit?)
* can move in any of the 4 directions, without turning, always in the direction which they face
* their entire body is full of eyes everywhere (their backs, their hands, their wings and wheels)
With mankind, each person is born with a physical body, a spirit and a soul.
The physical body will one day pass away. The spirit and the soul will continue on - either going to hell or going to heaven - depending on the choice we make. If we choose to become believers, then in heaven we will receive new and glorified bodies.
The spirit is the essence of a person which would include our personalities and unique purposes. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey, sin entered this world. Where there is sin, there is death. So right from birth, all of us are spiritually dead and have a sinful nature.
The soul was created to be filled with God, and to have a personal relationship with Him. But because of sin, at the time of birth, our soul is void of God, yet it still yearns to be filled by Him. Many people try to fill that empty feeling with other things, like: religion, work, fun, sports, drugs, promiscuous sex, food... but they will never feel satisfied until they accept God into their lives.
(Romans 1:18-20) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Our souls will be satisfied when we become Christians. It is then that the Holy Spirit indwells us and seals our souls for eternity. And then we (our spirits) become spiritually alive in Christ.
As Christians in the Church Age, the Holy Spirit will never leave us. But we are able to quench the Spirit by being disobedient (because as long as we have our earthly bodies, we will continue to struggle with sin). We have to remember that God is right there to help us with that! So when we turn back to God to reconcile, and ask Him for guidance, etc., and as we allow God to work in and through us, we will be filled (more) with the Holy Spirit - to become more Christ-like - like we are recharging our strength in Him and getting back on track - - - is the best way I can explain that.
Having become a believer at such a young age, I cannot remember feeling any major change within. And for some people, there isn't any dramatic-like-feeling. And that's okay. If there was a feeling at the time of conversion, try to remember that for when you do feel doubtful or alone.
Once in a while, when I'm feeling especially close to God, I will feel a very deep sense of peace and joy, while other times I will feel a type of strange comforting shiver that energizes me. I would say that it was because of something else - but - it has happened way too many times during such moments, and never at any other time.
Today's takeaway: feelings can be fickle, and feelings can come and go, but we can KNOW that we are saved! God's true love is unconditional! Love is a choice! God is faithful in what He says. And we can know that God is right there for us!...
(1 John 5:1-13) Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
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