Ezekiel 10

Ezekiel 10 returns us to the vision seen in the first couple of chapters with the wings, the wheels, and the sapphire throne.
1Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
This is the same sapphire throne seen in 1:26. It is to show God as supreme Lord, the wheels to show He is master of the machinations of the mortal realm, the chariot itself to picture Him as conqueror.
2And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
The same angel that marked the faithful is now told to take coals from the midst of the chariot (Ezekiel 1) and scatter them over the city. Again fire is a symbol of judgment. Specifically here it is a reference to the Babylonians coming in and destroying the city.
3Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. 4Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory. 5And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
This is a repetition of the symbols from chapter 1. Jehovah is seen to fill the temple one last time (2 Sam. 6:2; 7:5; 1 Kings 8:10-13). We hear again the single voice that sounds like a great rushing, like the sound of many waters.
6And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. 7And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
One of the cherubs that is part of the chariot from chapter 1, reaches in and takes the coal and gives it to the angel in linen.
8And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings. 9And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. 10And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. 11When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. 12And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. 13As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. 14And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. 16And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. 17When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
Ezekiel reiterates the vision he had a year past by the river of Chebar. We see the same descriptions of the wheels, throne, and cherubs (sword angels?).
18Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. 19And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
This is the vision of Jehovah leaving the temple and getting back into his chariot. It represents Him preparing to leave the Jews to their fate.
20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. 21Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. 22And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
Ezekiel explains that he recognized these cherubims from more than a year prior when he had the vision on the banks of the Chebar.
In Truth and Love,
Category:Apocalyptic