The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. After an account of his call to the prophetical office. Although ezekiel struggled to describe what he had seen, using words like resembling, looked like, and appearance of, his visions provide guidance for christians who take the time to study the bibles prophecies. Cooper installment 2 the call and commission of ezekiel. The biblical book of ezekiel records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, who was exiled from judah to babylon from 593 b. Verses 23 king jehoiachin was still the proper king. In the series of revelations we find four ecstatic visions ezek, 811, 37.
According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very words of the prophet. Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiels inaugural vision. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it.
Ezekiel 1 isv an introduction to ezekiels visions bible. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. Ezekiel 1 nkjv ezekiels vision of god now it came bible. What exactly does ezekiel s wheel within a wheel vision mean. The books closing promises confirm that god will renew the hearts of his people and refresh all life on the face of the earth. Is ezekiels vision of the wheel evidence of ufos in the bible. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods. Ezekiel saw these visions on the 5th day of the 4th month.
Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. Because of this, for many christians, ezekiel is too strange and the book too complex and bizarre to deserve serious attention. Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. Of the many accounts in the bible of strange happenings and otherworldly occurrences, the story of ezekiel is one of the more fascinating, especially when looked at through the lens of modern technology. It mainly discusses the events during the babylonian captivity. Ezekiel is a priest who is called by god to deliver his messages. It combines farout visions, judgments of violent destruction and death, and predictions of peace and consolation into a spicy prophetic gumbo. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same. Jul 03, 2016 watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know godand god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. Ezekiel intro, new international version niv the bible app. Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel with. Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. Meaning of ezekiels wheel within wheel bible study. This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title. Ezekiels visions fit the ongoing drama of the bible. The book of ezekiel is in the old testament section of the bible.
Ezekiel 1 international standard version isv an introduction to ezekiels visions. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and. Mounce noted a belief that the living creatures may have been associated with the four principal signs of the zodiac, 7 but other scholars have. Key personalities include ezekiel, israels leaders, ezekiels wife. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. The problem was the people didnt want to hear his warning 2. He engages in startling symbolic activities to teach gods people. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision.
Ezekiels inaugural vision in my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while i was among the exiles by the kebar river, the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god. God would send someone from davids family to be their leader ezekiel 37. Book of ezekiel read, study bible verses online bible study tools. The four living creatures that john of patmos sees in the book of revelation, is the authors reworking of the living creatures in the visions of ezekiel ezekiel 1. Ezekiels vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of god. The prophet ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman sounding the warning for the early waves of exiles in babylon 3. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. An introduction to ezekiels visions on the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year of the exile to babylon, while i was among the captives on the bank of the chebar river, heaven opened up and i saw visions from god. Every one of the sixtysix books of the bible begins in a unique way. On the fifth of the monthit was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin the word of the lord came to ezekiel the priest, the son of buzi, by the kebar river in the land of the babylonians. In other words, it was as if ezekiel could see beyond the skies. These wheels were associated with the four living creatures ezekiel 1. The book of ezekiel introduction to the book of ezekiel in the bible.
Is ezekiel s vision of the wheel evidence of ufos in the. The book is filled with many visions and allegories and the prophets strange actions and behavior. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures.
These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel. Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of gods people ezekiel 37, it. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the color of beryl, and the four of them had the same likeness. Chapters 424, ezekiel delivered the message of doom. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other old and new testament texts.
The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiels probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. Book of ezekiel known to be written by prophet ezekiel and is placed immediately after lamentation in ot. Each of these beings had four different faceshuman, eagle, lion, and ox. Ezekiel makes the other prophets seem almost tame by comparison, with his mysterious four. And nowhere in the bible are gods initiative and control expressed more clearly and pervasively than in the book of ezekiel. The opening chapter depicts four living creatures in human form, each accompanied by wheels within wheels.
Ezekiel s visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. Next to the book of revelation, ezekiel s probably the weirdest and most dramatic book of the hebrew bible. Their defeat is prelude to ezekiels vision of a new israel whose source of life and prosperity is a wellordered cult in a new temple, where the divine glory again dwells chaps. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. A depiction of ezekiels vision of god and the cherubim as described in the bible at ezekiel chapter 1 and 10. Visions play an important structural role in the book of ezekiel. There are only two old testament scriptures that directly reference this strange heavenly vision of a wheel within a wheel observed by the prophet ezekiel. Ezekiel was a prophet during the seventyyear period of babylonian. The vision of the fire cloud on the fifth day of the month in the fifth year of king jehoiachins imprisonment in exile, a message from the lord came directly. God himself would return to this temple ezekiel 43. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, dread came upon me, and trembling. The heavens opened and the widely respected priest received a.
Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. The visions and oracles of the prophet ezekiel by dr. Ezekiel book of consists mainly of three groups of prophecies. Book of ezekiel i old testament storiesi animated children. The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly. And their appearance and their workmanship was like a wheel inside of a wheel. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. Ezekiels visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. Summary the book of ezekiel has the most logical arrangement of any of the prophetic books. Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of god to his exiled people. God also showed ezekiel a picture of a new temple in the future ezekiel chapters 4048.
It was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin when the word of god came to ezekiel. Interesting facts about ezekiel barnes bible charts meaning. Much of christ will be found in this book, especially in the conclusion. The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. As i looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it. The prophets vision concerns four living creatures that served as a type of chariot for the divine throne, the place from which the likeness of the glory of the lord spoke to ezekiel vv. Most of the book is prose rather than poetry, which is another distinct feature among prophets in general. Ezekiel 1, new american standard bible nasb the bible app. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. Ezekiel also had detailed visions of a new temple ezekiel 4043, a restored jerusalem ezekiel 48. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. When ezekiel was 30 years old, in the late spring or summer of the year, he was living among the exiles by the kebar river in the land of the babylonians. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy english.
How are we to understand ezekiels bizarre vision of the chariot in its. Each of these beings had four different faceshuman, eagle, lion, and ox v. He receives visions, and his message is to confront gods sinful nation, i am sending you to the sons of israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against me. It is composed of 48 chapters divided almost half before and after the fall of jerusalem. When biblical texts are interpreted through this perspective in general, an interesting picture emerges of the possibility that our ancient.
The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the. Of all the scripture passages we might turn to during these times, the bizarre vision that opens the book of ezekiel would not register high on. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel. Ezekiels first vision was of gods throne and included the four living creatures and whirling wheels.
The visions of ezekiel by witness lee living stream ministry. A literary masterpiece of the english language, the original king james bible is still in use today. The prophet describes massive visions of gods spiritual forces in action behind the scenes and blueprints for the future. Jan 02, 2020 ezekiels first vision was of gods throne and included the four living creatures and whirling wheels. Is ezekiels vision of the wheel evidence of ufos in the. The prophet, fondly called son of man, was really a man of the spirit. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Prophet ezekiel is one of the four prominent prophets mentioned in the hebrew bible. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiels world, to the last phrase of ezekiels vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods sovereignty. Ezekiels vision of god now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway.
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