And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
The verse belongs to the vision in Ezekiel 1-2, where humanlike living creatures with four faces and four wings are connected with wheels within wheels beneath God's throne, while God reigns above them. Heavenly beings move the wheels beneath the throne, and the Eternal One sits enthroned over all. The intricate images, including the wheels and the humanlike beings connected with them, first struck Ezekiel as intricate and difficult to explain and confusing. To the finite eye the wheels within wheels in the symbol still look like confusion.
What appears confused is governed by infinite wisdom and power at work amid the wheels. A hand of infinite wisdom is revealed amid the wheels, bringing perfect order out of apparent confusion. Every part is brought into its right place and works in perfect harmony with every other part of the machinery under God's direction. God's power thus governs events that appear confusing and brings harmony out of them.
The vision shows heaven closely connected with earth. The world is not without a ruler, for God directs coming events and holds the destiny of nations and the concerns of the church in his care. He cares for those who are loyal to him. At the second coming the four-winged creatures stand on each side of God's cloudy chariot as it rolls upward carrying the redeemed toward the New Jerusalem. As it moves the wings cry Holy, joining the living wheels beneath the chariot crying Holy and the retinue of angels crying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, while the redeemed shout Alleluia. Every one of God's workmen should study the vision with humility and earnest prayer for its deep and important lesson.
The verse belongs to the vision in Ezekiel 1-2, where humanlike living creatures with four faces and four wings are connected with wheels within wheels beneath God's throne, while God reigns above them. Heavenly beings move the wheels beneath the throne, and the Eternal One sits enthroned over all. The intricate images, including the wheels and the humanlike beings connected with them, first struck Ezekiel as intricate and difficult to explain and confusing. To the finite eye the wheels within wheels in the symbol still look like confusion.
What appears confused is governed by infinite wisdom and power at work amid the wheels. A hand of infinite wisdom is revealed amid the wheels, bringing perfect order out of apparent confusion. Every part is brought into its right place and works in perfect harmony with every other part of the machinery under God's direction. God's power thus governs events that appear confusing and brings harmony out of them.
The vision shows heaven closely connected with earth. The world is not without a ruler, for God directs coming events and holds the destiny of nations and the concerns of the church in his care. He cares for those who are loyal to him. At the second coming the four-winged creatures stand on each side of God's cloudy chariot as it rolls upward carrying the redeemed toward the New Jerusalem. As it moves the wings cry Holy, joining the living wheels beneath the chariot crying Holy and the retinue of angels crying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, while the redeemed shout Alleluia. Every one of God's workmen should study the vision with humility and earnest prayer for its deep and important lesson.