EZEKIEL'S UFO - NYOBS 33.19

 EZEKIEL'S   UFO

Something was smokin’ ‘HIGH”; was it a spaceship or was it Ezekiel; stay tuned…

First Word

I know you remember the song “Ezekiel saw da wheel”… He sure saw something…

The History Channel has a series about Ancient Aliens and UFO’s that are quite intriguing. 

Although we have space travel today, the thought of UFO’s can sure get your imagination going.

 With that in mind; the Bible says that “There is nothing new under the sun”.

So with that said; could Ezekiel have actually seen an Ancient UFO?

This FUN Word study is to unpack the LITERAL as well as the SYMBOLIC.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 -  There is nothing new under the sun
⁹ What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (NIV2011)

Ezekiel the Actor

• IMPORTANT:  Just as Christ told parables to get people to remember His concepts, Ezekiel did the same thing with his warnings, parables and prophecies; but he did it by ACTING IT OUT. – His life became a prophecy that demanded an audience - Spectators would come again and again to see what he would do next - This statement is important. 
• God will give Ezekiel a scroll to eat (acting out) – The Word of God is now inside his spirit – This symbolism here is clear, that we should devour the Word of God; feast on it every day, it will be as sweet as honey. – When Ezekiel eats the scroll, he is symbolizing his acceptance of the Lord’s commission to take an unpleasant message to an unreceptive audience.
• Ezekiel draws a picture of Jerusalem on a brick and then breaks it “Acting Out” that Jerusalem will be destroyed. – He is playing “War Games” as the people watch to see what he is going to do next.
• He then places an iron pan between the brick and himself “Acting Out” that God has turned his face from Israel. – Ezekiel has become the prophecy.
• Ezekiel gives a vivid description “OF SOMETHING” that you WILL remember; if you can just understand its symbolism. – We can just guess at what it all means or we can prove it; scripture with scripture, line upon line and precept upon precept. – THIS WILL BE FUN

Ezekiel 3:24-26 – Ezekiel ACTS OUT the parable/prophecy
²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.
²⁵ And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.
²⁶ I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are rebellious

Ezekiel 3:1-4 – ACTS OUT – Eats the scroll; God’s Word is in him
¹ And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.”
² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey.
⁴ He then said “Son of man, go now to the people and speak my words.

Ezekiel 4:1-2 – ACTS OUT - break the brick; Jerusalem Destroyed
¹ “Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.
² Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 4:3 – ACTS OUT – Iron wall between God and Israel.
³ Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the people of Israel.  (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 4:4-8 - Ezekiel ACTS OUT the prophecies.

⁴ Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side.
⁵ I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.
⁶ “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.
⁷ Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her.
⁸ I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege. (NIV2011)

Isaiah 28:10 – Prove Scripture with Scripture – line upon line
¹⁰  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: (KJV)

Get this Picture

• Before we start; as Ezekiel does his best to describe what he sees, it will be much more FUN if you have the image of a spaceship in your mind.  - As a kid did you ever spin a TOP with a string and notice how it would balance itself on the end of your finger? - COOL
• Picture This – A spaceship that is shaped like a “TOP”; like the shape that is similar to the Apollo Space Capsule; the larger part of the “TOP” would contain the crew’s cabins and the cockpit - the smaller bottom of the shape of the “TOP” would be the location of the red hot reactor. – The sides of the capsule or “TOP” are concave, and for good reason… stay tuned…
• Attached to the top side are four retractable legs that each have a helicopter midway down with four retractable blades and in the bottom of each unit are two telescoping pods that cushion the landing – Also inside the body of each of the four units are motors for the helicopter blades as well as an unique wheel that lets down for movement once the craft has landed.  The concave body of the “TOP” accommodates the protrusion of the helicopter blades that project inward toward the body of the spacecraft.
• There are two robotic arms on each of the four modules as well as jets that help with the orientation of the craft while in flight.
• In an orbit above the earth is the powerful mother ship.  This smaller craft that has landed is like a SHUTTLE, but with land rover capabilities and contains the ground crew. - Got that…. OK with that picture in your mind get ready to shake your head in disbelief.

A Little Background

• The Prophet Ezekiel is about 30 years of age and is a member of an upper class Jewish Family.  He is living just a few miles from Babylon on the Chebar (Kebar) River which is actually a great canal in Chaldea just off of the Euphrates River.
• It’s the year 592 BC which is five years after King Nebuchadnezzar had deported the Israelites from Israel including Ezekiel. – Jerusalem has not yet been destroyed, but that is coming and Ezekiel is part of that prophecy. – Before God brings judgment on Jerusalem, His Glory will leave its residence in the Temple. – You must get this; God’ Glory is leaving.
• Ezekiel is a Priest from the tribe of Levi and is part of the captives put there to till the fertile soil. – The Exiles think that they are in captivity because their God is weak; that He didn’t see them anymore and that He has forsaken their land; so they denied His existence. They didn’t realize that God had chosen them as a remnant to be saved from the destruction of Jerusalem. - While the embittered and rebellious exiles are remembering Zion and weeping; Ezekiel is seeing visions from God. – What a contrast.
• Ezekiel saw what looked like a whirlwind coming from the NORTH; a great cloud with fire that looked like glowing metal unfolding above him.
• He has certainly seen a wheel before, but never anything mechanical that could fly and he begins to describe in detail what he sees with the best knowledge that he has.

Psalm 137:1 – Weeping by the Captives of Babylon
¹ By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 1:4 – Something coming out of the NORTH
⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the NORTH—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal. (NIV2011)

The Story Begins

• Ezekiel encounters the same phenomena three times and then once again 19 years later; so for over 20 years his descriptions of the spacecraft are literally the same.  We are going to look at his visions from two perspectives; the Literal and the Symbolic.
• Literal View – Ezekiel sees the spaceship’s descent from a circular orbit in the NORTH to its subsequent landing on earth with the accompaniment of the roar of blazing rocket engines that seemed like the heavens were opening – It probably used retro rockets that looked like lightning flashes to slow its entry speed and then finally four helicopters units for it’s final descent. – Liquid hydrogen that is used to cool down everything is discharged into the atmosphere creating a vapor cloud like that seen behind a jet flying at high altitudes – At some point Ezekiel sees the radiation of the reactor at the center of the very bottom glowing like red hot coals. – This shuttle spaceship is operating in conjunction with a mother spacecraft orbiting probably some 220 nautical miles above the earth.
• Symbolic View – In scripture the term “NORTH” is used to point to the throne of God and it strictly says that Ezekiel saw visions of GOD that looked like fire of glowing metal – Fire is the judgment of God coming on the earth. - Ezekiel sees four Cherubim Angels forming a throne on which the Lord rode.  Their wings sounded like the thunder of mighty rushing waters - Ezekiel is seeing the SHEKINAH GLORY OF GOD. – Shekinah is “the visible sign of the presence of God”. - Jesus came down from the father God whose orbit consumes the entire Heavens. – God is hovering above the world now, ready to receive anyone who will come to Him through His only son born of a woman; Jesus the Christ.

Ezekiel 1:1 – I saw Visions of God
¹ 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. (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 1:4 – Something coming out of the North
⁴ I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the NORTH — an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, (NIV2011)

Isaiah 14:12-13 – The Heavens are in the NORTH
¹² How art thou fallen from HEAVEN, O Lucifer, son of the morning! thou art cut down to the ground, For thou hast said in thine heart,
¹³ I will ascend into HEAVEN, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the NORTH: (KJV)

1 John 1:5 - God is Light
⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (NIV2011)

Acts 26:13 – God is brighter than the sun
¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.

Nehemiah 9:12 -  Shekinah Glory – Pillar of Fire
¹²  By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take. (NIV2011)

Hebrews 12:29 - God is a consuming fire
²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Burning Coals of Fire

• Literal – The rocket thrusters fired, making small corrections in the space ships descent that looked a lot like lightning bolts flashing back and forth. – The robotic arms hands off some radioactive coals to one of the ground crew who is in a Linen protective spacesuit.
• Symbolic – We are seeing the Glory of the Lord; His presence causes lightning bolts to blaze forth – God is Light – Jesus is the Light of the world – White Hot Light that purifies us from all sin. – These burning hot coals speak of Judgment on the unbeliever. - For the believer these burning coals signify cleansing and purification.
• NOTE:  In scripture, Devine messengers often wore “White Linen” portraying the purity and holiness of God. – It was also used as a Priestly garment.

Ezekiel 1:13 – The Rockets pulsed to make small corrections
¹³ The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
¹⁴ The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

2 Samuel 22:13-14 - His brightness causes bolts of lightning
¹³ Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. The LORD thundered from heaven;
¹⁴ the voice of the Most High resounded. (NIV2011)

John 8:12 - I am the light of the world
¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (NIV2011)

1 John 1:7– His light purifies us from all sin
⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 10:1-2 – The burning coals are JUDGMENT on the city

¹ I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of lapis lazuli above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim.
² The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in. (NIV2011)

The Cockpit Command Capsule

• Literal – Ezekiel is able to see the Commander through the variable density tinted glass of the CCC (the Cockpit Command Capsule).  He is sitting at the controls in his specially designed chair that resembles a throne.  His vantage point is somewhat higher than the rest of the space craft which is manned by his crew on a lower level. – The CCC has the ability to separate itself from the Land Rover Shuttle and take the Commander and a small crew short distances. - It also contains a PA system for audible communication with those on the ground.
• Symbolic – This is none other than the vision of the throne of God filled with energy like a rockets explosion at takeoff except it’s not leaving the earth; it’s coming to it, bringing the MERCY SEAT of God with His Angels in attendance. – The “Mercy Seat” is where God will communicate with His people – He will have compassion and mercy.

Ezekiel 1:22-26 – The CCC - Cockpit Command Capsule
²² Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome.
²³ Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
²⁴ When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
²⁵ Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings.
²⁶ Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. (NIV2011)

Exodus 25:21-22 – The “Mercy Seat” is above
²¹ And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
²² And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (KJV)

Romans 9:15 - I will have mercy on whom I have mercy
¹⁵ For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” (NIV2011)

The Commander

• Literal – There was nothing specially noted about the Commander except that he had on a highly reflective golden space suit that reflected Colors like that of a rainbow; this suit provided protection from radiation and heat; he was also equipped with personal technology that enabled him to fly from the CCC to the ground and back. – He also could remote control the CCC in its movements; so other than that, he looked just like any other ordinary man. - Never the less Ezekiel was overwhelmed and fainted.
• Symbolic – This is none other but the Glory of the Lord; not His Person. – No one sees God’s face and lives – Jesus Christ came to the earth and took on the form of man and His glory was NOT seen. . – But if you believe; you WILL see the Glory of God – God’s Glory has exploded all of Ezekiel’s five senses and he falls face down before Him. – John the Revelator also fell down before Him - Isaiah the Prophet saw the Glory of God and thought he was a dead man. – “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips”. – God touched Isiah with a piece of RED HOT COAL; His glowing Glory took away his sins.

Ezekiel 1:27-28 – The Commander had on a bright Space Suit

²⁷ I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.
²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (NIV2011)

John 1:14 – The Son of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV2011)

Exodus 33:18-19 - For no one may see God and live
¹⁸ Then Moses said, “Now show me your GLORY.”
¹⁹ “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. ²⁰ But,” he said, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (NIV2011)

Revelation 1:16-17 – John the Revelator fell at his feet as dead
¹⁶  And he had in his right hand seven stars… and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength.
¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (KJV)

Isaiah 6:5-7 – Isaiah saw the glory of God
⁵ Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
⁶ Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live COAL in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
⁷ And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (KJV)

John 11:40 - If you believe you will see the glory of God
⁴⁰  Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (NKJV)

The Guide

• Literal - The Commander himself does not show Ezekiel around, but gives him a guide to escort him.  He has a tape measure to document the dimensions of a new temple – This is a pleasant, PEACEFUL encounter between Ezekiel and the Guide.
• Symbolic – When a man is found in scripture with a measuring rod, it’s an Angel of God and DESTRUCTION is on the way; this is anything but peaceful; it’s scary.

Ezekiel 40:2-3 – A Guide with a tape measure
²  In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city.
³ He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. (NIV2011)

2 Kings 21:13 – Measure - wipe out Jerusalem as wiping a dish
¹³  I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will WIPE OUT Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. (NIV2011)

Futuristic Weapons of Destruction

• Literal – Ezekiel sees six of the Commanders ground crew with futuristic lethal weapons in their hands; WEAPONS that he has never seen before and could not describe. – There are seven men in the ground crew; six of which are in charge of the city and dressed like the common man of the day and the seventh one, the guide is dressed in a protective space suit.
• Symbolic – These six men represent SOME of the multitudes of God’s Angels that are used in the JUDGMENT of the World when Christ returns to establish His Kingdom. (This is not the rapture when Christ returns for the Church with no angles, but this is at his final coming.) (Six is the number of “Man” or “Sin”. - If the number had been seven (completeness) God would have sent ALL His Angels.)  NYOBS 23.02 SECRET SEVENS

Ezekiel 9:1-2 Futuristic Weapons of Destruction
¹ I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring  those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.”
² And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 3:5-6 – The six men were common ordinary people
⁵ You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel -
⁶ not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. (NIV2011)

Matthew 13:40-41 – Six (multitudes) Angles at Christ’s return
⁴⁰ “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. (NIV2011)

Matthew 16:27 – Christ will come in GLORY with ANGELS
²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (NIV2011)

Four Living Creatures

• Ezekiel sees four living creatures; he does not interpret what he sees because he can’t; all he can do is report with terminology that makes sense to him.
• Literal – At first Ezekiel thinks that he sees forms like human beings, but when the smoke clears the unique shapes appear to have wings that are moving – Below the wings are arms that are hanging down alongside a body. – The faces resemble a human form; a man.
• Symbolic – These four creatures are Cherubim angles that guard the throne of God as well as show the way to it.  They represent the four angels that stand around the throne of God, praising Him; saying Holy, Holy, Holy; day and night. – The likeness of a man speaks of the incarnation of Christ – God came down to earth as a man to show us the way.

Ezekiel 1:4-6 – Four living Creatures with four faces and wings
⁴  I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, (NIV2011)
⁵ Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

⁶ but each of them had four faces and four wings (KJV)

Ezekiel 1:18 – They were covered with eyes.

¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

John 1:14 - God became flesh and dwelt among us
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV2011) 

Isaiah 52:7 – God came to earth as a man
⁷  How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (NIV2011)

Their faces

• Ezekiel describes the four faces of each of the Living Creatures.
• Literal – Ezekiel sees decals near the top of the four cylindrical bodies of the synchronized helicopters.  He describes the face of a man on the front side; and on the right side a Lion; and on the left side an Ox; and on the back side an Eagle. - This is kind of like we do to the fuselages of our aircraft. – Many automobiles have decals such as a Mustang or Road Runner.
• Symbolic – Christ is revealed in His “Kingship” as a LION – In His “Servant hood” as an OX – in His “Humanity” as a MAN – and in His “Deity” as an EAGLE.

Ezekiel 1:10 – They had four faces; Lion, Ox, Man and Eagle
¹⁰ Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being (MAN), and on the right side each had the face of a LION, and on the left the face of an OX; each also had the face of an EAGLE. (NIV2011)

Revelation 4:6-8 Four Creatures before the throne of Heaven
⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
⁷ The first living creature was like a LION, the second was like an OX, the third had a face like a MAN, the fourth was like a flying EAGLE.
⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:  ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, ’who was, and is, and is to come.” (NIV2011)

Wings, Hands, Legs and Feet

• Literal – The folding helicopter wings or blades were above the rotor motors of the four landing support legs which cylindrical bodies house two shock absorbing convex pods on the bottom for cushioning during the landing – There was a second pair of folding wings just under the first pair that could be raised to increase thrust. - Robotic Arms were on all four landing pod bodies which could be extended to pick up or handle objects as needed.
• Symbolic – This is none other than the body parts of Cherubim Angels – When their wings fluttered it sounded like thunder from mighty rushing water. –Their swords flashed back and forth like lighting. – These are the same kind of Angels that was in the Garden of Eden.

Ezekiel 1:7-11 – Helicopter blades, landing pods – Robotic arms
⁷ Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.
⁸ Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings,
⁹ and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

¹¹ Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 10:15 – The legs and feet were of the Cherubim Angels
¹⁵ Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River. (NIV2011)

Genesis 3:24 – Cherubim swords flashed like lighting
²⁴  After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (NIV2011)

Wheels

• Ezekiel has seen a wheel before, but none like these.
• Literal – The wheels were lowered down out of each of the helicopter units extending past the landing pods.  They were uniquely made to roll sideways as well as straight – The “Four Wheel Drive” main wheel was made up of many other smaller “tractor tread” barrel like wheels around its circumference;  with so much movement, it looked like a wheel moving within a wheel. – The barrel like wheels around the rim have large knobby tractor treads for traction that resemble a multitude of eyes.
• Symbolic – The wheels speak of the omnipotence of God in His ceaseless energy and activity, moving in All directions and with All Authority – God’s ceaseless activity is busy moving in the affairs of men. – He is All powerful and All purposeful. – His eyes are All seeing - All knowing; nothing is hid from Him.

Ezekiel 1:15-16 – A Wheel inside a Wheel
¹⁵ As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces.
¹⁶ This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.

Ezekiel 1:18 – The knobby tires around the rim looked like eyes
¹⁸ Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. (NIV2011

Matthew 28:18 – All AUTHORITY has been given to Him
¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (NIV2011)

Isa 46: 10 – He is all knowing - OMNISICENCE

10 I make known the end from the beginning, NIV

Jer 23:24 – He is ever present- OMNIPRESENT

24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. NIV

Rev 19:6 – He is all powerful - OMNIPOTENT

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. KJV

Went Straight

• Literal – The Commander could maneuver the craft straight forward or in any direction without having to turn the space craft. – Kind of like a powerful Cruise Ship that uses side thrusters when docking; moving forward and sideways at the same time.
• Symbolic – The Spirit of God is moving forward toward the accomplishment of His goal – Nothing changing His course – Unwaveringly – Unhesitatingly – Undeviating.

Ezekiel 1:12 – The Spirit went straight without turning
¹² Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.

The Vertical Movement

• Literal – The space craft repositioned itself on the ground by lifting itself up with the rumbling helicopter units which houses the landing pods and wheels.
• Symbolic – All movement is synchronized and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the earth rumbles and trembles at His movement - God’s Glory is slowing leaving Israel and in the finality of things, as the Cherubim Angels of God mount UP; the GLORY OF GOD moves OUT.

Ezekiel 1:17-21 – The space ship repositions itself by lifting up.

¹⁷ As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
¹⁹ When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
²⁰ Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
²¹ When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 10:19 – The Angels moved UP and the GLORY moved OUT
¹⁹ While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. (NIV2011)

Alien Abduction

• Literal – Ezekiel was abducted by the alien commander aboard the CCC and was strapped in a seat with the strong hand of a safety harness. -  He could hear the roar of the helicopter blades below as they rose from the ground and soon realized that he was now flying - He was taken to Tel Aviv where he sat among the other exiles. - It took him SEVEN DAYS to get over the experience. – This happened to Ezekiel four times starting during an interval of about a year between the first, second and third abduction and then a period of 19 years later for the fourth abducition. – In the second, third and fourth abduction the mechanical telescoping arms were utilized to assist in raising Ezekiel up. – The static electricity made his hair stand on end.

• Symbolic – This teleportation is not bodily levitation, parapsychic phenomena or auto suggestion; it is under the compulsion of the Holy Spirit. - The sounds and sights of the “Glory of the Lord” has Ezekiel awestruck by God’s Holiness which has consumed all of his senses and has literally floored him; he falls face down before the Lord; and God raises him back to his feet – Human words cannot adequately describe God. -  Ezekiel has been selected by God Himself to be a Watchman on the Wall for the Israelites. – He is distressed as he ponders how far from God His people have wandered – The Watchman must be able to distinguish the enemy of God’s people; those “inside the camp” as well as those outside; he will be held responsible for their life which has literally been placed in his hands.  Understanding the depth of his responsibility as “The Watchman”; he meditates on the Lord’s message for SEVEN DAYS as he sorts out his thoughts and feelings. – He is preparing to deliver an unpleasant message to an unreceptive audience, although it is corrective and beneficial.
• NOTE:  The period of mourning for the dead was usually SEVEN DAYS. – Ezekiel was distressed at the mass of people who were going to be destroyed. - Another note; the normal consecration period for the priesthood was for SEVEN DAYS.

Ezekiel 3:23 – Ezekiel fell face down, God lifted him back up
²³ So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.

Ezekiel 8:3 – Static Electricity made his hair stand on end
³ He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 3:12-15 – FIRST abduction – taken aboard the CCC
¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the LORD rose from the place where it was standing.
¹³ It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away,
¹⁴ and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD on me.
¹⁵ I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for SEVEN DAYS—deeply distressed.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 3:22-24 – SECOND abduction
²² The hand of the LORD was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.”
²³ So I got up and the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 8:1-4 – THIRD abduction – one year after the first
¹ In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came on me there.
² I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal.
³ He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court.⁴ And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 40:1-2 - FOURTH Abduction
¹ In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the LORD was on me and he took me there.
² In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. (NIV2011)

More Abductions

• Abductions or space travel through the Fourth Dimension can be found in other parts of scripture - sort of – kinda – maybe – if you close one eye - NYOBS 01.15 THE FORTH DIMENSION.
• Literal – Here are four more abductions found in scripture – Paul, John, Elijah and Philip – This phenomena has been going on a long time
• Symbolic - The Spirit of God has always been supernaturally at work in the life of Godly people. – If you remove the supernatural from the Bible, we have No Faith, No Savior and No Hope.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 – Paul the Apostle Abducted
¹ I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
³  And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—
⁴  was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

(NIV2011)

Revelation 4:1-2 – John the Revelator Abducted
¹ After this… before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
² At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. (NIV2011)

2 Kings 2:1 – Elijah the Prophet Abducted
¹ When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

(NIV2011)

Acts 8:39 – Philip the Deacon Abducted
³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again.

Purpose

• Literal - Ezekiel was selected for this visitation because he was considered the leader of the exiles that were on the River Kebar.  – Previously Daniel had encountered something very similar on the Tigris River and all his men ran away.  Ezekiel did not run away which was another reason that he was chosen - The visitation is PEACEFUL in nature and was for the strict purpose of giving information to Ezekiel to share with the people of Israel.
• Symbolic – Israel believed that they were God’s chosen people, when in fact they were in rebellion against Him.  God is revealing Himself to Ezekiel to prepare him for ministry - God explains to Ezekiel that He is giving him the JOB of speaking to a people that has continued to transgress against Him. – He is told the opposition will be frightful and whether or not they listen to him; not to be afraid. -  He is to carry a message that cannot be conditioned by his listener’s response - When he finishes speaking they will certainly know that a prophet has been among them. – Ezekiel as the Watchman on the Wall, must identify the FALSE PROPHETS of darkness, who have been telling the exiles that everything will be fine and that there will be PEACE; when in fact there is absolutely NO PEACE on the horizon in their lifetime. – This is tough for Ezekiel; the more YOU know, the greater grows YOUR responsibility.

Daniel 10:4-8 – Daniel saw something, and did not run away.
⁴ As I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
⁵ I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
⁶ His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
⁷ I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.
⁸ So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 40:4 – The purpose is to give you information.
⁴ The man said, “look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”

Ezekiel 2:3-5 - They will know a prophet has been among them
³ He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.
⁴ The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’
⁵ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

(NIV2011)

Jeremiah 8:11 – False prophets saying Peace, Peace

¹¹ They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace.

Watchman on the Wall

• Acting Out - Ezekiel will Act Out the prophecy or parable that God gave him. – He will shut himself in his house with bound up hands and a silent mouth to show that God has rejected His people. – God will not help them, nor speak to them, nor be found by them.
• If God is not watching over America, then nothing we can dream up can save us; it will all be in vain. - We should all feel an urgency to humble ourselves before God; pray and seek His face and turn from our sins; that He will forgive us and heal our land.  
• PRAY FOR AMERICA

Psalm 127:1 - Unless the Lord WATCHES - you watch in vain
¹ Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards watch in vain.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – Humble – Pray – Seek – I will Forgive
¹⁴  If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Ezekiel 33:7 – Ezekiel was made the WATCHMAN
⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

(NIV2011)

Isaiah 62:6 - I have posted a WATCHMAN on your walls
⁶ I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.

(NIV2011)

Ezekiel 33:6 - I will hold the watchman accountable
⁶  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

(NIV2011)

Closing NOTES

• Literal View Note - It appears that Ezekiel was taken home by a different UFO than he came on, implying that there was at least two and maybe up to five spacecraft in use; all busy most of the time doing other things that were not connected with Ezekiel; and continuing for a period of some twenty years. – In May of 2013 there were television news reports of commercially available remote controlled un-manned drones equipped with four helicopter units attached to a “top” shaped body. – Good Grief.
• Symbolic View Note – God’s ceaseless Spirit has been at work since the beginning of time and is not restricted by situation, matter, space or time. – God’s ways are “HIGHER” than man’s ways.
• World View Note – Those in Ezekiel’s day thought that Prophets like Ezekiel were misguided men just trying to use scare tactics to control the people. – In our day some say Ezekiel was HIGH on POT when he saw the space ship; citing the scripture; “Put on the cooking POT”.  
• NOTE 1 - Ezekiel’s name means “God Strengthens”. – Scripture says “The Hand of God” came upon him (strengthened him.) - The assignment that God had given Ezekiel would require him to be “hard as flint” in order to take the abuse that he would receive from the exiles.  - Because he was a Priest he would be able to describe “The Glory of God” as well as the vision of the Millennial Temple. – He ACTED OUT warnings, parables and prophecies which drew an audience that would walk away taking about what it all meant, and couldn’t wait to see what he was going do the next day. – They wouldn’t forget the “WAR GAMES”.
• NOTE 2 - The description of the temple that Ezekiel observed does not match up with the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem and when Solomon’s temple was rebuilt, it was not with the plans that Ezekiel had. – So we really don’t know where Ezekiel’s was when this vision took place - It appears to me that this will be The Millennium Temple filled with the Shekinah Glory of God, that Christ will establish when he returns for His thousand year reign. - It will be a place of great beauty with music and singing and there will be an alter to make sacrifices for the express purpose of looking back in commemoration of what Christ has already done; but that’s just another Word Study.
• NOTE 3 – This is sad to say, but “The Glory of God” was gradually departing from the Nation of Israel and the face of God was progressively ever so slowly turning away because they had “Put the Branch to their nose”; we would say today that they “THUMBNED THEIR NOSE” at God – It’s even sadder when you realize that this is ACTUALLY what our country is doing today. – God is slowly turning away from America and removing His Shekinah Glory; the Glory that has blessed America since its beginning. – America is thumbing their nose.
• NOTE 4 – Just because you have not seen God is not evidence or proof that He does not exist. – The Israelites were “thumbing their noses” and saying that God is blind – WELL, God is preparing for judgment and will send out His Angels to place a “MARK” on those who are to be passed over and saved from his JUDGMENT. - This is rumination of the 144,000 that God will seal with His MARK of protection, and sadly on the FLIP SIDE; the unbelievers that will receive the MARK of the Beast and be sealed with for their final destruction.  
• NOTE 5 – This Word study is not meant to unpack the vision of the Temple that Ezekiel visited, but to just MESS WITH YOUR MIND about Ancient Space Travel, Alien Abductions and the Fourth Dimension - I am not embracing spaceships in the Bible, but only hoping that I have caused you to be inspired enough to read God’s Word for yourself and dig out some FUN stuff.  Hopefully in the process you have learned more about Jesus Christ the only Son of God who was born of a woman. -  Learn who you are in Him. – The word “Sin” means “missing the mark” – Don’t miss His “MARK”. – Don’t thumb your nose.

Ezekiel 24:3 – They were COOKIN’ “POT”
³ Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it. (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 8:17 – They “THUMBED their NOSE” at God
¹⁷ Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose! (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 9:9 – God is Blind
⁹ He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’ (NIV2011)

Ezekiel 9:4-6 – Place a mark on those that are to be saved.
⁴ “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a MARK on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
⁵ As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion.
⁶ Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the MARK.

(NIV2011)

Revelation 14:1 – The Mark of God
¹ Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (NIV2011)

Revelation 19:20 - The Mark of the Beast
²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image

Isaiah 55:9 God’s ways are higher than our ways
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (NIV2011)

2 Corinthians 6:2 – Now is the day of Salvation- Today
² For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation.

(NIV2011)

The inspiration for this study came from Josef F. Blumrich’s book;

“The Spaceships of Ezekiel”.

His book ignores all the religious aspects of Ezekiel’s story in the Bible

and only focuses on the scientific realm having worked for NASA

helping to develop Skylab and the Saturn V. Rocket. 

I am grateful for the insight of J. Vernon McGee’s 80 volume Bible commentary;

 “Thru The Bible” - Ezekiel.

In the multitude of counselors,

 there is wisdom.

Prov 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

101 Q&A on Demon Powers – Dr. Lester Sumrall

Antiquity of the Jews – Josephus Jewish Historian

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Walter A. Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer Tenny White

Expositors Bible Commentary; The – Frank E. Gaebelein

Harper’s Bible Dictionary – Harper & Row

History of Israel – J. Vernon McGee

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Tyndale

Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas & Tenney

Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Zondervan

Spaceship of Ezekiel; The – Josef F. Blumrich

Topical Bible - Naves

Victor Journey through the Bible; The – V. Gilbert Beers

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Witchcraft, puppets and Voodoo – Irene A. Park