How does Ezekiel 1:23 connect to the vision of God's throne in Revelation? Setting the Scene: Two Throne-Room Windows • Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4–5 are separated by more than six centuries, yet both writers are carried “in the Spirit” (Ezekiel 1:3; Revelation 4:2) to behold the same heavenly throne. • Ezekiel views it from below the expanse; John is called “up here” and sees it from inside the court, but the focal point remains the sovereign God seated above all creation. Ezekiel 1:23—What Ezekiel Actually Saw “Under the expanse, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body.” • Location: “Under the expanse”—a crystal platform (v. 22) separating the creatures from the blazing throne above. • Posture: Two wings outstretched toward one another, forming a joined canopy of reverence. • Modesty: Two additional wings fold back to cover their bodies, signaling awe before the Holy One. • Activity: While wings are poised, wheels move “wherever the Spirit would go” (v. 20), showing perfect obedience. Parallels in Revelation 4 Revelation 4:6-8 (BSB, excerpts) “…In the center and around the throne were four living creatures… each was covered with eyes… And the four living creatures had six wings… Day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy…’” Shared elements: • Same number of “living creatures.” • Six-wing structure—two for covering (Ezekiel), four for motion; Revelation specifies all six around the body. • Continuous worship proclaimed by the creatures. • Eyes “all around,” mirroring Ezekiel’s wheels “full of eyes” (1:18), underscoring God’s all-seeing governance. Distinct perspectives: • Ezekiel reports from beneath the expanse; John stands where the sea of glass is “before” the throne (Revelation 4:6), the expanse now seen from above. • Ezekiel stresses mobility (wheels), while Revelation stresses praise (ceaseless “Holy, holy, holy”). Deeper Scriptural Echoes • Exodus 25:20—cherubim on the mercy seat spread wings “facing one another,” the earthly pattern after the heavenly original. • Isaiah 6:2—seraphim with six wings use two to cover face, two to cover feet, two to fly, echoing both Ezekiel and Revelation. • Revelation 5:11-14 & 7:11—the living creatures lead the hosts of heaven in cascading worship, fulfilling the pattern glimpsed in Ezekiel 1:23. Why the Connection Matters • Continuity: The same throne and creatures appear in both Testaments, reinforcing Scripture’s single, unified storyline. • Holiness: Wings that cover and wings that serve picture simultaneous reverence and readiness—an enduring model for worshipers. • Sovereignty: The unbroken chorus around the throne assures believers that God’s rule never falters, no matter the era. • Hope: John’s vantage point shows the expanse/sea of glass now at peace, inviting saints to draw near through the Lamb (Revelation 5:6-10; Hebrews 10:19-22). Key Takeaways for Today • God’s throne room is real, not allegory; Ezekiel and John report literal sights that point to eternal realities. • Worship involves both awe (covered wings) and action (outstretched wings)—hearts bowed, lives obeying. • The consistency between Ezekiel 1:23 and Revelation 4 anchors confidence that every promise God makes will likewise prove true. |
    |