Regathering Part 2

Make Your Choice Quickly

Ezekiel 1:10 ESV

As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

In part one of this series we dug into the Hebraic explanation of the first portion of Ezekiel’s vision. We looked at setting the correct context for the vision from the Lord to Israel in captivity having adopted much of Babylonian pagan culture into their daily lives.

In this portion, we will look deeper into the description of these four living creatures. Keep in mind that the number four in Hebrew is the letter dalet (ד) (Psalm 119:25; devekut דבקות or clinging to God) representing an open door or an opportunity where the poor in spirit can repent, return and draw near unto God.

Now, there are many ways to look at this from an allegorical perspective and from a theological perspective. However, I want to look at it from the way the Hebrew minded Prophet to Israel in pagan captivity would have interpreted it.

Having established the context of these creatures wings, human hands, legs and such, let us turn to their faces. The Hebrew word for “face” used here is the Qal form of the verb pana פָּנָה meaning meaning to turn, to turn back, to turn from, to turn around, or to turn toward. Thus, a connection to, not only the wheels in the vision, but also to the call for repentance or to turn back from their way and to turn toward God’s. It is a call from God that they have gone, and continue to go, in the wrong direction and Father is calling them back in the right direction.

Therefore, this gives us more context of the faces described. Since this is a vision from the God of Israel to a Hebrew Prophet and regarding Israel in captivity, it makes since to turn to Israel for interpretation.

Each of the tribes of Israel, as armies, had standards that symbolized their particular tribes.

Numbers 2:17 ESV

“Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they camp, so shall they set out, each in position, standard by standard.

The word for “standard” is degel דֶּ֫גֶל meaning “banner”.

According to Ron Wallace, in The Four Banners of Israel, each tribe had a symbol but there were four primary standards representing the triad of tribes of Israel:

“According to rabbinical tradition, the standard of Judah bore the figure of a lion, that of Reuben the likeness of a man or of a man’s head, that of Ephraim the figure of an ox, and that of Dan the figure of an eagle; so that the four living creatures united in the cherubic forms described by Ezekiel were represented upon these four standards.” (Found on 12JAN2024 at https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/30866/what-were-the-four-standards-around-which-the-tribes-of-israel-were-camped-numb ).

We find Scriptural reference to each of these such as:

Judah (Lion): (Rev. 5:1-10; Ruler; Dominion; Kingship) Gen 49:9

Genesis 49:9 ESV

Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?

Revelation 5:5–6 ESV

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Note the four “Living Creatures” here again. Note the similarity in description:

Revelation 4:6–7 ESV

and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Do you reckon that John had not gotten around to reading Ezekiel? Or maybe the same God who gave this vision to Ezekiel was the same God giving it to the Apostle John? Coincidental or do you think that after all those years God may have been coming full circle to reveal Himself to Israel and call her back unto Himself?

Ephraim (Son of Joseph; Ox): (Phil. 2:5-16; Perseverance) Ephraim means “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” It speaks of the work of the Christ. In John’s case it is encouragement to a persecuted church.

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reuben (Man): (Heb. 10:12-20; Relationship with and in the image of the Creator) His name means, “Behold a Son”. This tribes speaks of the kingdom judgement and aide to David.

Daniel 7:13 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

Zechariah 6:12 ESV

And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.

“Dan (Eagle): (Ex. 19:3-9; God’s great mercy) Dan means "judge" and is designated as a serpent, biting the heels of those around them. The original standard would include that of a serpent (Gen 49:16), but due to it's association with sin and the tempter in the garden of Eden, Ahiezer, who was later the chief of Dan (Numbers 2:25), changed the standard into an Eagle clutching a snake (according to Jewish Tradition).” (What were the four standards around which the tribes of Israel were encamped? Found on 12JAN2024 at https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/30866/what-were-the-four-standards-around-which-the-tribes-of-israel-were-camped-numb)

I believe there is a connection between this and Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Revelation 12:9 ESV

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

The rest of Ezekiel Chapter 1 begins to describe the presence of God.

Ezekiel 1:24 ESV

And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.

Ezekiel 1:26 ESV

And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.

Ezekiel 1:28 ESV

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Now, let’s connect this vision of Ezekiel's to the whole of God’s plan being unfolded in today among us as we live and breathe. So often when this vision is read we always envision the “Wheels” as that of chariots. However, there are other kinds of wheels such as that of a potter’s wheel and that of a threshing wheel.

Proverbs 20:26 ESV

A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

The word for “wheel” here in Hebrew is opan אוֹפָן a wheel of a chariot or a wheel of threshing. Threshing is the process of which grain or seed is separated from that to which it is attached such as the husk. Consider the parable of the "Wheat and Tares” in Hebrews 13. We also see in the Hebrew the word for “time” referring to that which turns or revolves. According to Gesenius: “time” ophen אֹפֶן

“Time” ophen אֹפֶן comes from the notion of turning and revolving compared with many words which denote a year, all of which properly signify a circle, as annus horribilis (an unfortunate or horrible year) and annus mirabilis (a remarkable or notable year). Hence Proverbs 25:11 states דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל־אָפְנָיו “a word spoken in its own times,” i.e. in a suitable year. Thus, we may explain עַל־אָפְנָיו a wheel “upon its wheels,” taking it as a proverbial phrase indicating quickness of answering, making אֹפֶן to be the same as אוֹפָן a wheel. (Gesenius Old Testament Lexicon)

With all that said, what is God saying to Israel and us in the vision? “It is time to make a decision quickly this day whom you will serve, either the god’s of this world or the God of all heaven and earth?”

Notice the following passages in Revelations following the four “Living Creatures”:

Revelation 4:8–9 ESV

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Revelation 4:10 ESV

the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Who are these twenty-four elders and what do they represent?

Throughout Scripture, relative to the natural and supernatural realms, we find twenty-four hours complete a full day as God designed it. You cannot add to it or take from it. There were twenty-four courses associated the Priests service to the Lord in the Tabernacle. The twenty four Priestly Divisions can be found in Chronicles 24.

Again, coincidental? I think not. I see Divine Design written all over it. In addition, twenty-four represents:

“Completeness – 24 often symbolizes fullness and wholeness, as seen with the 24 elders, priestly courses, and hours in a day.” “Divine Order – The factors of 24 suggest balance between physical/spiritual realms. 24 represents structured order in God’s plan.” “Spiritual Expansion – As a multiple of 12 (tribes, apostles), 24 signifies extending God’s foundation to all believers.” “Prophecy Fulfilled – In prophetic texts, 24 is linked to measurements indicating the fulfillment of God’s promises.” “Daily Relevance – The concept of 24 reminds us of spiritual reality beyond the physical world. It has implications for living reflectively and purposefully.”

(BIBLICAL MEANING OF 24: DECODING SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, August 13, 2023; By Carly; Found on 12JAN2024 at https://biblewithus.com/biblical-meaning-of-24/)

The twenty-four elders represent the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Apostles in one sense. In totality, it represents the Covenant of God with man and the full plan of God from beginning to end. It represents Israel and the Church as His Bride.

The days are before us that you must choose whose you are? The real church cannot continue to ride the cultural moral fence any longer. The Followers of Christ must separate themselves from the Fake of Fades. Do not be a “two-faced” fake but a “Four-Faced” and fully committed Follower of the Christ.

This is your year to walk in the completeness of God’s Word and the Divine Order of His way. This is your year of seeing every prophetic word God has spoken about you, to you, and over you fulfilled. This is your year of stretching yourself out of your comfort zone and expanding your spiritual understanding of the things of God. This is your year to make every day relevant in God’s sovereign purpose. make your choice quickly while the opportunity is here.