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d3450-seraphim6

15As I gazed on the creatures, I saw one wheel on the ground next to each of the four-faced creatures. 16As for the appearance and structure of the wheels, they gleamed like beryl. All four had the same form; the appearance and structure of each was as of two wheels cutting through each other.

17And when they moved, each could move in the direction of any of its four quarters; they did not veer when they moved. 18Their rims were tall and frightening, for the rims of all four were covered all over with eyes. 19And when the creatures moved forward, the wheels moved at their sides; and when the creatures were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne too.

20Wherever the spirit impelled them to go, they went—wherever the spirit impelled them—and the wheels were borne alongside them; for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels. 21When those moved, these moved; and when those stood still, these stood still; and when those were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne alongside them—for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels.

22Above the heads of the creatures was a form: an expanse, with an awe-inspiring gleam as of crystal, was spread out above their heads. 23Under the expanse, each had one pair of wings extended toward those of the others; and each had another pair covering its body.

24When they moved, I could hear the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of Shaddai, a tumult like the din of an army. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop. 25From above the expanse over their heads came a sound. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop.

26Above the expanse over their heads was the semblance of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and on top, upon this semblance of a throne, there was the semblance of a human form. 27From what appeared as his loins up, I saw a gleam as of amber—what looked like a fire encased in a frame; and from what appeared as his loins down, I saw what looked like fire. There was a radiance all about him.

28Like the appearance of the bow which shines in the clouds on a day of rain, such was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. That was the appearance of the semblance of the Presence of the Lord. When I beheld it, I flung myself down on my face. And I heard the voice of someone speaking.     Ezekiel 1/15-28 Tanakh JPS 1985.

 

9I could see that there were four wheels beside the cherubs, one wheel beside each of the cherubs; as for the appearance of the wheels, they gleamed like the beryl stone. 10In appearance, the four had the same form, as if there were two wheels cutting through each other.

11And when they moved, each could move in the direction of any of its four quarters; they did not veer as they moved. The [cherubs] moved in the direction in which one of the heads faced, without turning as they moved.

12Their entire bodies—backs, hands, and wings—and the wheels, the wheels of the four of them, were covered all over with eyes. 13It was these wheels that I had heard called “the wheelwork.” 14Each one had four faces: One was a cherub’s face, the second a human face, the third a lion’s face, and the fourth an eagle’s face.

15The cherubs ascended; those were the creatures that I had seen by the Chebar Canal. 16Whenever the cherubs went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubs lifted their wings to ascend from the earth, the wheels did not roll away from their side. 17When those stood still, these stood still; and when those ascended, these ascended with them, for the spirit of the creature was in them.

18Then the Presence of the Lord left the platform of the House and stopped above the cherubs. 19And I saw the cherubs lift their wings and rise from the earth, with the wheels beside them as they departed; and they stopped at the entrance of the eastern gate of the House of the Lord, with the Presence of the God of Israel above them.

20They were the same creatures that I had seen below the God of Israel at the Chebar Canal; so now I knew that they were cherubs. 21Each one had four faces and each had four wings, with the form of human hands under the wings.

22As for the form of their faces, they were the very faces that I had seen by the Chebar Canal—their appearance and their features—and each could move in the direction of any of its faces.     Ezekiel 10/9-22 Tanakh JPS 1985.

 

1The hand of the Lord came upon me. He took me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the valley. It was full of bones. 2He led me all around them; there were very many of them spread over the valley, and they were very dry. 3He said to me, “O mortal, can these bones live again?” I replied, “O Lord God, only You know.”

4And He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5Thus said the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live again.

6I will lay sinews upon you, and cover you with flesh, and form skin over you. And I will put breath into you, and you shall live again. And you shall know that I am the Lord!”

7I prophesied as I had been commanded. And while I was prophesying, suddenly there was a sound of rattling, and the bones came together, bone to matching bone. 8I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had grown, and skin had formed over them; but there was no breath in them.

9Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, O mortal! Say to the breath: Thus said the Lord God: Come, O breath, from the four winds, and breathe into these slain, that they may live again.” 10I prophesied as He commanded me. The breath entered them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast multitude.

11And He said to me, “O mortal, these bones are the whole House of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone; we are doomed.’ 12Prophesy, therefore, and say to them: Thus said the Lord God: I am going to open your graves and lift you out of the graves, O My people, and bring you to the land of Israel.

13You shall know, O My people, that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and lifted you out of your graves. 14I will put My breath into you and you shall live again, and I will set you upon your own soil. Then you shall know that I the Lord have spoken and have acted”—declares the Lord.     Ezekiel 37/1-14 Tanakh JPS 1985.

 

“5Fear not, for I am with you: I will bring your folk from the East, Will gather you out of the West; 6I will say to the North, “Give back!” And to the South, “Do not withhold! Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the end of the earth—” Isaiah 43/5-6 Tanakh JPS 1985.

 

Commentary:

Ezekiel 1 and 10 are together a vision of the resurrection of the dead to heaven, literally the creatures later identified as cherubs ( a type of angel) with the spirit are going to and fro, east west north and south adding eyes to themselves and the wheels (the eyes are persons) and taking them to the platform of heaven at the entrance of the eastern gate of the House of the L-rd with the Presence of the G-d of Israel above them.

All of Israel whose name will endure forever in the Heaven G-d is creating are the eyes on the cherubs and in the wheels gathered from the earth and lifted to the gate of the House of the L-rd.

Like Ezekiel G-d has shown me incredible visions of Heaven and earth while teaching me the scripture. It is for His purpose of re-counseling the sons to the fathers and the fathers to the sons and to make the many righteous. And He is using His righteous servant described in Isaiah 53 for these tasks. I am that man and I am Elijah. The spirit of the L-rd and the person of the spirit of the L-rd alighted upon me in the year 2007 and His Presence of the person of the Holy G-d descended from heaven to dwell with me.

For this account of Ezekiel G-d revealed to me what these eyes represented. I was sitting in a park leaning against a tree resting from running and talking to G-d. Without any warning or notice I was in a vision. I was alone in the cosmos of the universe looking out at the stars and galaxies. I had no body or form. I was just spirit. I felt and thought I was just a pair of eyes.

That night G-d had me read this account of the eyes on the cherubs and in the wheels gathering the souls and spirits of the Jewish people. The cherubs for those in the land of Abraham and the wheels for those in the diaspora. That is how He explained it to me.

Chapter 37 gives a vivid account of raising the dead to life into new bodies of flesh and bone. Even today people are fascinated with the dead coming back to life in the flesh from vampires to zombies. This is simply a vision to express eternal life in a way that people in a world of little knowledge and education could understand. Resurrected life in the spirit symbolized by the new living body and heaven symbolized as the land of Israel.

The resurrection of the dead in a human body to a heavenly earth is said to be a sign that Moshiach has arrived or that it will happen in his lifetime.

Ezekiel is a wonderful prophet that G-d spoke with and showed amazing visions. Dreams and visions of a prophet should not be taken literally as an event to occur but for the idea they convey. They enrich the story and captivate the imagination of the reader. The dead are raised to the new heaven G-d is creating not to new bodies.

It is a primitive and medieval concept that was good for a time through the middle ages. G-d assures me for instance that the six million people of the Holocaust would rather be with Him than return in a new body. That is why He provided visions of a spiritual heaven for a more enlightened time.

The Book of Isaiah is proven as prophetic of future events leading up to Chapter 53 with the deportation of Samaria, the signs and portents of the children of Isaiah, the Babylon exile of Judah and the return of all twelve tribes to the lands of Benjamin and Judah to rebuild the Temple.

And I am a witness to the fulfillment of Isaiah 53 for the word of the Lord came to me and HaShem said:

“Pick up your Tanakh and turn to Chapter 53.”

So I did and I read each verse.

And HaShem said to me “who do you think that describes?”

And I answered “It is a confusing Chapter and it seems out of place from the previous chapters, like it was just placed in here randomly.”

And HaShem said “who do you think it is?”

And I said “I guess it is Jesus.”

And HaShem said “that is you”

And that led to my agreement to offer myself for guilt to G-d in return for long life so that His purpose might prosper.

In the process of G-d refining me for His purpose with crushing, bruising, chastisement and punishment I have seen heaven in many visions and have felt as though I lived in Sha’ol having my soul tempered and cleansed while still alive.

And I have been taught that there is no resurrection of the dead into a new human body.