Luke 21:8

Christian, Be Not Deceived!

Who are the four living creatures seen in vision by Ezekiel?

When in captivity at age 30, Ezekiel is taken into vision (it is the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity (ch. 1:2), 593/592 B.C.)

"Ezekiel, the mourning exile prophet, in the land of the Chaldeans, was given a vision teaching the same lesson of faith in the mighty God of Israel. As he was upon the banks of the river Chebar, a whirlwind seemed to come from the north, 'a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber.' A number of wheels of strange appearance, intersecting one another, were moved by four living creatures. High above all these was 'the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.' 'As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.' 'And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.'

"There were wheels within wheels in an arrangement so complicated that at first sight they appeared to Ezekiel to be all in confusion. But when they moved, it was with beautiful exactness and in perfect harmony. Heavenly beings were impelling these wheels, and, above all, upon the glorious sapphire throne, was the Eternal One; while round about the throne was the encircling rainbow, emblem of grace and love. Overpowered by the terrible glory of the scene, Ezekiel fell upon his face, when a voice bade him arise and hear the word of the Lord. Then there was given him a message of warning for Israel.

"This vision was given to Ezekiel at a time when his mind was filled with gloomy forebodings. He saw the land of his fathers lying desolate. The city that was once full of people was no longer inhabited. The voice of mirth and the song of praise were no more heard within her walls. The prophet himself was a stranger in a strange land, where boundless ambition and savage cruelty reigned supreme. That which he saw and heard of human tyranny and wrong distressed his soul, and he mourned bitterly day and night. But the wonderful symbols presented before him beside the river Chebar revealed an overruling power mightier than that of earthly rulers. Above the proud and cruel monarchs of Assyria and Babylon the God of mercy and truth was enthroned.

"The wheellike complications that appeared to the prophet to be involved in such confusion were under the guidance of an infinite hand. The Spirit of God, revealed to him as moving and directing these wheels, brought harmony out of confusion; so the whole world was under His control. Myriads of glorified beings were ready at His word to overrule the power and policy of evil men, and bring good to His faithful ones." – White, E. G. (1882) Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5. p. 751. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association.

"None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict."—White, E. G. (1911). The Great Controversy, p. 593.

For an exceptionally good commentary on the four living creatures, listen here:

1. Commentary 1
2. Commentary 2

Below is a map that shows the location of the Chebar river.

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Chebar is a river in the "land of the Chaldeans" (Ezek. 1:3), on the banks of which were located some of the Jews of the Captivity (Ezek. 1:1; 3:15, 23; 10:15, 20, 22). It has been supposed to be identical with the river Habor, the Chaboras, or modern Khabour, which falls into the Euphrates at Circesium. To the banks of this river some of the Israelites were removed by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:6). An opinion that has much to support it is that the "Chebar" was the royal canal of Nebuchadnezzar, the Nahr Malcha, the greatest in Mesopotamia, which connected the Tigris with the Euphrates, in the excavation of which the Jewish captives were probably employed. (go here for more info).

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  — 1 Th 5:4