CLOUDS, WHIRLWINDS AND PILLERS - GOD'S VEHICLES
When reading about modes of transportation in the Old Testament, we need to remember that the only vehicles the writers were familiar with were a horse or donkey and a cart. We have to try to visualize what they described. Whirlwinds and chariots were often mentioned. The book of Psalms proclaims, “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” (Psalms 68:17)
An interesting scripture to first look at is in the book of Exodus. During the time of the exodus out of Egypt, God placed himself as a protection between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. It says that God looked through the pillar of fire and of the cloud. We have to ask ourselves, what was this column of fire that was combined with a cloud? It states that the Egyptians were troubled. I would think they would have run as fast as they could in the other direction the minute they saw it, which they did not, and ended up perishing. “And It came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 14:24)
It is written several places in the scriptures that as Moses and the people exited out of Egypt they were led by “The Cloud of the Lord” by day and the “Pillar of Fire” by night. If the cloud was not raised off of the tabernacle, then they would not continue their pilgrimage that day. This cloud-pillar must have been tall, or high, because it says it was in the sight of all the house of Israel. “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:34-38) This same situation, of continuing their journey only when the cloud was lifted, is described for us in the book of Numbers. “So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 9:16-23)
Moses made mention of this while scolding the people for their lack of belief. “Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.” (Deuteronomy 1:33)
During their second month, after departing from Egypt, the people began to grumble against Moses and Aaron. Moses told the people, because he had heard their grumbling, they were about to see the glory of the LORD. I’m curious as to what they saw in the cloud? “And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.” (Exodus 16:9-10)
The experience of the people at Mount Sinai is one like no other group of people in history have had or seen. Moses took the people to meet God. God informed the people, through Moses, that he would come to them in a “thick cloud.” Was the thick cloud hiding something? Prior to his appearing, God cautioned the people several times that they would be killed if they crossed a certain point. Could there have been some kind of electrical type force protecting the area, or permeating off of a vehicle in the dark cloud on the mountain? It says there was thunder and lightning, and the mountain quaked. It would take an enormous vehicle to cause the mountain to shake. The Lord then descended upon it in the fire. Can you imagine experiencing something like that today? It’s hard to understand, after seeing such an incredible sight, how the people so quickly doubted and rebelled. God said the people would believe forever. What a disappointment we must be to God.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.”
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. (Exodus 19:9-21)
We discover that the “Cloud,” referred to in verse sixteen, is mentioned other times in the scriptures. Most involved Moses during his time at Mt. Sinai. “And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” (Exodus 24:15-16)
In one circumstance, Moses spent forty days and forty nights up on the mountain in the cloud. “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24:18)
In another instance, a cloudy pillar is described as standing at the door of the tabernacle and speaking with Moses. Again, I have to ask, was the cloud hiding something or in this case someone? This particular cloud was in the form of a man, which the people worshipped. “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.” (Exodus 33:9-10)
The LORD himself is described, in another verse, as descending down in the cloud. “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.” (Exodus 34:5)
At another time, the appearance of the cloud over the tabernacle was a reminder to the people not to rebel against Moses. “And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.” (Numbers 16:42)
Here again, in the book of Numbers, it speaks of the LORD ascending down in the cloud. “And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.” (Numbers 11:25)
When disciplinary action was about to be taken against Moses’ sister, Miriam, the pillar of the cloud appears. “And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.” (Numbers 12:5) When the cloud departed, Miriam had become leprous, and stayed that way for seven days.
God warned Moses’ brother, Aaron, that he would die if he went into the holy place of the tabernacle, because he, the LORD, was going to be in a cloud upon the mercy seat. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:2)
In II Samuel, David, in a prayer, describes God as being in the dark clouds. “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.” (II Samuel 22:11-12) The clouds are spoken of in the Psalms. “Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” (Psalms 97:2) “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:” (Psalms 104:3) There are other places in the scriptures, which speak of Jesus coming on the clouds, which we will cover in the last chapter, but in the book of Revelation, we read: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8)
In an earlier chapter, we read about Elijah the prophet, who was depressed at that time in his life. Something extraordinary happened to Elijah In the end. He never died a physical death, but instead was taken by God. We read of him later appearing with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration in the New Testament. How was he taken? What was it that took him? Elisha the prophet, his successor, witnessed Elijah’s departure. He described him as being taken up in a whirlwind. “And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elisha went with Elijah from Gilgal.’ (II Kings 2:1)“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11)
The word “whirlwind” is used 22 times in the Old Testament. We find that Job, at two different instances, spoke with God through something that appeared to be a whirlwind. What was it? “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, ” (Job 38:1)“Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind,” (Job 40:6)
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah the prophets, all three speak of the Lord coming in spectacular vehicles. Would we be prepared, if and when this was to happen? “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” (Isaiah 66:15) “Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! For we are spoiled.” (Jeremiah 4:13) “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” (Zechariah 9:14) At the beginning of this chapter, we read of God coming with twenty thousand chariots or vehicles. Repeating: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” (Psalms 68:17)
Ezekiel gives the most intriguing description of a type of vehicle found in the scriptures. It’s a little difficult to understand, but remember a donkey and a cart are the extent of his knowledge at that time. Again he begins with a whirlwind. He speaks of wheels that are on their sides, and then a wheel inside the wheel. The color amber, mentioned in verses four and twenty-seven, is described in the Strong‘s Hebrew dictionary as a shining substance, amber or electrum or bronze (uncertain). In verse eighteen, Ezekiel describes the wheels as being “very terrible”, meaning awesome, as well as very tall or high. Could the “rings full of eyes” be something like windows? The expression, “turned not as they went,” to Ezekiel could have meant they didn’t turn their heads like he would think of a horse turning their head as they turn. These just went one way or the other, without turning their heads. When reading this description, we need to consider that part of time he was speaking of the vehicles and part of the time of the beings on the vehicles. The part where he speaks of the “straight legs” or their “wings coming down,” could mean some sort of landing gear coming down. One other thing to consider is the mentioning of four heads. These were also symbols used by the twelve tribes of Israel. These creatures could have been vehicles with the four symbols on each side. We can’t know what it all means. Maybe you can decipher more information from it when you read it.
“And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 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. And every one had four faces, and everyone had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straightforward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straightforward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. 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 the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of flash of lightning.
“Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
“And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness of the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” (Ezekiel 1:4-28)
A brief statement, concerning the throne and the wheels, is what Daniel described in the 2nd part of Daniel 7:9 “His throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire.”
An interesting scripture to first look at is in the book of Exodus. During the time of the exodus out of Egypt, God placed himself as a protection between the Hebrews and the Egyptians. It says that God looked through the pillar of fire and of the cloud. We have to ask ourselves, what was this column of fire that was combined with a cloud? It states that the Egyptians were troubled. I would think they would have run as fast as they could in the other direction the minute they saw it, which they did not, and ended up perishing. “And It came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 14:24)
It is written several places in the scriptures that as Moses and the people exited out of Egypt they were led by “The Cloud of the Lord” by day and the “Pillar of Fire” by night. If the cloud was not raised off of the tabernacle, then they would not continue their pilgrimage that day. This cloud-pillar must have been tall, or high, because it says it was in the sight of all the house of Israel. “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:34-38) This same situation, of continuing their journey only when the cloud was lifted, is described for us in the book of Numbers. “So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 9:16-23)
Moses made mention of this while scolding the people for their lack of belief. “Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.” (Deuteronomy 1:33)
During their second month, after departing from Egypt, the people began to grumble against Moses and Aaron. Moses told the people, because he had heard their grumbling, they were about to see the glory of the LORD. I’m curious as to what they saw in the cloud? “And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.” (Exodus 16:9-10)
The experience of the people at Mount Sinai is one like no other group of people in history have had or seen. Moses took the people to meet God. God informed the people, through Moses, that he would come to them in a “thick cloud.” Was the thick cloud hiding something? Prior to his appearing, God cautioned the people several times that they would be killed if they crossed a certain point. Could there have been some kind of electrical type force protecting the area, or permeating off of a vehicle in the dark cloud on the mountain? It says there was thunder and lightning, and the mountain quaked. It would take an enormous vehicle to cause the mountain to shake. The Lord then descended upon it in the fire. Can you imagine experiencing something like that today? It’s hard to understand, after seeing such an incredible sight, how the people so quickly doubted and rebelled. God said the people would believe forever. What a disappointment we must be to God.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.”
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
“And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. (Exodus 19:9-21)
We discover that the “Cloud,” referred to in verse sixteen, is mentioned other times in the scriptures. Most involved Moses during his time at Mt. Sinai. “And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” (Exodus 24:15-16)
In one circumstance, Moses spent forty days and forty nights up on the mountain in the cloud. “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” (Exodus 24:18)
In another instance, a cloudy pillar is described as standing at the door of the tabernacle and speaking with Moses. Again, I have to ask, was the cloud hiding something or in this case someone? This particular cloud was in the form of a man, which the people worshipped. “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.” (Exodus 33:9-10)
The LORD himself is described, in another verse, as descending down in the cloud. “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.” (Exodus 34:5)
At another time, the appearance of the cloud over the tabernacle was a reminder to the people not to rebel against Moses. “And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.” (Numbers 16:42)
Here again, in the book of Numbers, it speaks of the LORD ascending down in the cloud. “And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.” (Numbers 11:25)
When disciplinary action was about to be taken against Moses’ sister, Miriam, the pillar of the cloud appears. “And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.” (Numbers 12:5) When the cloud departed, Miriam had become leprous, and stayed that way for seven days.
God warned Moses’ brother, Aaron, that he would die if he went into the holy place of the tabernacle, because he, the LORD, was going to be in a cloud upon the mercy seat. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:2)
In II Samuel, David, in a prayer, describes God as being in the dark clouds. “And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.” (II Samuel 22:11-12) The clouds are spoken of in the Psalms. “Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” (Psalms 97:2) “Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:” (Psalms 104:3) There are other places in the scriptures, which speak of Jesus coming on the clouds, which we will cover in the last chapter, but in the book of Revelation, we read: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8)
In an earlier chapter, we read about Elijah the prophet, who was depressed at that time in his life. Something extraordinary happened to Elijah In the end. He never died a physical death, but instead was taken by God. We read of him later appearing with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration in the New Testament. How was he taken? What was it that took him? Elisha the prophet, his successor, witnessed Elijah’s departure. He described him as being taken up in a whirlwind. “And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elisha went with Elijah from Gilgal.’ (II Kings 2:1)“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (II Kings 2:11)
The word “whirlwind” is used 22 times in the Old Testament. We find that Job, at two different instances, spoke with God through something that appeared to be a whirlwind. What was it? “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, ” (Job 38:1)“Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind,” (Job 40:6)
Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah the prophets, all three speak of the Lord coming in spectacular vehicles. Would we be prepared, if and when this was to happen? “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” (Isaiah 66:15) “Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! For we are spoiled.” (Jeremiah 4:13) “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.” (Zechariah 9:14) At the beginning of this chapter, we read of God coming with twenty thousand chariots or vehicles. Repeating: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.” (Psalms 68:17)
Ezekiel gives the most intriguing description of a type of vehicle found in the scriptures. It’s a little difficult to understand, but remember a donkey and a cart are the extent of his knowledge at that time. Again he begins with a whirlwind. He speaks of wheels that are on their sides, and then a wheel inside the wheel. The color amber, mentioned in verses four and twenty-seven, is described in the Strong‘s Hebrew dictionary as a shining substance, amber or electrum or bronze (uncertain). In verse eighteen, Ezekiel describes the wheels as being “very terrible”, meaning awesome, as well as very tall or high. Could the “rings full of eyes” be something like windows? The expression, “turned not as they went,” to Ezekiel could have meant they didn’t turn their heads like he would think of a horse turning their head as they turn. These just went one way or the other, without turning their heads. When reading this description, we need to consider that part of time he was speaking of the vehicles and part of the time of the beings on the vehicles. The part where he speaks of the “straight legs” or their “wings coming down,” could mean some sort of landing gear coming down. One other thing to consider is the mentioning of four heads. These were also symbols used by the twelve tribes of Israel. These creatures could have been vehicles with the four symbols on each side. We can’t know what it all means. Maybe you can decipher more information from it when you read it.
“And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. 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. And every one had four faces, and everyone had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straightforward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straightforward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. 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 the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of flash of lightning.
“Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
“And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness of the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” (Ezekiel 1:4-28)
A brief statement, concerning the throne and the wheels, is what Daniel described in the 2nd part of Daniel 7:9 “His throne was like the fiery flame and his wheels as burning fire.”
Labels: Bible Study, FLYING WHEELS, VEHICLES OF GOD, WHIRLWINDS
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5:19 PM
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