God’s Big Story: Ezekiel

Ezekiel’s Vision and Apocalyptic Literature

• Four living beings with human form, four faces each (man, lion, eagle, ox), four wings

  • Lion: represents ruling/reigning authority in God’s kingdom

  • Eagle: worship and spiritual access to heaven’s throne room

  • Ox: work and purpose - everyone should work as unto the Lord

  • Man: human relationships and everyday interactions

• Wheels with Holy Spirit mobility - can move in any direction instantly

• Throne above with figure resembling Jesus, surrounded by fire and rainbow

• Vision shows Church as nimble, fast, anointed body under Christ’s rulership

God’s Departure and Return

• Ezekiel 10-11: God’s glory leaves Jerusalem temple

  • Moves from mercy seat → threshold → temple edge → city edge → Mount of Olives → ascends

  • Holy Spirit can be grieved and will leave if unwanted

• End of Ezekiel: Glory returns same way it left through east gate

  • Jesus will return to Mount of Olives and walk back through east gate

  • Gate currently bricked up in attempt to prevent this

Prophetic Acts and Life Messages

• Ezekiel’s entire life became prophetic message through symbolic acts:

  1. Built model siege of Jerusalem with iron plate barrier

  2. Tied up, laid on side for 390+ days representing years of rebellion

  3. Cooked over dung, shaved head/beard in thirds

  4. Dug hole through wall simulating escape

  5. Ate food in fear, groaned publicly, drew crossroads map

• Personal application: Your whole life is prophetic message

  • How you treat people reflects what God is like

  • Every interaction teaches others about Jesus

Nine Key Takeaways

1. Live from vision of Jesus - everything flows from seeing His beauty

2. Internalize God’s word - eat the scroll, meditate deeply on Scripture

3. Have hard face, soft heart - determined perseverance with compassionate disposition

4. “You might not be dead yet, but sin is killing you” - sin appears sweet but is toxic

5. Your life is prophetic message - especially if you claim to know God

6. Jesus appears in Ezekiel 21 as coming perfect leader

7. Death is not God’s desire - judgment shows God’s tears, not contempt

8. All leadership is pastoral - feed, protect, guide regardless of role

9. Jubilee and glory are your destiny - God promises total redemption