# Overview Ezekiel Chapter 10 presents a vivid and solemn vision of #God's glory departing from the #temple in #Jerusalem. The chapter begins with Ezekiel witnessing the #cherubim, angelic beings carrying the divine chariot-throne of God, as they prepare for the departure. The description of the cherubim and the wheels emphasizes the intricate and majestic nature of God's mobile throne, signifying His omnipresence and omnipotence. In this vision, the coals of fire are scattered over the city, symbolizing impending judgment and purification. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness and His righteous judgment upon a rebellious people who have forsaken His covenant. As the chapter progresses, the movement of the glory of the #LORD from the temple threshold to above the cherubim signifies a significant moment of divine departure. The glory of God, which once filled the temple as a sign of His presence among His people, is now leaving the temple due to the persistent idolatry and sin of #Israel. This departure foreshadows the coming destruction of Jerusalem and serves as a solemn warning to the people. The vision underscores the themes of judgment and the loss of divine presence while also pointing towards the hope of eventual restoration, as God's ultimate plan remains one of redemption and reconciliation for His people. ## Theological Insights Ezekiel 10 provides a profound depiction of the glory of the #LORD departing from the #Temple, which holds significant theological implications. The chapter serves as a continuation of the visions of the prophet #Ezekiel, revealing the severity of #Israel's sin and the impending judgment due to their idolatry and unfaithfulness. The presence and departure of the divine glory from the Temple signify the loss of God’s favor and protection over #Jerusalem. This act symbolizes the withdrawal of God’s presence due to the persistent sin of the people, highlighting the theme of divine holiness and justice. The glory of the LORD, previously filling the Temple as a sign of God’s dwelling among His people, now moves away, indicating a profound breach in the covenant relationship. The #cherubim and the wheels, reminiscent of those described in Ezekiel's earlier vision in [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 1]], emphasize the mobility and sovereignty of God's presence. The wheels full of eyes suggest divine omniscience and the capacity to execute judgment with precision and comprehension. The complex imagery underscores the theme that God is not limited to any single location, even the Temple, but is a God of all creation. This chapter also foreshadows the eventual restoration of God’s presence as seen in later prophetic visions, where God will again dwell with His people in a renewed and purified #Jerusalem. The departure of God’s glory is not the end of the story but a part of the redemptive narrative that points to a future hope where God’s presence will be fully realized among His people through the coming of the #Messiah. The vision of the #man clothed in linen, who scatters coals over the city, symbolizes the purifying judgment that precedes restoration. This act serves as a reminder of the necessity for cleansing and repentance before renewal can occur, a theme that resonates throughout the prophetic literature and finds ultimate fulfillment in the atoning work of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. Ezekiel 10 thus functions as a vivid portrayal of God’s holiness, justice, and the serious consequences of sin, while also pointing towards a future where restoration and divine presence will be fully realized through God's redemptive plan. ## Thematic Connections ### The Glory of the LORD Departing In Ezekiel 10, a central theme is the departure of the glory of the #LORD from the #temple, symbolizing God's judgment and the withdrawal of His presence due to the sin of #Israel. This theme echoes the earlier depiction of God’s glory filling the tabernacle in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 40]], where His presence among His people signified blessing and guidance. The departure in Ezekiel marks a profound turning point, illustrating the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, as similarly seen in the removal of God’s protection in [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 4]], when the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines. ### The Role of the Cherubim The vision of the #cherubim in Ezekiel 10 is consistent with their role as guardians of divine holiness, seen also in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 3|Genesis 3:24]], where cherubim guard the way to the tree of life. In Ezekiel, these cherubim support the throne of God, emphasizing His sovereign rule and purity. This theme parallels the imagery in [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 4]], where living creatures around God’s throne proclaim His holiness, underscoring the continuity of God’s majestic and unapproachable holiness across both Testaments. ### Divine Judgment and Cleansing Ezekiel 10 highlights the theme of divine judgment through the scattering of coals over the city, symbolizing purification through fire. This act reflects the broader biblical motif of fire as a means of both judgment and purification, as seen in the cleansing of Isaiah’s lips in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 6]], and the refining of God’s people described in [[Malachi/Malachi Chapter 3]]. The theme of judgment leading to eventual restoration is central to the prophetic message, pointing forward to the ultimate purification through Christ’s redemptive work. ### The Sovereignty and Mobility of God The vision of God’s throne on wheels in Ezekiel 10 illustrates the theme of God’s sovereignty and mobility. Unlike the gods of the nations, confined to specific territories or temples, the God of #Israel is not bound by location, as seen in His presence with His people in the #wilderness in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13]]. This theme reassures the exiles in Babylon of God’s continued presence and control over all creation, reinforcing the message found in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 139]], where the psalmist acknowledges God’s omnipresence. ### Continuity of Vision and Prophetic Witness The vision in Ezekiel 10 is consistent with the earlier vision in [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 1]], creating a thematic continuity that reinforces Ezekiel’s prophetic witness. This continuity highlights the consistency of God’s message and the reliability of His word, echoing the prophetic tradition seen in other prophets like [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 7]], where recurring visions affirm God’s sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Glory of the Lord Departing from the Temple In Ezekiel 10, the vision of the glory of the #LORD departing from the #Temple in #Jerusalem symbolizes the impending judgment upon Israel due to its persistent sin and idolatry. This event fulfills earlier warnings given by prophets such as [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 7|Jeremiah 7:12-15]], where God warns of the Temple's destruction as a consequence of unfaithfulness. The departure of God's glory signifies a severe breach in the covenant relationship, highlighting the seriousness of Israel's rebellion and the resultant need for divine judgment. This thematic element of divine glory leaving the sanctuary aligns with further prophecies that speak of judgment preceding restoration. ### The Vision of the Cherubim Ezekiel's vision of the cherubim reflects the heavenly realities and the divine presence that once dwelt among the #Israelites. This imagery fulfills the descriptions of God's throne and presence as detailed in earlier scriptures such as [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 25|Exodus 25:18-22]] and [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 6|1 Kings 6:23-28]], where cherubim represent God's holiness and majesty. The cherubim's presence in Ezekiel's vision emphasizes the continuity of God's covenantal promises while simultaneously illustrating the gravity of the coming exile, as God's presence prepares to depart from among His people due to their unfaithfulness. ### The Wheel and the Spirit The vision of the wheels accompanying the cherubim in Ezekiel 10 echoes the dynamic presence of God's Spirit, as initially described in Ezekiel 1. This symbolizes God's omnipresence and sovereignty, fulfilling the broader biblical theme found in passages like [[Psalm/Psalm 139|Psalm 139:7-10]], where the Spirit of the Lord is ever-present and all-seeing. The movement of the wheels and the Spirit emphasizes that God's presence is not confined to one location but oversees all creation, reinforcing the understanding of God's control even amidst impending judgment. This prophetic vision underscores God's continued involvement and eventual restoration, as pointed out in later promises of return and renewal for Israel. ## Verses - **Ezekiel 10:1** - "In my vision, I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue lapis lazuli above the crystal surface over the heads of the cherubim." - **Ezekiel 10:2** - "Then the LORD spoke to the man in linen clothing and said, 'Go between the whirling wheels beneath the cherubim and take a handful of burning coals. Scatter them over the city.' He did this as I watched." - **Ezekiel 10:3** - "The cherubim were standing at the south end of the Temple when the man went in, and the cloud of glory filled the inner courtyard." - **Ezekiel 10:4** - "Then the glory of the LORD rose up from above the cherubim and went over to the entrance of the Temple. The Temple was filled with this cloud of glory, and the courtyard glowed brightly with the glory of the LORD." - **Ezekiel 10:5** - "The moving wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard even in the outer courtyard." - **Ezekiel 10:6** - "The LORD said to the man in linen clothing, 'Go between the cherubim and take some burning coals from between the wheels.' So the man went in and stood beside one of the wheels." - **Ezekiel 10:7** - "Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand and took some live coals from the fire burning among them. He put the coals into the hands of the man in linen clothing, and the man took them and went out." - **Ezekiel 10:8** - "(All the cherubim had what looked like human hands under their wings.)" - **Ezekiel 10:9** - "I looked, and each of the four cherubim had a wheel beside him, and the wheels sparkled like beryl." - **Ezekiel 10:10** - "All four wheels looked alike and were made the same; each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it." - **Ezekiel 10:11** - "The cherubim could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved. They went straight in the direction they faced, never turning aside." - **Ezekiel 10:12** - "Both the cherubim and the wheels were covered with eyes. The cherubim had eyes all over their bodies, including their hands, backs, and wings." - **Ezekiel 10:13** - "I heard someone refer to the wheels as 'the whirling wheels.'" - **Ezekiel 10:14** - "Each of the four cherubim had four faces: the first was the face of an ox, the second was a human face, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle." - **Ezekiel 10:15** - "Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the same living beings I had seen beside the Kebar River." - **Ezekiel 10:16** - "When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved with them. When they lifted their wings to fly, the wheels stayed beside them." - **Ezekiel 10:17** - "When the cherubim stopped, the wheels stopped. When they flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels." - **Ezekiel 10:18** - "Then the glory of the LORD moved out from the entrance of the Temple and hovered above the cherubim." - **Ezekiel 10:19** - "And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels to the east gate of the LORD’s Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them." - **Ezekiel 10:20** - "These were the same living beings I had seen beneath the God of Israel when I was by the Kebar River. I knew they were cherubim," - **Ezekiel 10:21** - "for each had four faces and four wings and what looked like human hands under their wings." - **Ezekiel 10:22** - "And their faces were just like the faces of the beings I had seen at the Kebar, and they traveled straight ahead, just as the others had." ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Glory of the Lord** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 40]], [[1 Kings/1 Kings Chapter 8]] - **Cherubim** - [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 3]], [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 4]] - **Vision by the Kebar River** - [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 1]] - **God's Throne** - [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 6]], [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 4]]