Man on the Throne – Ezekiel
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A man is on the throne in heaven, so who is he?
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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 as the appearance of a man above upon it. Ezekiel 1:26
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Traditional Jews do not believe that their Moshiach ( Messiah) is anything but a man.
Because he is to be “born,” they assume his nature is human only.
And they do not believe that there is any divine or heavenly nature to this man.
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Yet, Ezekiel saw long ago the likeness of a man on the throne in heaven.
Why would the likeness of a “man” be on the throne of God?
God is not a man, according to their beliefs, so they need to explain who this man is, sitting on the throne in heaven.
This man has a divine, heavenly nature, or he would not be allowed on the Throne of the Father God.
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They are correct half way in that God (Abba Father) is not a man.
But, the man is God’s Messiah, Son of God.
It is in their own Jewish Bible that the man who is to become their Messiah has a heavenly status and divine nature.
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The “everlasting” or eternal nature of the Messiah is also confirmed in Micah:
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2
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Daniel says that Moshiach would be cut off ( killed):
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Daniel 9:26
And Daniel says above that the Messiah is killed, but NOT for himself, so this indicates he is killed for others.
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Then Micah continues the prediction by saying he gives them up (to the world) but then comes back when the remnant of Israel returns to the land.
He returns to rescue them:
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. Micah 5: 3-5
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This above describes the divinity, first coming and second coming…in a nutshell, to anyone who wishes to witness to traditional Jewish believers.
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It would also be valuable in discussing with Muslims, or anyone of any faith.
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Heaven Awaits 
In my opinion, Micah 5.2 is about the ancient origins of the House of Judah and King David, not about a messiah. Daniel has already been completed. The vision, ” likeness of , appearance of ” is non-specific and does not denote an absolute. Most prophetic visions are not clearly seen and the prophet can only decipher the vision to the best of his ability. Moses was the only one who saw visions clearly ( face to face ). As far as Ezekiel chapter one, I will only say that it is very unique.
When I read this chapter, I read “the man on the throne”, not as the Messiah but as Lord God Himself. Would this not be a possibility? Ezekiel, who witnesses all of this, and is addressed by the One on the throne as the “Son of man”, is given instructions as to what to say to the people of Israel, which is, “Thus says the Lord God.” Can not God take on,… does He not take on, any form that He chooses at His pleasure, whenever / however, He chooses? I don’t read this as the Messiah on the throne. Am I missing something?
To say this chapter is “very unique”, as Jay states, well, that’s one way to say it. 🙂 It’s what happens in Eze 1:1-25 prior to “the man on the throne” that boggles my mind.
denise
since scripture says no one has seen the Father except the Son, then this implies the one on the throne, who can be seen, is not the Father.
therefore it is the son, who is the only one else in heaven who can sit on the throne, or on the right side of the Father.
and we know that the son is the messiah.
Ah, yes, Marianne, that is true … and then there is the scripture that states that no one shall see Him and live, or something like that.
Marianne,
I don’t think the One on the thrown in this passage from Ezekiel is Jesus.
Did you consider Rev. Chapters 4 and 5?
The Lamb takes the scroll from the One seated on the throne.
God is seated on the throne in Ezekiel’s vision.
This is the same thrown and the same 4 living creatures that are within the spiritual experience written by John.
John saw God too!
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald” (Rev. 4:2-3, NKJV).
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+4+-5&version=NKJV
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
…And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
And He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Rev. Chapters 4 and 5, ESV).
So – are you trying to prove that Jesus (in spirit, but in the form/likeness of a man) was in heaven, seated upon a throne before He came to earth?
Are you suggesting that God the Father had a Son seated in heaven before His Son was born, then died upon a cross and ascended into heaven?
Blessings
I am going by this verse
Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. John 6:46
so since no one has seen the father, then the one they can “see” is someone else
Adam, Noah, Israel, Moses, Yehoshua and all prophets are the same Archangel = Gabriel. Gabriel has seen the the father as human being but he does not count as a human. So Israel, Moshe and more have seen G-d. The only human who have seen G-d is Stephen and he was killed after he saw G-d.
Could there not be two situations – 1 – where one actually “sees” God (which has only been Jesus) and – 2 – where one has a “vision – of God? Could the passage in Ezekiel be describing a vision vs. actually seeing? Or, does having a vision of God also be regarded as seeing God.
When man was created in the image of God, it necessitates that the Lord God himself remained in that likeness of a man. Thus the Lord God is in the likeness of man, for Man was created in his image?
john
jesus the son is the express image of his father, and we are made in the image of the son, who is the only one with a visible image.
see also what I said to denise above.
Very nice portrayal of these scriptures. Sir Robert Anderson’s book the Coming Prince uses Daniel chapter nine showing us that the counting of time duplicates it’s self fulfilling some of the prophecy, but not in it’s time frame, whereas it being the end.
If the one on the throne , the messiah, is the humanity of the one God as God purposed from the beginning to create and at the fullness of time become one with his creation wouldn’t that eliminate the mystery and contention about who God is and who Jesus is?
wltrptz
That is the idea….to eliminate mystery….God never intended to confuse us…which is why he gave hints in the OT to those who were paying attention.
this has to be integrated in with teachings of jesus, who said he had a Father in heaven, and he was the Son.
Jesus sits at the right hand of the father in heaven which means he has a throne to sit on of his own.
Of course.
We return to Spiritual eyes vs. Spitiual eyes.
Rev 4 and 5 adds to the dynamic of seeing and what is seen. Best to conclude that “revelation” in your understanding.
Blessings
Psalm 25
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Teshuvah Prayer Guides
Dear Friends,
In recent weeks and months one of our major prayer focuses in the Global Prayer Room has been for the Middle East, asking for the Lord’s power and presence to break in particularly upon Syria, Israel, Egypt, and Iraq.
We encourage you to watch the Fox News special report tomorrow night on Christians Under Attack, focusing on the persecution of Christians in Iraq and the devastating suffering they are enduring at the hands of the Islamic Sate of Iraq and Syria. The report airs Saturday, August 16, at 7pm Eastern, and features Franklin Graham. Please see his email below.
In these days, let’s join in prayer for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh; for protection, strength, hope, and practical help for persecuted believers; and for the salvation of Muslims around the world.
If you would like to give to help the persecuted Iraqi Christians, please visit our website »
Until He comes,
Mike Bickle
Dear Friend,
Tomorrow night, I will appear with Greta Van Susteren on CHRISTIANS UNDER ATTACK, a special that will air at 7 p.m. Eastern on the Fox News Channel. I’m encouraging everyone to watch this important program that will shine the spotlight on how those who bear the Name of Christ are suffering around the world.
In Iraq, a terrorist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, is threatening Christians with death if they don’t convert to Islam. In Iran, Pastor Saeed Abedini has been imprisoned for nearly two years because of his faith. In Sudan, President Omar Al Bashir continues to wage war on Christians living in the Nuba Mountains.
These are just a few of the places around the world where believers are being persecuted in growing numbers.
Greta has been a frequent advocate of Samaritan’s Purse on her program and on her blog, GretaWire. She has reported on our work in northern Iraq, North Korea, South Sudan, Haiti, and Alaska. I appreciate her now calling the world’s attention to this vital issue.
Please be sure and watch the program, and pray for persecuted believers around the world. If you won’t be home, please record it and watch later.
May God bless you,
Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan’s Purse
“We prefer to die rather than convert to Islam,” he said. “God has created us as Christians so we don’t want to convert to Islam. The power of God keeps us and strengthens us to remain as Christians
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=14402
http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=14401
http://news.yahoo.com/islamic-state-executed-700-people-syrian-tribe-monitoring-013519820.html
Denise,
Please read Revelation chapter 4 and 5.
Seems to me that no human has seen God with human eyes, including Ezekiel and John.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God [Isaiah 11:2-3].
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created” (NKJV).
Notice Who sits on the throne and Who comes to open the scroll?
“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth [Holy Spirit]. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (NKJV).
Blessings
both ezekiel and john said they saw someone… so it is your word against theirs. 🙂
point here is that they saw Jesus and not the Father
Marianne,
I wrote a long reply below but I want to address this statement: “point here is that they saw Jesus and not that Father.”
I’ll keep it simple and get to the point:
God was viewed by Ezekiel and John in the likeness of a man because God is Spirit (John 4:24) and no man has seen God (John 1:18 and 1st John 4:12).
Interesting?
John writes in two passages, within 2 books that no one has seen God – However, John says he did see God in Revelation chapters 4-5.
Is John telling the truth? Or is he confused?
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=Seen+God+&version=NKJV&searchtype=phrase&spanbegin=47&spanend=73
The likeness of the man on the thrown (Ezekiel) was not Jesus or The Word made flesh (John 1) – it was God (Spirit) in the likeness of a man and seen with spiritual eyes (vision).
The same likeness of a man (God the Father) is seated on the throne in Revelation, handing the scroll to the Lamb.
Do you think Jesus was a spirit in the likeness of a man before being born?
Do you think humans are spirit beings in heaven, known to God before being born?
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3rd John 1:11, NKJV).
Blessings
that does sound like a contradiction then…..since no one is supposed to see the father and live…..bible does not say what kind of “eyes” are involved.
so when one has a vision, one could be seeing either jesus or the father in heaven…jesus sits at the right of the father on the throne….interesting that no one has seen them sit side by side
M
You say no one has seen them side by side. You are wrong Stephen saw G-d in the middle and his son the messiah to the right in Acts 7:55-56 and he is full of holy spirit and we are not allowed to question the holy spirit.
Spiritual eyes.
They saw in the Spirit.
No man (or woman) has seen God with human eyes.
John did not see Jesus on the throne and neither did Ezekiel.
Here you go again. You seem to be the one who is in disagreement with the text – “seeing what is not there.” 🙂
Blessings
they still saw a man on the throne……..the kind of “eyes” does not matter…
Jesus is the express image of the invisible God
Marianne,
You don’t seem to see the significance between spiritual eyes and eyes of the flesh in these accounts. Maybe you do but not right now.
God is not a man, but “seen” in the “likeness of a man” with spiritual eyes.
Otherwise, the Scriptures would be in error when we read, “No one has seen God at any time.”
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/keyword/?version=NKJV&search=no+one+has+seen+God+&searchtype=phrase&language1=en&spanbegin=1&spanend=7
God is seen in these visions (with spiritual eyes) in the likeness of a man, because we know that God is Spirit (John 4:24).
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/keyword/?version=NKJV&search=God+is+Spirit&searchtype=phrase&language1=en&spanbegin=1&spanend=73
The “likeness of a man” on the thrown in heaven Is Almighty God in both accounts (Ezekiel and John) seen with spiritual eyes.
Oh, but the kind of eyes does matter. Spiritual eyes are very different than eyes of the flesh.
Here is one example within Scriptures of the difference between them.
“So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.’ And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-18, NKJV).
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%206&version=NKJV
It was with spiritual eyes that the young man and Elisha could see.
John says of his experience –
“At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald” (Rev. 4:2-3, ESV).
John saw the One seated on the thrown while in the Spirit, having spiritual eyes opened to see.
Then – John saw the Lamb of God take the scrolls from the right hand of One seated on the thrown. The One was in the likeness of a man with a hand, holding the scroll.
“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 5:6-8, NJKV).
The Lamb of a God comes to the thrown in John’s account to take the scrolls from the right hand of God the Father who sits upon the throne.
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%204%20-%205&version=ESV;EXB;NKJV
You wrote, “Why would the likeness of a “man” be on the throne of God?God is not a man, according to their beliefs, so they need to explain who this man is, sitting on the throne in heaven.”
God is Spirit (John 4:24).
God was seen with spiritual eyes by Ezekiel and John in the likeness of a man because God is Spirit and no man has seen God.
The likeness of the man on the thrown (Ezekiel) was not Jesus or The Word made flesh (John 1) – it was God in the likeness of a man.
You don’t interpret Ezekiel chapter 1 the same way I do and that’s okay.
Do you think that Jesus was in the form of a man before He came to earth?
Do you think that humans are spirit beings residing in heaven and known to God before being born upon earth?
Blessings
Psalm 27
DJ
you either “see” or you don’t
the part about not seeing God is referring to the Father God.
bible says that no one has seen the father except the son.
we can see the Son., but not the Father
Jesus was not a literal man until he incarnated on earth…but it was possible to see him as a figure of a man in heaven in visions…..