Today's Reading: Ezekiel 1

“And above the firmament over [the angel’s] heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:26–28)

Ezekiel’s prophecy comes at you with all of the celestial force of heaven within only a few verses. It leaps off the page at you! Ezekiel sees angels, wings, faces, eyes, wheels, rainbows, and more. You get the feeling that Ezekiel was struggling to find the words to describe such majesty — such glory! Truly, he was not in any physical realm. He was beholding a celestial panorama of heaven.

But it was the throne, and the One upon it, that rendered Ezekiel to be like a dead man. He dared not gaze, but fell to the ground and could not move (see Ezekiel 1:28). His eyes could only catch glimpse. The depiction of the throne was as if it were cut from a solid block of sapphire. More glorious in comparison, however, was the figure seated upon it. Ezekiel could only find the words to describe three things. First, from the waist up the figure was like the flaming color of amber; second, from the waist down the figure seemed to be encompassed in bright burning fire; and third, the figure retained the resemblance of a man.

A man? Yes, a man! But not any man — the One Man Who is preeminent above all principality and power in heaven and earth. The only Man worthy to sit upon the Throne of God: Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel was seeing a Christophany — a term we employ to describe the appearances of Christ in the Old Testament prior to His incarnation. Adam received His visitations in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:8). Abraham catered to Him with a meal near the Terebinth Tree (see Genesis 18:1-3). Jacob wrestled Him until daybreak (see Genesis 32:24). Joshua paid homage to Him, recognizing Him the Commander of the LORD’s army (see Joshua 5:13-14). The instances goes on and on. Ezekiel saw this Man!

Why has God chosen to adorn His Word with us such resplendent verses as these? Surely, it can be for no other reason than to give us a yearning — a hunger — for the heavenly splendor!

You, Beloved, are destined to see this same celestial Throne. You will worship there one day. You will "Behold the Man" (see Zechariah 6:12; John 19:5) who is exalted and enthroned, and will find eternal freedom and fulfillment in His presence.

Yet I believe this is only the beginning of all that God has in mind for His people. Beloved, this is only a glimpse — a preview! And we all know the most wonderful parts remain hidden in the preview in order to whet our appetites for what follows. Ezekiel's vision, we can rightly assume, only captures but the merest shadow of heaven.

We must, therefore, hold fast to the glorious anticipation of what awaits when it is all unveiled before us in totality.

What do you imagine is to come?

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)

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