Friday, February 27, 2009

Ezekiel, Revelation, Similarities

I was reading the book of the prophet Ezekiel and noticed some similarities of the book of Ezekiel and that of some of the text of the book of Revelation. Now first let us be aware that Ezekiel lived hundreds of years before Jesus and John were born, and also the book of Ezekiel was written hundreds of years before that of the book of revelation.

We are aware that the book of revelation was written by an unknown author many years after John was dead, and it has been questioned many times whether John’s revelation was actually given by Jesus to John.

Now below are the text from the book of Ezekiel Chapter 1, and that of the book of Revelation chapter 4. You will notice a similar description of the four beasts or creatures in both Ezekiel and that of John in revelation Chapter 4. This similarity may indicate that the writer of revelation may have seen a similar vision as Ezekiel or part of the book of revelation was taken from Ezekiel. Either way it seems both Ezekiel and John shared a similar source of information. You may read the text and similarities and you be the judge for yourself.

Ezekiel Chapter 1, verses 4-10 described the four creatures with four faces. One face is that of a man, another face is that of a lion, another face is that of an ox, another face is that of an eagle.

Now revelation chapter 4, verses 6-7 relates that before the throne were four beasts. The first beast was like a lion, the second beast like a calf, the third beast like a man, the fourth beast like an eagle.

Now look how Ezekiel describes the Lord in Ezekiel 1, verses 26-28, that the Lord had the appearance of a man with a rainbow color about him. He described that the throne has the appearance of sapphire stone. Now look at revelation verses 2-3, John describes the throne the Lord is sitting on as sardine stone, and there was a rainbow about the throne. They both here also mention the rainbow about throne.

The four beasts in both Ezekiel and Revelation are the four fixed signs of the zodiac. Here is a short text from the Wikipedia on the four fixed signs.



In astrology, there are four fixed signs.

Fixed Signs are at the height of the four seasons. Fixed Signs are associated with stamina, perseverance and strength and said to be, by nature, inert. However, they are also associated with inflexibility. Individuals born under the four Fixed Signs of the Zodiac are thought to be determined, powerful, natural leaders, purposeful, reliable, loyal and self-confident but also occasionally stubborn and immovable, with a tendency to get stuck in ruts. They supposedly pursue their goals with dogged persistence and have a great power of concentration. According to astrologers, Fixed Signs tend to direct their energies inward rather than outward.

In Hermeticism, Kaballah, and some forms of esoteric Christianity, the four fixed signs are thought to correspond to the four tetramorphs in the prophet Ezekiel's vision or the four leading tribes of Israel: Judah of the East, Reuben of the South, Ephraim of the West, and Dan of the North. They are also thought to correspond with the four Gospel evangelists: Matthew (Christ the master), Mark (Christ the servant), Luke (Christ the human), and John (Christ the divine).

The four fixed signs of the Zodiac are:

· Taurus ()

· Leo ()

· Scorpio ()

· Aquarius ()

The lion is Leo, the eagle is Scorpio, Taurus is the Ox, and Aquarius is the man.

Ezekiel Chapter 1, verses 4-28

4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

5 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.

6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

7 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 color of burnished brass.

8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

10 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.

11 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.

12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

13 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.

14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.

16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the color 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.

17 When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.

18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the color of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.

23 And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: everyone had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.

24 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.

25 And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.

26 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.

27 And I saw as the color 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.

28 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 spoke.

Revelation Chapter 4, verses 1 - 11

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created

Recommended books for reading

The Seed Master
The Trinity of Lights
La Semilla Maestra

Beth,Resh,Kaph,Tau
BARAKATA… May blessings be upon you
Ken Nunoo
http://www.kennunoo.com/