Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (Ezekiel 1:1). The heavens were opened to Ezekiel and he saw visions given by God. Prophecy from the Holy Spirit, not man. (2 Peter 1:21). Keep in mind that Ezekiel, without a doubt, received the letter to the captives sent by Jeremiah the prophet. (Jeremiah 29:1-32).

   In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity. (Ezekiel 1:2). Fifth year: B.C. 484. (2 Kings 24:12-15). 

  The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. (Ezekiel 1:3). The priest: Ezekiel was a descendant of Aaron (the line of priests). He was also called, as Jeremiah was, to the office as prophet.

   And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. (Ezekiel 1:4). Keep in mind that Ezekiel was given visions by God. (Things that you see when you are awake, not as a dream when you are asleep). Ezekiel looked up and saw a whirlwind: Strong's H7307 "ruach" (Spirit), but it came to be rendered "storm, whirlwind, or hurricane." (H5591, saar sarah). Note: The three symbols of Yahveh's glory, Storm, Cloud, and Fire. (Nahum 1:3, Revelation 4:5). Enfolding itself, and brightness about it: Fire inside the cloud and brightness around it. "Something glowed in the middle of the fire." (Possibly spontaneous ignition). The color of amber: Strong's H2830 "chashmal" meaning polished bronze, or spectrum (unknown) metal. Could we be talking a type of aircraft here, or was it the very throne (ark of the covenant), of God itself?

   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. (Ezekiel 1:5). Many scholars believe these four living creatures are "the Cherubim," (Zoon or Zoa, living Protectors), to guard the throne of God. (Revelation 4:6). Some believe these were men aboard a vehicle. (You decide what makes or sense).

   And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. (Ezekiel 1:6). (Possibly representing the four directions of the earth, or in which they were moving). These living creatures were probably hieroglyphical representations of the holy angels, the attendants on "the King of Glory," and the ministers of his providence. They were four, apparently to denote that they were employed in the four corners of the world; and they had the likeness of a man, to signify that they were intelligent and rational creatures.

   Lets go to the book of Revelation for a better understanding. 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. (Revelation 4:7). Again, these four beasts (living creatures), with wings are Cherubim, symbolic representation of the Glory of God in His divine attributes. The face of a lion is the image depicting God's strength, the face of a calf depicts His sacrifice, the face of a man God as He was manifested in the flesh, and the face of the flying Eagle, His judgment or protection over us. These symbols point directly to the Glory of God.

  For a deeper thought, whenever Israel camped it was according to a standard. Dan (The Eagle), took the north, Judah (The Lion), took the east, Reuben (Man). took the south, and Ephraim (The calf or Ox), took the west. Reference: (Numbers chapter 2). 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. (Revelation 4:8). These four beast (living creatures), were created without free will to guard the throne of God. Believed by most scholars to be the same living creatures described in Ezekiel chapter one between 550 and 600 B.C., when God's throne was said to be aboard the vehicles described by Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 1:4-14).  

   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 colour of burnished brass. (Ezekiel 1:7). Straight legged and feet like hooves. (The creatures did not move by walking). Their hooves shined like burnished bronze.  

   And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. (Ezekiel 1:8). Appearance (or likeness), of human hands under their wings. (Ezekiel 10:21).

   Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. (Ezekiel 1:9). It appears that they were in a organized formation. They moved straight forward in any direction and didn't need to to turn their heads because (having four heads), their eyes were in front, on the sides, and in back. (If it was a flying vehicle, it would move in this type of formation).

   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. (Ezekiel 1:10). These likeness of faces could represent the standard of Israel. Again, whenever Israel camped it was according to a standard. Dan (The Eagle), took the north, Judah (The Lion), took the east, Reuben (Man). took the south, and Ephraim (The calf or Ox), took the west.   

   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. (Ezekiel 1:11). The protecting Cherubim.

   And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. (Ezekiel 1:12). Spirit: "ruach." Wherever the Spirit went they followed in a straight formation.

   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. (Ezekiel 1:13). It appeared as lightning flashed back and forth among them. (Enormous amounts of energy).

   And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. (Ezekiel 1:14). What appeared as living beings, moved as fast as lightning. (Way faster than the flying vehicles of our time). 

   Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. (Ezekiel 1:15). Possibly a type of landing gear when they touched the earth. Some have suggested this would be a type of space craft, and some a chariot of fire. Remember when Elijah was taken up to heaven in what was described as a chariot of fire? And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11).

   The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour 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. (Ezekiel 1:16). A wheel within a wheel, possibly making it able to move in any direction, even when on the ground. (Wheel within a wheel artist interpretation).

   When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. (Ezekiel 1:17). Turned: They could move in any direction they faced without turning. Note: The 1611 edition of the authorized version King James reads "returned." We could read it as: They could return from any direction without turning around. (A circular vehicle does not need to turn around to fly in the opposite direction like one of our Jets of today needs to do).

   As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. (Ezekiel 1:18). Perhaps the tall looking rim with eyes all around were like port hole windows. (Note the tall rim with what looks like eyes, or port holes in the artist interpretation).

   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. (Ezekiel 1:19). The wheels being attached when they moved upward, then the wheels were lifted up too. (Again, maybe a type of landing gear).

   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. (Ezekiel 1:20). Spirit: "ruach." Wherever the Spirit went, the wheels (or vehicles), followed.

   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. (Ezekiel 1:21). The Spirit (or living beings), were within the wheels. 

   And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. (Ezekiel 1:22). Over their heads was a terrible crystal: Terrible here is "yare," Strong's H3372, "to revere, or frighten." Crystal here is "qerach qorach," Strong's H7140, "smooth, rock crystal, frost, or ice." (Like a sea of glass). John would give us this description in the book of Revelation. 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. (Revelation 4:6). Crystal represents purity. The four beasts are the Cherubim's (Zoon or Zoa, living Protectors), to guard the throne of God. These are living creatures that are all knowing. Reference to God's throne at the beginning of the millennium. (Was this the very presence of God's throne that Ezekiel has seen)? "I believe it was."

   And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. (Ezekiel 1:23). Stretched out to protect the very throne of God. 

   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. (Ezekiel 1:24). The noise of roaring waters, or the voice of a mighty army. (Did you ever hear the sound of an F-16 when it does a fly by real low)? Not that these were jets flying around, but the sound could have been very similar.

   And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. (Ezekiel 1:25). The voice from God Himself! They lowered their wings (possibly landing and touching the ground), then God spoke, "from the sea of glass above them."

   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). Above the sea of glass (or firmament), was the appearance of the "Throne of God." 

   And I saw as the colour 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. (Ezekiel 1:27). What did John see when he was in the spirit? And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (Revelation 4:2). Again, it was John that was in the Spirit and we are talking here about the throne of God. 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. (Revelation 4:3). On the breastplate of the priest there were twelve stones, each representing a tribe of Israel. The jasper and the sardis stone were the first and the last of the twelve stones. (Exodus 28:17-21). These two stones were symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel. (The rainbow being the prism of all the stones). So, who was sitting upon the throne? "Was it Jesus Himself?"

   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 spake. (Ezekiel 1:28). Ezekiel saw the very likeness of the glory of God. What did John see when he was taken in the spirit? And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:13). He seen the Lord's day, when every knee shall bow before Him. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11). The white throne judgment... The very presents of the full God head. (Yahveh Shamah), "God is there." What was Ezekiel's response when he seen this? "He fell face down on the ground before God."