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Ezekiel, part 3, Divine Government

Israel encampment in the wilderness mirrored Ezekiel’s vision of the four living creatures. It is noteworthy that this took place in Chaldea among the exiles, which was a renewed wilderness experience for the captives of Judah. The purpose of the wilderness, from God’s point of view, represents a period of training to prepare for life in a future Kingdom. So just as the Israelites were being prepared in the wilderness under Moses, so also was God preparing the people of Judah for a future Kingdom.

Likewise, just as the Israelites were given the hope of a Promised Land in the future, so also were these Judahite exiles given the hope of the true Promised Land in the future. God normally gives us a glimpse of future glory at the outset. This was the underlying purpose of Ezekiel’s vision of glory as well. Ultimately, it was a vision of the glory of His Kingdom. Although their wilderness experience would take thousands of years under the rule of four beast empires, the goal itself was made inevitable by the word and promise of God.

The four living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision, pictured on the banners of the leading tribes of Israel, were the man, the lion, the bull, and the eagle. Corresponding to these were four beast empires, picturing the winged lion of Babylon, the bear of Persia, the winged leopard of Greece, and the beast with iron hoofs and teeth of Rome (Daniel 7:3-7).

Notice also that wings were given to the four living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision, and wings are also ascribed to the lion of Babylon and leopard of Greece. Wings denote both spirit and speed of travel. In Daniel 8, the Grecian empire is pictured by another animal—a swift ram.

John’s Vision in Revelation 4

John saw four living creatures (“beasts,” KJV) around the throne of God in Revelation 4:6, 7,

⁶ and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. ⁷ The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.

John lists these four creatures differently. He starts with the lion, which was the banner of Judah on the right side (east). From there he lists the calf, which was the banner of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh being the two horns) on the left side (west). Then he lists the man, which was the banner of Reuben, whose name means “Behold, a son,” on the south side. Finally, he lists the flying eagle of Dan on the north side.

John’s order seems to suggest a cross—east to west, then south to north—instead of circular motion as described by Ezekiel.

“Calf” here can mean a young bull or bullock, and John uses the same Greek word found in the Septuagint translation of Ezekiel’s vision. In Revelation 4:7, the word is moschos, which has the range “calf, young bull, or ox.” The NASB translates it “calf.”

In Ezekiel 1:10 NASB calls that face a “bull,” and the Septuagint—the ancient Greek translation—calls it a moschos. John therefore preserves Ezekiel’s Greek terminology along with the same four figures: lion, calf, man, and eagle. This strongly suggests continuity between the visions, with John giving us details that Ezekiel did not record. The four living creatures surround the throne of God, even as the four leading tribes of Israel surrounded the tabernacle in the wilderness.

The Twenty-Four Elders

John saw 24 elders as well, while Ezekiel makes no mention of them. In the time of Moses there were 12 leaders (or “princes,” KJV) of the tribes (Numbers 7), each carrying his tribal birthright. This was doubled in John’s vision, showing an expansion in Kingdom development.

In the same manner, King David increased the number of priestly “courses” to twenty-four (1 Chronicles 24:3, 4). Each course served (by themselves) at the temple for two weeks at a time twice a year. All of the courses served at the temple during the Passover and Tabernacles seasons.

Though we are not told how many priestly courses had existed prior to the increase, it certainly reflects an expansion of Kingdom bureaucracy. This was necessary, not only because the population had increased, but also because a new stage of the Kingdom had been established. The Ark had moved from a tent to a house, from a tabernacle to a temple.

Though Scripture does not explain this progression explicitly, I believe it pictures a progression in the Kingdom. In fact, when each tribe under David’s rule provided 24,000 soldiers for military service each month (1 Chronicles 27:1). Hence, the twelve tribes provided a total of 288,000 soldiers in the course of twelve months. This is double the 144,000 protected men in the military in Revelation 7. Further, it suggests that the second group of 144,000 in Revelation 14:1 are female (“virgins”) singing the “new song” (vs. 3).

This makes a total of 288,000 overcomers, half of them men and half of them women. So also David’s prophetic choir totaled 288 (1 Chronicles 25:7). All of these numbers are multiples of 12, which is the biblical number of divine government. It moves from 12 to 24 to 144 to 144,000, and finally climaxes at 288,000. Each expansion supplies greater revelation as to the nature and character of Kingdom government until it reaches its fullness.

The Legs and Feet in Ezekiel’s Vision

Ezekiel 1:7 describes the government structure of God’s glory, saying,

⁷ Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.

The structure as a whole was supported and grounded by “legs” and “a calf’s hoof.” Why not a lion’s paw or man’s foot or an eagle’s claw? This appears to suggest that the “bull” or “calf” is the foundation of Kingdom government at the time of its full manifestation of glory. In other words, it is the government of Joseph, not Judah.

Recall that Judah was given the Dominion Mandate in Genesis 49:10 “until Shiloh comes,” when the people would rally around Him—the Messiah. It would take two comings of Christ to fulfill the prophecies of the two doves (Leviticus 14:1-7) and the two goats (Leviticus 16:7). The first dove and goat were killed, prophesying of Christ’s death; the second dove and goat were released alive, prophesying of Christ’s second coming. The second dove was dipped in the blood of the first goat (Leviticus 14:6), and so Christ is to come the second time with “a robe dipped in blood” (Revelation 19:13).

Note also that Judah’s prophetic role was described in terms of death and resurrection (Genesis 49:9), which Jesus fulfilled in His first appearance. But of Joseph we read in Genesis 37:31,

³¹ So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood.

Joseph is the only man with his robe dipped in blood—until Christ returns the second time. His robe dipped in blood identifies Him as the One fulfilling the prophecy of Joseph.

Recall also that Joseph’s prophetic dream showed that all of his brothers would bow to him (Genesis 37:7-10). This literally occurred later, after Joseph became ruler in Egypt and when his brothers came to buy grain during the famine (Genesis 42:6). This was the first-level fulfillment of Joseph’s dream, and it prophesied of the future as well. At the coming of “Shiloh,” which is Christ in His manifestation as Joseph, Judah’s dominion over the tribes of Israel was to be subsumed by Joseph’s greater dominion over “Egypt,” that is, the world.

Once we understand this progression from Judah to Joseph, Ezekiel’s vision of the legs and feet of the calf can be interpreted as the foundation of the Kingdom under “Joseph,” the Bull.

The Wings in Ezekiel’s Vision

Ezekiel 1:8, 9 says,

⁸ Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, ⁹ their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.

Verse 8 says that they had “human hands under their wings on their four sides.” The wings portray heavenly inspiration, while the human hands show that people on earth work under the inspiration of the Spirit. They do more than display God’s glory; they carry out His purposes. The picture joins heavenly authority with practical action. They do not exercise independent authority.

Verse 9 adds that “their wings touched one another.” This recalls the cherubim in Solomon’s temple, whose inner wings touched at the center of the house (1 Kings 6:27). Ezekiel’s creatures likewise form a coordinated company around the divine throne. Their individual identities do not prevent them from functioning together.

The remainder of verse 9 emphasizes their movement: “Their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.” Because each creature had a face toward each of the four directions, they could move in any direction without turning their bodies. “Straight forward” therefore does not mean that they could travel only along one fixed route. They were equipped to proceed directly wherever they were directed.

There were, then, four main directions that Kingdom government might move, each according to the authority of a different tribe. The lion of Judah pictured the original government culminating with Christ’s first coming through the tribe of Judah. Then, as Revelation 4:7 suggests, this direction shifts from the lion of Judah to the bull of Joseph and Christ’s second coming.

This naturally leads to the prophetic calling of Reuben—the manifestation of the sons of God. His name means “Behold, a son.” Then the movement shifts in the final direction of the flying eagle carrying away the serpent. This pictures divine judgment, the end of deception, and the establishment of truth. Revelation 12:9 says,

⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

For Kingdom administration, the spiritual lesson is that God’s servants must possess both hands to work and unity under the Spirit’s direction. Heavenly calling must produce faithful action. These creatures portray service in which ability, cooperation, and obedience work together to express the will of God.