Micaiah, Isaiah, John, Daniel, and Ezekiel saw God seated on the throne. Only Ezekiel, out of all these prophets, saw God seated on the throne in the likeness of man. All the other prophets saw the throne’s surroundings, such as a rainbow, a council, and splendor, but not the appearance of the person seated on it. They described surroundings around the throne. But Ezekiel described that God in the likeness of man was seated on the throne (Ezekiel 1).
Ezekiel was the first person to see God as a man on the throne in both the Old and New Testaments. In New Testament, John saw the lamb in the midst of the throne but not on the throne.
The Throne is seat of authority, power and kingship. Ezekiel saw this vision with physical eyes in a physical setting. A throne denotes the presence of a monarchy. When there is a throne, it means there is a kingdom. The kingdom is ruled by a king who is seated on a throne.
Ezekiel was an exile living among rebellious people in a foreign land. The situation when Ezekiel saw the vision was very worse. But in this worst situation, he sees God’s Throne. In the land of darkness and slavery, he sees God’s throne. This implies that the land where Ezekiel lives is also part of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom extends to the region where Ezekiel resides. We only see a place for God’s throne in God’s kingdom. God is still the ruler of region near Chebar river. Region near the Chebar river comes under God’s sovereignty, authority and rulership. When Ezekiel saw God already sitting on the throne, it means God was already the ruler of the region near Chebar river. Ezekiel was late to understand God’s rulership of this region.
Seeing a throne with Lord seated on it indicates that you are living in God’s kingdom. All the surroundings, situations and regions are part of God’s kingdom. This kingdom is ruled by God, who has total authority over everything. Ezekiel saw four living creatures with wheels within wheels before he saw the throne. These living creatures are the governing angels or spirits within this region. These angels cover the entire region of God’s kingdom and have an absolute authority. These angels are being led by God.
Ezekiel sees God in the likeness of man. God sends His son, Jesus, as a human being. Only a human being can comprehend human needs or difficulties better. Jesus had not yet been born when Ezekiel lived. In the New Testament, Jesus easily connected with humans and was the perfect Messiah—healing and loving them. In Ezekiel’s timeline, the people required a loving, understanding God who can understand their problems and needs. The people in Ezekiel’s time were in dire need of Jesus. In this vision, Jesus appeared to Ezekiel as God in the likeness of man seated on a throne.
Ezekiel saw God in the likeness of man (Jesus) sitting on the throne and was ruling at that time. The human form of God in both Old and New Testaments is Jesus.
Jesus is referred to as the Son of God in the New Testament because he spoke and prayed to Father God.
Ezekiel is referred to as the son of man in the Old Testament because Ezekiel saw and spoke to Jesus.
For Father God, Jesus was the son of God.
For Jesus, Ezekiel was son of man.
Ezekiel saw God as a man (Jesus), so he was called as son of man. Ezekiel saw Jesus on the throne, so he was called son of man or son of Jesus. For Ezekiel, the view he got about God was Jesus.
The nature and character of Jesus was revealed to Ezekiel when Ezekiel saw Jesus seated on the throne.
Book of Ezekiel was a mini–New Testament where people saw Jesus in Ezekiel’s life. Jesus had a body in Ezekiel. Jesus did the Father’s will and prayed to Father God. In the similar manner, Ezekiel did Jesus’s will and prayed to Jesus. Ezekiel followed Jesus’s will and instructions. For a few days, Ezekiel carried the sins of Judah and Israel, just as Jesus came to carry the sins of humanity.
Ezekiel saw God’s Glory means he saw the person of Jesus Christ. Ezekiel got a very clearer view of Jesus. The words he spoke, and the behavior resembled so much of Jesus.
Ezekiel even though in Old Testament, got a privilege to see Jesus seated on His throne. Ezekiel may have witnessed Jesus’ majesty, brilliance, splendor, holiness, and mercy.
Jesus and Ezekiel focused on people’s hearts. In Ezekiel’s time, God promised to give a new heart to His people (Ezekiel 36:26). Only Jesus can give a new heart.
Today let you experience a fresh revelation about Jesus sitting on the throne. Let you be the second after Ezekiel to see Jesus seated on the throne in a human form. The likelihood that we will see Jesus seated on his throne increases as we see more of Jesus in our surroundings. Before ascending to his throne in heaven, let Jesus occupy the throne of your heart. Let Jesus take a place on the throne of your heart before taking a place on his throne in heaven.
Jesus came down from His throne in heaven to humanity. In Revelation, the lamb was in the midst of the throne but not on the throne. Jesus might not have ascended to His throne in heaven. Till he ascends to His throne in heaven, Jesus needs a throne to sit and reign from. Let Jesus sit and rule on the throne of your heart till He takes His rightful place on the throne in heaven. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and sit on the throne of your heart, take control of it and reign from there. Let our life be the Kingdom of Jesus where Jesus the King rules. Let our lives reflect the reigning kingdom of Jesus.
