EZEKIEL - CHAPTERS 9-11 "Six Men Came From The Way of The Higher Gate"

"Six Men Came From the Way of The Higher Gate"

(Ezekiel, Chapters 9-11)

Fourth in an Eight-week Series

Taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

“He said in my ears with a loud voice, saying, cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.  And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.”

This judgment is carried out by the man clothed with linen with a writer’s inkhorn, followed by six men who had charge over the city.  These six men are angels.  The number seven shows that this was an operation of God and not man.  The man in the lead clothed with linen is the Lord Jesus Christ, who in the midst of the seven-branched candlestick of Exodus 15: 31-40, and in covenant with the six branches reveals the seven spirits of God of Isa. 11: 1-2.

Romans 1:1 speaks of the Gospel of God, which is the judgment written in the scriptures.  Romans 1:9 tells of the Gospel of His Son, which is the judgment personified. 

 Romans 1:16 reveals the Gospel of the Christ, which is the execution of the judgment whom he is! 

We can compare these seven men with the seven seals, trumpets, and vials of the Book of Revelation.  All this is done in the principle of His righteousness (linen).

The Lord blessed me with a vision of the “man clothed in linen with the writer’s inkhorn

Vision:  I was first escorted by an angel or the Holy Ghost into a pavilion of darkness with perhaps five maybe seven stars.  I was trying to discern where I was and the only scripture that came to me was, “In the beginning  ...darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of God moved.”   I did not understand this place and I asked the angel to remove me from that place.  Later I found the scripture in Psalms 18:11:  ‘He made darkness his secret place:H is pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.”  Immediately we left that firmament, but we did not go by a straight way.  We were then in a firmament of white clouds.  I saw the man dressed in White Linen sitting at a writer’s desk with the ink horn in his hand.  From his ink horn came a rainbow which encircled the whole earth.  He put the ink horn in my hand.

These executioners of his judgment are the standard and the measure by which all men are judged.  They came by the way of the upper gate which was built by Jothan (principle of perfection 11 Kg. 15:35).  This was also called the upper Benjamin Gate (principle of the son of the right hand – Jer. 20:2) or the New Gate (principle of the dawning of a New day – Jer. 26:10).

Only the intercessors were marked, “Those who “sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” (9:4)

In this massacre of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Glory of the Lord has now moved from its place to the threshold on its way out. (9:3) “And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherubim where it had been and moved  to the threshold of the house.” But remains lingering there, reluctant to leave, waiting for a change on the part of the people.  There are those who still remain faithful to God and “the Lord knows them that are his.”  (11 Tim. 2:19)

Here we have the sealing of the saints (11 Cor. 1:33; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Rev. 7: 1-4; 9:4; 14:1; 22:4).  This sealing emphasizes the principles of ownership, authentication, authority, witness and security.  We can compare this to Exodus 28 and the three sealing’s (signets) on the garments of the high priest – the seal of Water baptism, Holy Ghost Baptism and the full mind of Christ.   In Revelation 7:3, the servants of God are sealed against the impending judgments. ( 9:6) “Do not touch anyone who has the mark.”  “Begin at my sanctuary.  Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.(8) And it came to pass, while they were laying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! Will you destroy all the residue of Israel and your pouring out of your fury upon Jerusalem?”

10:1:  “Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim’s there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.  And he spoke unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire.”

Most of chapter ten is repetitious of the prophet’s initial vision.  Here is continued the vision which began in chapter 8 and which concludes in chapter 11.  This renewed vision of God’s glory was the background for the judgment of Judah’s idolatry and horrible profanation of the Temple.  Jesus Christ clothed in linen scattered coals from the fire between the Cherubim over the idolatry-ridden city.  This points to Rev. 8: 3-5: “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.  And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.”

God controls all the forces of judgment that He employs. God’s judgment comes from amid His nature in the wheels, producing Glory!  Ezekiel foretold how Jerusalem was to be destroyed by fire.  In verses 9-22, he predicted how the Lord would abandon His sanctuary.  Once that happened, there would be Ichabod (the glory has departed”) written over the door of the Temple until 43:2.

The meaning of the whole vision is the vindication of the holiness of God by means of the dissolution of the Temple worship and the departure of the Glory of God.

In verse 14, one of the faces of the cherubim changes.  “And every one had four faces:  the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man and the third face of a lion and the fourth the face of an eagle”.  The Ox, the intercessor, the burden-bearer is changed.  What happened after the ox was slain?  Out of resurrection life of Jesus Christ, there comes not an ox to bear the burden any more, but a cherub to cover the earth!  (Verse 5) “And the sound of the cherubim’s' wings were heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaks.”

#3742 = “Ker-oob” =A cherub or imaginary figure.”  The root can be to ride projecting the concepts of horses, chariots or eagles.   

#55o1 = Cheroubim” = same as above.  Hebrews 9:5 (“And over it, (Ark of the Covenant) the cherubims of Glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.”)

Besides this description of the Cherubim and God’s Chariot Throne, we see other characteristics of the Cherubim:

1. They decorated the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle of Moses, the Temple of Solomon and the Temple of Ezekiel.
2. They were in the Most Holy Place.
3. They were always mentioned in regard to the Throne of God.
4. There were two cherubim connected with the Ark of the Covenant, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ in the fullness of His Body.  Two is the number of witness.
5. The cherubim were one with the Mercy-Seat; so the redeemed are in union with the Lord Jesus.  Compare the concept of the head and the body; the vine and its six branches at the golden candlestick.
6. Ezekiel saw a vision of the Glory of God and the Throne of God in motion.  God goes forth in government and justice (Psa. 18:10) God’s throne is often pictured in connection with horses (Overcomers) and chariots; thus the cherubim are also connected with eagles. (Hab. 1:8)

We can compare the five colors of Ezekiel 1 (Amber, Brass, Beryl, Crystal and Sapphire) with His being Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  We can compare then also with the first five books of the bible and David’s five smooth stones.

Bro. Bill Britton comments on this renewed vision:

“Those wheels…interlocking in the midst of one another…we studied in chapter one and we saw so clearly…this is Jesus Christ…the local church…joined together, locked in together by the Spirit…committed to one another…I’m here every service time brother… Why? Because you need me…I need you…everywhere this cherubim went…when he rose up from the earth into the heavenlies, the church went with him.  Do you think that we’re going to cast off the local church?  Not so.  The wheels are going right along, and the higher that the sons of God get into the real heavens, the more glorious you are going to see the local church become…We’ve got to leave the wheels and go with the cherubim…Brother, if the spirit of the living creature is not in the local church, then it’s not a local church!  Brother, don’t worry.  If you’re with the cherubim, the wheels are going right along…” (BB)

And the likeness of the Hands of a man under their wings.  You never get away from the ministry…I don’t care how high you go in the Spirit, brother…you can get up so high, you’re a son of God, you know the whole book…there’s going to be a prophet of God that’s going to be just a little higher telling you something else that’s ahead of you!  Now when you get so high that you don’t have any hands and don’t  need any hands, you’re flying so high that you’re past  the hands! You’re in trouble!  You’re not flying high, your flying off the track.  You’re flying out of orbit.  Because every time I look around those cherubim, the higher they get, he peeks under the wings, and says, ‘I see a hand under the wings…we haven’t come to the perfect man yet…but Ezekiel saw it!  He saw it coming into a higher ministry…but he said, “There’s still the form of a man’s hand under their wings.” (8)(BB)

15-17:  And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them:  and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.  When they stood, these stood:  and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.”

18-22:  The Glory Departs!  Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.  And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight;  when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and everyone stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.”

Chapter 11:  this chapter closes the series of messages begun in chapter 8.  The complete departure of the Lord’s glory is stated here and emphasis is now put on punishment of the corrupt princes.   A glimpse into the wicked political leaders is given in 11: 1-13.  A message of mercy follows in 11: 14-21, including promises of restoration.  The chapter concludes in 22-25 with the Glory departing from the Temple outward and from the city to the Mount of Olives.  We can compare this with David’s and Jesus’ departure.

Verses 1-13 is addressed to those still living in Jerusalem.  Verses 14-21 are addressed to those already carried into captivity.  Judgment will fall upon the ruling classes for the rejection and ridicule of God’s message by Jeremiah.  For bringing the Chaldean army against Jerusalem as the result of their wicked counsel, and for practicing the ways of the heathen.  Those at Jerusalem considered the captives’ exile as evidence of their departure from the Lord (which it was) and their own remaining in the land as an evidence of God’s favor (which it was not) (14-15).  Even in exile, God’s people had the invisible sanctuary of God’s presence, for it is the presence of God that makes the sanctuary, not the sanctuary which makes His presence!  “Therefore say, thus says the Lord God; although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a Little Sanctuary, in the countries where they shall come.(11:16)

The Jewish name in the middle Ages for a synagogue was “little sanctuary” but the Lord is not speaking of an outward structure or edifice, but of Himself.”

As evidence of this, God will bring about the ultimate restoration and conversion of His people. (17-21).  As a further testimony against the unwarranted complacency and assumption of the people at Jerusalem, the Glory of the Lord left both Temple and city and stood waiting upon the mountain to the east.  God’s personal presence and protection was thus withdrawn.  The rabbis said that the Shekinah retired eastward to the Mount of Olives, and there for three years called in vain to the people with a human voice that they should repent.

19:  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances, and do them: and they will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads says the Lord God.  Then did the cherubim lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.  And the glory of the Lord went up form the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

Jesus stood here and wept over the city so soon to be utterly destroyed, and from here Jesus descended amid loud Hosannas to enter the city and the Temple as a judge, and from here Jesus ascended in Acts 1.   

 Having been taken back to Chaldea in vision, Ezekiel then made known to those in captivity all that the Lord had shown to him. (24-25

“Afterward the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the spirit of God into Chaldean to them of the captivity.  So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Ezekiel took a ride on that Chariot throne of God.

Chapter Twelve begins a new section of the book.  Chapters 12-19 may be classified as a distinct division of Ezekiel’s prophecy.  Chapters 8-11 centered on the Temple.  Chapter 12 deals with the throne.  So today, God is going to deal with false preachers in high places!

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries, Inc.  www.eastgateministries.com  Scripture quotes from K.J.V. with text from P.P.T. (K.V.) and Bill Britton.