Here is one of the most remarkable descriptive passages in scripture. If you believe in flying saucers, then you may think Ezekiel is describing one here. However, the other elements in the narrative rule out the idea of a flying saucer controlled by aliens from another planet.
Cherubim and a Throne
In this portion, Ezekiel sees four four-faced cheribim standing beside a house. Above the cheribim was a throne, and a voice from the throne commands a man by the house to get coals of fire:
Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court (Ezekiel 10:1-3).
Cheribim and Wheels
Here, we learn more about the wheels and their relationship with the cheribim. Some ufologists claim that these wheels are windows around a flying saucer. You be the judge:
And it came to pass, that when he [God] had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out. And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had (Ezekiel 10:6-12).
Literal Wheels
When Ezekiel described eyes and wheels, was he trying to describe something otherworldly in his own limited language? This following passage says otherwise. We learn here that “wheels” is not Ezekiel’s best attempt to describe something, but a word he heard spoken: “As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, ‘O wheel'” (Ezekiel 10:13).
Two main things are happening in this chapter. God’s presence was leaving the temple, which was in Jerusalem, and he was about to pour out judgment (the fire taken by the man). Jerusalem was later set on fire.
I’ve never heard of an account of a UFO that included four-faced, winged creatures and a throne set above it all. So it is difficult to square this passage with flying-saucer UFO accounts.
What do you think?
a. Do you see how a UFO enthusiast could see flying saucers in the above passage?
b. In what ways does the passage above not describe a space ship?
c. Was this vehicle powered by an internal engine, wings, or some unknown power?
d. Have you heard of any reports of UFO with the same description as the passages above?
// addFooter();
// ]]>
