The Wheel Within the Wheel
By Lynda Mitchell

Return To Jonathan Mitchell's Page

Understanding is revealed in the testimony of God.
His word is a sword that rightly divides.
The book of Revelation signifies the golden reed
That is "the measure of a man." (Rev 21:17)

The Wheel Within the Wheel

Picture the encampment of Israel – the multitudes divinely appointed and each tribe in its’ set place under One of Four standards, facing One of Four directions. (The number FOUR represents the Four corners of the world).

In the midst, where God meets man, stands the tent of appointment; the Tabernacle and the ark of the covenant.

The camp of God’s people = the wheel within the wheel!

Movement within the camp was by the Spirit —

"On the day that the Tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered ... and at evening there was the appearance of fire until morning. At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they encamped ..." Numbers 9:15-18

Israel’s standards (banners) were FOUR:

Lion: Judah – East. Ox: Ephraim - West. Man: Reuben - South. Eagle: Dan - North

These Four faces appear again in the visions of Ezekiel — they are the Living Ones out of the midst of enfolding fire: "Out of the midst of it (whirlwind, great cloud and fire) the likeness of Four living creatures...they had the likeness of a Man (Heb., Adam). Every one had 4 faces and 4 wings...joined to one another...they four had the face of a man and the face of a lion (on the right side), and the face of an ox and the face of an eagle (on the left side) ... wherever the spirit was to go, they went...their appearance was like burning coals of fire and lamps, going up and down; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning." Ezekiel 1:4-13

Again, their movement was by the spirit. Verse 14 - "And the living ones (creatures) ran and returned like the appearance of a flash of lightning."

Lightning is indicative of the heavenly realm, God and His throne. It frequently accompanies a revelation of God.

"As I beheld the living ones, behold — One wheel upon the earth by the living ones with it’s Four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work like the color of a beryl (emerald, aquamarine; the adornment of the Eighth foundation of the heavenly city, Revelation 21:20); the Four had One likeness – their appearance and work, like a wheel within a wheel ... full of eyes round about...wherever the spirit was to go, they went...and the wheels were lifted up; for the spirit of the living one (was) in the wheels." (Ezekiel 1:15-20)

Verse 24 – "And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters (multitude), like the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech (Psalm 19:1-6), like the noise of a host ..."

Above the firmament over their heads, the likeness of a throne and a man above upon it, like sapphire and amber...and the appearance of fire and brightness round about it...the likeness of the glory of the Lord."

The Four living ones, or the Four cherubim. The number FOUR signifies complete coverage of the earth or land. What is a cherub a symbol for? According to Young’s Concordance, the word cherub means "one grasped, held fast." The plural, cherubim, means "those grasped, those held fast."

The cherubim are first mentioned in Genesis 3:24 where they are caused "to dwell at the east of the garden of Eden (Paradise) along with "the flame of the sword which is turning itself round to guard the Way of the Tree of Life." (Young)

Next we see the cherubim in Exodus Twenty-five, where there are two of them (number of witness) – one on each end, as a part of the ark in the Tabernacle. They each face toward the presence of God – the Mercy Seat – and face "a man towards a brother." (Exodus 37:9, lit). Here they each have Two wings. In Exodus Twenty-six they are described in the curtains of the Tabernacle.

In Ezekiel’s vision, when the living ones are mentioned, the face of the ox is replaced by the face of a cherub in chapter Ten Verse fourteen.

When John saw these living ones, the faces were the same as Ezekiel 1, but they now have 6 wings apiece. The wings were joined "a woman to a sister" (Heb., lit) Ezekiel 1:9. These are complete beings (male/female) universal and of all directions, having access in the earth and the heavenlies.

Historically, the 4 faces have been associated with the 4 gospels; each face representing the central focus of one of the gospels:

Matthew: Lion – King and God’s kingdom
Mark: Ox – Servant – service and sacrifice
Luke: Man – Son – "son of man"
John: Eagle – Heavenly – Son of God

The characteristics mentioned as representative of Christ, are also representative of His Body. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is a King over a kingdom of people – a nation of kings and priests, who also have dominion and authority.

The Ox speaks of obedience and the sacrificial nature of this calling, and of those who, having His great love, lay down their lives for their friends.

The Man signifies the last Adam, man in Christ’s image – the New Creation – restored to Paradise (the realm of the spirit; heaven).

The Eagle soars in the heavens – signifying their ability to rise above the realm of the earth, having the divine nature implanted in their hearts.

The circle of eyes and the movement of the wheels within the wheels signify total vision and spiritual perception, corporate unity, arrangement and access. That the eyes are round about describes their ability to prophetically discern all things, and all time. To see and understand the past, present and ages to come, and the purposes of those ages and events.

(also)

The movement of God’s spirit in and among His living ones constitutes a corporate company whose aspects reveal the nature and divinity of His glory.

The apostle Paul prayed, "the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, for you to perceive what is the expectation of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance within the holy ones – the set-apart ones; the ones whose very being continuously says, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, the Strong Holder-of-All." (Ephesians 1:18)

The encampment of Israel was a type and shadow of what was to come and represents man’s set (arranged) dwelling place with God in the celestial kingdom.

What was established in the earth first, was later replaced with the new in the heavens – the "Second … coming’ [God with man/Christ in you – the hope of glory] "for the first (preceding, earlier) heaven and the first earth (land) went away…" (Revelation 1:1)

In Revelation John sees the set-apart city, descending from out of heaven, from God, having been made ready as a bride, being arranged (set in order, adorned) by her husband.

And a great voice from out of the throne saying, "Behold, God’s tent (tabernacle) is with men, and He will dwell in a Tabernacle with them [Christ in you], and they will be His people."

The Bride is the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of the heaven and continuously bringing with her the glory of God. And John saw no inner sanctuary within her, for the Lord is [Christ in you] her inner sanctuary (lit. dwelling place).

And she (the city) had no need of the natural light of the sun or moon, for the Glory of God gave her light, and her lamp is the Lamb. And multitudes walk about by means of her light.

And the kings of the land (earth) continually carry their glory and honor into her. …wherever the spirit was to go, they went … those held fast … each facing toward the presence of God, the Mercy Seat … and facing a man towards his brother … and joining a woman towards a sister … out of the midst of a great cloud and fire … the corporate face of kings, servants, sons of Adam, sons of the Father…the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty…and the appearance of fire and brightness round about … the likeness of the glory of the Lord … and a great voice from the throne saying,

"BEHOLD, GOD’S TABERNACLE IS WITH MEN"

Return To Jonathan Mitchell's Page