EZEKIEL
As for the likeness of their faces,
they four had the face of a man,
and the
face of a lion,
on the right side:
and they four had the face of an ox on the
left side;
they four also had the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 1:10
REVELATION
.... and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion,
and the second beast like a calf,
and the
third beast had a face as a man,
and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:6,7
12 Tribes
Each of the 12 tribes had a standard as they camped around the Sanctuary. On each of the 4 sides were a cornerstone tribe to lead. According to the Jewish Talmud, there is a tradition that says that upon these standards were the images of a Lion (Judah), Ox/Calf (Ephraim), Eagle (Dan) and a Man (Reuben).
Wheel within a Wheel
...and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a
wheel. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living
creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go;
and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living
creature was in the wheels.
Ezekiel 1:16,19,20
Is this symbolic,the wheel within a wheel involving the 4 faces,
of God's plan working out in perfect union?
Sanctuary Symbolism
@ On the east of the Sanctuary was Judah. He is the Lion of Judah roaring back for His people right through the opening (which faced east) of the Sanctuary,where the plan of redemption was laid out-from the altar of sacrifice to the Day of Atonment /Judgment.
@On the west side of the Sanctuary was Ephraim. His people patiently waiting for His return. The people He sacrificed for. (Remember the Red Heifer?).
@ On the north was Dan. Symbolic in the north of both spiritual Babylon and Pagan/Papal Rome-both of which took Israel from the north. (Interesting that the symbol of Rome was an eagle & that the city of Dan of the tribe of Dan would be a hotbed of apostasy to the north like spiritual Babylon). ..................He (Christ) is the eagle hovering over us.
@ On the south was Reuben. Symbolic of the south of spiritual Egypt (the secular/non-Christian world). In Egypt is the heart of a man (rebellion against God). Yet Christ took the form of a man and overcame the heart of a man, in other words He overcame the world.
Notice that in Revelation, where the 12 tribes are listed for the 144,000 (symbolic of God's people) that it is the only place in Scripture where the 12 tribes are missing Dan & Ephraim (instead listing Levi & Joseph). Could it be that in the end, as people come out of spiritual babylon to the north (Dan) and the wheat & tares are seperated among His remnant people waiting for His 2nd Advent (Ephraim on the west) that they form just His people on the other side of the mark of the beast? The Church militant morphing into the Church triumphant (dividing line the mark of the beast).
And they shall come from the east, (The angels of Heaven & the Father, Son & Holy Spirit?)
and from the west, (Ephraim? His remnant people waiting for His 2nd Advent?)
and from the north, (Those called out of spiritual Babylon when He says Come out of her MY people?)
and
from the south, (The gentiles converted from out of spiritual Egypt?)
and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:29