Mysterious Visions and Glorious Purpose

A few Biblical figures received powerful and life changing glimpses of the glory of heaven.This imagery is not meant to be a literal picture of heaven. Instead, this is apocalyptic imagery meant to stretch our imaginations and and reveal transcendent truths that ordinary language cannot capture.

One of the most striking is the vision of Ezekiel where he sees four living angelic creatures.

Just like the Trinity, these creatures challenge our usual categories of identity, unity, and personhood.

The Creatures Described (Ezekiel 1:4–14)

• Ezekiel describes four living creatures. Each creature has four faces, one of a man, one of a lion, one of an ox, and one of an eagle. Each creature also has four wings. The four faces move as one without turning. They are filled with the spirit and surrounded by fire and light.
• John the Revelator sees similar same angelic beings around God’s throne in Revelation 4:6–8 crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy” in praise of God. John also highlights that “they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.”

These angelic beings are simultaneously awe inspiring and deeply disturbing There is something about them that defies description and understanding. Although there are four beings, they move as one. And the multiple faces and eyes have an otherwordly unity that seems to defy our comprehension.

Echos of Trinitarian Mystery

If the Angels that Ezekiel sees have this mysterious awesomeness, can you imagine what the God that made them is like?

I want to reiterate that this is just an image that gives us a hint or a glimpse of what the Trinity is like. Ezekiel’s vision doesn’t explain the trinity, but it looses our rigid categories. In this vision, we see multiple beings acting in a transcendant unity. We simultaneously see plurality and oneness, independence and shared will. Ezekiel’s vision invites us to imagine how three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Spirit—can exist in perfect unity, sharing one essence and acting with one will. It encourages us to stretch our vision towards God and to inspire our awe and reverence towards him.

Conclusion A Call to Worship

Ezekiel is overwhelmed by his vision—it’s not merely strange, but terrifying and majestic. He falls facedown in reverence. Even a glimpse of God’s throne and the beings that surround shatters his preconceived notions and prompts him to worship.

Ezekiel 1:28:

“Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”

As we similarly contemplate the mystery and beauty of the trinity, may we likewise be filled with reverent awe and worship. May our preconceived notions be shattered as we come to know the God that defies all our categories.