Scholars generally agree that Genesis I was written by the priestly tradition within Israelite society. Ezekiel was born into a priestly family and became a priest/prophet and watchman for Jerusalem. It is most likely that he inherited the Genesis account of Creation in one of its original forms. Whether Ezekiel had any influence in the literary shaping of Genesis I as it reached its final form is unknown. But Ezekiel had a vision of living creatures interacting with wheels. And the prismatic perspective of Genesis I reveals a series of eighth wheels. Moreover Ezekiel’s vision ended with a human-like figure surrounded by brilliant light “like that of a rainbow on a cloudy day.” Eze 1
To date no explanation for Ezekiel’s vision of a wheel has been agreed upon. One popular explanation suggests that the wheels in Ezekiel’s vision are connected to the wheels of a chariot and/or the throne of heaven which was also a part of Ezekiel’s vision. This explanation stems from a verse in Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.” Also Ecclesiasticus 49:10 states, “It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn him upon the chariot of cherubims.”
However Ezekiel’s account of his own vision does not indicate that the wheel/s were attached to a chariot or the throne of heaven. He describes in great detail the presence of light which was dazzling and brilliant. He describes seeing colors. He describes the movement of the wheels; the interaction between living creatures and the wheels; the presence of fire, lightning; and the sound of thunder. Ezekiel also mentions the throne of heaven, but the description of the throne and a human-like figure follows his vision of living creatures interacting with wheels. His vision is ordered. The living creatures and the wheels precede his description of the throne of heaven and its human-like figure surrounded by a rainbow. Thus the living creatures interacting with the wheels could be interpreted as a necessary spiritual exercise prior to encountering the throne of heaven. This interpretation suggests that Ezekiel’s vision of wheels was prophetic in nature and would be fulfilled at some future point in time during the human journey toward the throne.
Ezekiel is a biblical character that has not enjoyed a good reputation. He has been labeled as ’paranoid’ by some and just plain ‘crazy’ by others. In light of the fact that Genesis I has never been percieved as a circle of information it is quite possible that Ezekiel’s vision of wheels had an impact on the structure of the Creation story. He was among the first of the prophets who could read and write. He lived at a point in biblical history when his priestly role and his writing abilities could have coincided with initial attempts to preserve sacred texts in what we now call the Pentateuch – the first five books of the Hebrew bible.
So perhaps his vision of living creatures interacting with wheels is not so insane afterall! Perhaps Ezekiel was not crazy. Perhaps he has been misunderstood. Perhaps his vision, like so many other aspects of Scripture, makes perfect sense when placed in the proper context. Scholars may never be able to answer all of the questions surrounding the life and times of Ezekiel. But the mystery of Ezekiel’s vision of living creatures interacting with wheels may be solved by perceiving Genesis I as a circle of information supported by the visible spectrum of light.
The wheel as a vision will be discussed in detail during a future DVD entitled, The Bible and It’s Language which will examine the inner workings of the wheel and its 14 complementary relationships. In the process of such an examination John’s vision of a little scroll of seven thunders, Rev. 10, and the Language of Creation will be illuminated.