The Glory of the LORD
Posted on September 25th, 2026 by RachealSuch was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
— Ezekiel 1:28b
Ezekiel was one of the few prophets that the LORD revealed the appearance of His glory and His Throne, apart from the children of Isreal who saw God's glory on mount Sinai when He brought them from the land of Egypt. (Exodus 19:18).
I am Awe-stricken just reading about the likeness or the appearance of His throne as revealed to Ezekiel.
After going through the vivid description of the likeness of God's Glory, one is humbled by the fact that this awesome God cares so much about man.
David one of the greatest king of Isreal rightly said:
O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?"
— Psalm 144:3.
Daniel's description of the throne starting from the four Living beings whose appearances were like the form of man with each having four faces; the face of a man, that of a lion on the right side, that of a bull on the left and an eagle.
Each of the Living being also have four wings each, with two of the wings touching one another; speaking of the perfect unity that existed between them, with the other two wings covering themselves.
Everything about the Throne room speaks of perfection, fearsome beauty, unity and harmony.
Prophet Daniel then went ahead to described an expanse stretched out just above the heads of the living being gleaming like Crystal. And above the expanse is a Throne looking like lapis lazuli with One sitting on it whose figure was like a man! ("So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27).
Reading through the description of the arrangements of the Throne of God, one is reminded that the Old and New testament are in perfect harmony; all pointing to the Oneness of God.
The LORD had commanded Moses to build the Ark of the covenant, with a mercy seat above it, with two Cherubim facing each other on both ends of the Ark, and their wings stretching over the mercy seat and the priests and Levites, four of them were to bear or carry the Ark on four poles on their shoulders above their heads when the people of God were to break camp and move on their journey from Egypt to the promised land.
The Ark represents the Presence of God in their midst.
And the LORD told Moses He would meet with him from above the mercy seat and between the Cherubims which is above the Ark of the covenant.
We see therefore that the description of the Likeness of the Glory of the LORD as revealed to and described by prophet Ezekiel is a resemblance of the Ark of the Testament that God commanded Moses to build.
God has always shown mercy in His dealings with mankind and we must never forget that mercy is what this world including mankind is hinged on because the activities of man is increasingly worrisome.
Back to the focus of this write up - the appearance of the glory of the LORD.
Scriptures also told us that the living beings around the throne dart to and fro, moving straight ahead of them, wherever the Spirit leads they go. (Ezekiel 1:20).
In the midst of them was something like burning coals of fire. Like torches moving back and forth amongst the living beings (Revelation 4:5). The fire was bright and lightening flashes from the fire.
From the scene Ezekiel tried to describe one can see that there is some much life and immense energy around the throne; the burning coals like torches darting back and forth, flashes of lightening constantly moving, the living beings moving to and fro with wheels within wheels facing the four direction beside them, and rims in the wheels with fearsome eyes all around them, moving wherever the Spirit goes (Revelation 4:6); so much life, so much energy and movement. Indeed God is the source of life!
And then Ezekiel further went to described the glory of the LORD, the One who sits on the throne.
An expanse like gleaming crystal stretch over the heads of the living beings and their wings stretched out toward the other under the expanse - like they carry the throne on the expanse (the Ark of the covenant with the priests and Levites carrying it when Isreal breaks camp).
Ezekiel said the sound of the wings of the living beings was like the sound of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the sound of tumult, like the sound of an army camp!
These are very vivid description of what surrounds the throne of the LORD.
Scriptures told us that there were times when God's people went into battles and the enemies heard sounds of marching armies and they fled - they experienced the Presence of the LORD! - 2 Samuel 5:25, 1 Chronicles 14:15, Ezekiel 10:5.
Ezekiel then proceeded to described the One sitting on the throne above the expanse or surface just above the living beings.
Ezekiel's words:
"Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.
From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.
All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me."
Ezekiel 1:26-28 NLT
Just reading the description of the appearance of the glory of the LORD fills me with awe and wonder. (Also see Revelation 4: 1-11).
This majestic awe commanding presence of God had to come visit prophet Ezekiel because of the way His people had treated Him.
Ezekiel was to warn them of the grave consequences of their actions and the potential for them to be consumed even though He had promised to bless them.
If and when Ezekiel sees trouble coming he was to warn them so they could change their ways and who knows may obtain mercy but if he failed to warn them then he would be held responsible and, their blood God says He would require from Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 3:17-21).
God was giving them a chance to live, a chance to choose life and not judgement.
God indeed is a merciful God, before judgement falls the warnings are left unheeded. People justify themselves, and their actions and see no need to reflect if perhaps they need to reconsider their ways.
The LORD, Scriptures says is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24) and a river of fire flows from before His throne. (Daniel 7:10).
The likeness of the appearance of the glory of the LORD is liken to a form of man whose appearance is like fire.
Several places in Scriptures it has been recorded that fire broke forth from the LORD and consumed his enemies (Amos 5:6, Deuteronomy 32:22, Leviticus 10:2, Numbers 11:1, Numbers 16:35).
The LORD is holy, His Presence, no one can enter and not be slain, unless His Spirit strengthens us so we can endure His glorious appearing.
Let's give God the glory that is rightly His and worship Him for who He is and what He has done.
God bless as we take time to know more about this great God and reverence Him for who He is.
Peace!
