Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:22-28; Rev. 4:2; 1 Kings 22:19; Isa. 6:1; Dan. 7:9-10
Ⅰ
"Over the heads of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the sight of awesome crystal, stretched forth over their heads above"—Ezek. 1:22:
A
Over the heads of the four living creatures, there is the firmament, the expanse, which we call the sky.
B
The sky above the living creatures is like a great expanse of awesome crystal, indicating that above them is a clear, open, and expanding heaven:
１
They have a thorough fellowship with the Lord vertically and also a clear fellowship among themselves horizontally; they have a wide and stable span of fellowship—1 John 1:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:9.
２
When we reach the point of having a clear, open, stable, and expanding heaven, there will be nothing between us and God, and nothing between us and one another.
C
The kind of sky we have as Christians depends on our conscience; our conscience is connected to our sky—Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12:
１
We need to maintain a clear sky with the Lord, that is, have a clear fellowship with Him—1 John 1:3, 6.
２
If we would have a clear sky, we need to deal with any offense or condemnation in our conscience—Acts 24:16.
３
When there is nothing between us and the Lord, our sky will be crystal clear, and we will have not only a good conscience but also a pure conscience—1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3; cf. Matt. 5:8; Prov. 22:11; 2 Tim. 2:22.
Ⅱ
"And under the expanse one pair of their wings went straight out, one toward the other; each had another pair covering their bodies on this side and on that side"—Ezek. 1:23:
A
The four living creatures stretch out two of their wings for coordination; this indicates that if we are under a clear, open, stable, and expanding sky, we can have a coordination that is altogether straight, with nothing crooked.
B
The four living creatures use the other two wings to cover themselves; this indicates that in the coordination we should not display ourselves but should hide ourselves under the Lord's grace—2 Cor. 3:5-6; 12:9; Phil. 3:3.
Ⅲ
"And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, as they went; it was the sound of a tumult, like the sound of an army"— Ezek. 1:24a:
A
The voice is not that of an individual but is strong, like the sound of great waters:
１
The voice comes out of the wings that are joined together.
２
The voice of the testimony of any local church should not be the voice of any individual believer; it must be the voice of a corporate, coordinated body, a voice that comes out of the proper coordination—cf. Acts 2:14.
B
The voice of a corporate body becomes the voice of the Almighty, the voice of God Himself.
C
The voice is also the voice of an army fighting the battle for God's economy—cf. 2 Tim. 4:7.
Ⅳ
"Whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. And there was a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood still, they dropped their wings"—Ezek. 1:24b-25:
A
When the living creatures hear a voice out of the clear sky above their heads, they stop and let down their wings:
１
This indicates that they know not only how to speak and sound forth their voice but also how to listen to God's voice— 1 Kings 19:11-12; cf. Exo. 21:5-6; Isa. 50:4-5; Luke 10:38-42.
２
Whenever they listen to God's voice, they stop moving, stand still, and lower their wings.
３
They know how to give the voice by moving, and they know how to listen to God's voice by stopping.
４
In spiritual things, seeing depends on hearing; hearing is deeper than seeing and more intimate than seeing—Rev. 2:7a; 1:10, 12; Isa. 50:4-5; Matt. 18:15-17.
B
A clear and open heaven, speaking for the Lord, and listening to the Lord are all matters of fellowship—1 John 1:7:
１
Genuine fellowship is related to genuine coordination.
２
When we have fellowship with God and with one another, there will be genuine coordination among us; then we can speak for God and also listen quietly to His speaking.
Ⅴ
We need to see a vision of the throne of God for the divine administration throughout the universe—Rev. 4:2; 5:1; 6:16; 7:9; 8:3; 21:5; Dan. 7:9-10:
A
The book of Revelation unveils God's universal administration; this book reveals that the universe operates according to God's administration— 4:2, 5.
B
The throne in Revelation 4 and 5 is the throne of divine authority:
１
God's throne is related to His administration, which is a matter of His economy—Eph. 1:10; 3:9.
２
God on the throne is behind the scene, ruling over everyone and everything—Isa. 6:1; 1 Kings 22:19.
３
Everything in the world situation is decided on the throne; nothing can happen outside the rule of God's throne— Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; Luke 22:31-32.
Ⅵ
The highest point in our spiritual experience is having a clear sky with the throne above it—Ezek. 1:26-28:
A
The throne is the center of the universe, and it is where God is—Rev. 4:2:
１
The Lord's presence is always with the throne and can never be separated from the throne.
２
The Lord's throne is not only in the third heaven but also in our spirit; therefore, the Lord's throne is always with us—Heb. 4:12, 16 and footnote 1.
B
If we have a clear sky, the throne will be present, and we will spontaneously be under the ruling and reigning of the throne.
C
For God to have the throne in us means that He has the position to reign in us.
D
To have the throne above a clear sky is to allow God to have the highest and most prominent position in our Christian life.
E
In our spiritual experience, to reach the point of having the throne above a clear sky means that in everything we are completely submissive to God's authority and administration.
F
The clearer our sky is, the more we are under the throne; the more we have clear fellowship with the Lord, the more we will be under His authority—cf. Rev. 22:1.
G
If we have the throne above the clear sky, we are greatly blessed, and we should worship God for this blessing.
H
Today there are not many believers who are living completely under the ruling of God:
１
The goal of dealing with the conscience is to recover us from human rule through self-rule to God's rule so that we may be directly under His control.
２
In His complete salvation God desires to recover us to divine rule so that we may live before God in simplicity and under His direct authority.
３
To be under God's rule means that we live by the intuition of the spirit.
４
The more we are ruled by God, the more weighty and noble we become.
Ⅶ
The throne is not only for God to reign over us but also for Him to accomplish His eternal purpose—4:11; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:9, 11; 3:11:
A
God is a God of purpose, having a will according to His good pleasure—1:5, 9.
B
In His economy God administrates the universe to fulfill His purpose—Rev. 4:11.
C
If we have a throne in our spiritual life, God will not only rule over us but will also fulfill His purpose in us, with us, and through us—2 Tim. 1:9.
D
If we want God's purpose and plan to be carried out in us and with us, we must submit to the throne.
Ⅷ
The only authority in the church is the throne above the clear sky—Matt. 28:18-19; 20:20-28:
A
In the church there is no human authority—23:11; 20:25-27.
B
Instead of trying to rule over others, we should humble ourselves and remain under the throne above the clear sky.
C
If we are under a clear sky with the throne above it, genuine authority will be with us—2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10.
D
Our weight before God depends on the degree of our subjection to God's authority; the more we submit to the throne, the weightier we will be.
Ⅸ
In Ezekiel 1:26 "the likeness of a throne" is "like the appearance of a sapphire stone":
A
A sapphire stone is blue in color, and blue is a heavenly color indicating the situation and condition of God's presence— Exo. 24:10.
B
The throne being in the likeness of a sapphire stone indicates the presence of God in a heavenly situation.
C
If we have God's throne above the clear sky, we will be in a heavenly situation, having the appearance of a sapphire stone with the heavenly situation, atmosphere, and condition of the Lord's presence.
D
We should care only for the presence of the Lord, not for anything else; in other words, we care only for the clear sky with the throne above it.
Ⅹ
The throne in the heavens is transmitted to the earth through and with the living creatures—Ezek. 1:5, 26:
A
Wherever they are, the throne is there, and wherever they go, the throne follows them.
B
In this way the throne in the heavens becomes one with the earth, for the throne is transmitted to the earth—Matt. 6:10; 16:19; 18:18.
C
This needs to be the situation among the local churches today, the situation among the overcomers, and the situation and condition of our daily Christian life.