1:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. (1:1) "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month ... that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God."
Ezekiel begins by telling us what day it is. It's the 30th year, 4th month, and 5th day. But the 30th year etc. of what exactly?
1:3 The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him. (1:4-28) Ezekiel experiences what some say is the first recorded UFO sighting.
(1:4) "I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself ... the colour of amber."
(1:5-28) Ezekiel sees creatures that have four faces (human, lion, ox, and eagle), four wings, and straight feet with calf's soles.
(1:5) "Out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. ... they had the likeness of a man."
(1:6) "And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings."
(1:7) "And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass."
(1:8) "And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides."
(1:9) "Their wings were joined one to another."
(1:10) "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."
(1:11) "Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies."
(1:13) "Their appearance was like burning coals of fire ... and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning."
(1:15) "Behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces."
(1:16) "Their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel."
1:18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. (1:18) "As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four."
(1:19) "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."
(1:20-21) "The spirit of the living creature was in the wheels."
(1:22) "The firmament ... the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above."
(1:23) "And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies."
(1:24) "I heard the noise of their wings ... as the voice of the Almighty ... when they stood, they let down their wings."
(1:25-26) "There was a voice from the firmament ... And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne ... and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it."
1:27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. (1:27-28) When Ezekiel saw God's loins ("the glory of the Lord"), which were on fire, he fell on his face.
(1:27) "I saw ... the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about."
(1:28) "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face."