NationStates Jolt Archive

Ezekiel 1:3 - 1:28

Good weed, divine encounter, or alien encounter?

Pick up your Bible if you have one (I had to go get my mom's because I'm not a Christian), or search for this passage online.

Because I am agnostic, I can't say that this experience did not involve God, but I think it's much more likely that Ezekiel was hallucinating, smokin' 'n' tokin' something really powerful, or had an encounter with aliens.

Comments?

Ezekiel 1:3 - 1:28

Good weed, divine encounter, or alien encounter?

Pick up your Bible if you have one (I had to go get my mom's because I'm not a Christian), or search for this passage online.

Because I am agnostic, I can't say that this experience did not involve God, but I think it's much more likely that Ezekiel was hallucinating, smokin' 'n' tokin' something really powerful, or had an encounter with aliens.

Comments?
Weed.

oh just post the stupid passage, why make us look it up?

Ezekial was a really interesting prophet. I believe he may have been under the influence of Ergot. Back in those days this happened on a regular basis. I am a Christian and I have no problem with people using drugs that can open their consciousness. I believe He was showing Ezekial what hell was like. Back then He used to talk to people alot more. The ergot helped his visions

Hahaha Hahahaaaaaah!!! :p

I was told to just post it, so here you go.

1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, when I was in the community of exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month--it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin--3 the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, by the Chebar Canal, in the land of the Chaldeans. And the hand of the Lord came upon him there. 4 I looked, and lo, a stormy wind came sweeping out of the north--a huge cloud and flashing fire, surrounded by a radiance; and in the center of it, in the center of the fire, a gleam as of amber. 5 In the center of it were also the figures of four creatures. And this was their appearance:

They had the figures of human beings. 6 However, each had four faces, and each of them had four wings; 7 the legs of each were [fused into] a single rigid leg, and the feet of each were like a single calf's hoof; and their sparkle was like the luster of burnished bronze. 8 They had human hands below their wings. The four of them had their faces and their wings on their four sides. 9 Each one's wings touched those of the other. They did not turn when they moved; each could move in the direction of any of its faces.

10 Each of them had a human face the front]; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right; each of the four had the face of an ox on the left; and each of the four had the face of an eagle the back]. 11 Such were their faces. As for their wings, they were separated: above, each had two touching those of the others, while the other two covered its body. 12 And each could move in the direction of any of its faces; they went wherever the spirit impelled them to go, without turning when they moved.

13 Such then was the appearance of the creatures. With them was something that looked like burning coals of fire. This fire, suggestive of torches, kept moving about among the creatures; the fire had a radiance, and lightning issued from the fire. 14 Dashing to and fro [among] the creatures was something that looked like flares.

15 As I gazed on the creatures, I saw one wheel on the ground next to each of the four-faced creatures. 16 As for the appearance and structure of the wheels, they gleamed like beryl. All four had the same form; the appearance and structure of each was as of two wheels cutting through each other. 17 And when they moved, each could move in the direction of any of its four quarters; they did not veer when they moved. 18 Their rims were tall and frightening, for the rims of all four were covered all over with eyes. 19 And when the creatures moved forward, the wheels moved at their sides; and when the creatures were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne too. 20 Wherever the spirit impelled them to go, they went--wherever the spirit impelled them--and the wheels were borne alongside them; for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels. 21 When those moved, these moved; and when those stood still, these stood still; and when those were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne alongside them--for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels.

22 Above the heads of the creatures was a form: an expanse, with an awe-inspiring gleam as of crystal, was spread out above their heads. 23 Under the expanse, each had one pair of wings extended toward those of the others; and each had another pair covering its body. 24 When they moved, I could hear the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of Shaddai, a tumult like the din of an army. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop. 25 From above the expanse over their heads came a sound. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop.

26 Above the expanse over their heads was the semblance of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and on top, upon this semblance of a throne, there was the semblance of a human form. 27 From what appeared as his loins up, I saw a gleam as of amber--what looked like a fire encased in a frame; and from what appeared as his loins down, I saw what looked like fire. There was a radiance all about him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow which shines in the clouds on a day of rain, such was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. That was the appearance of the semblance of the Presence of the Lord. When I beheld it, I flung myself down on my face. And I heard the voice of someone speaking.

Ezekiel 1:3 - 1:28

Good weed, divine encounter, or alien encounter?

Pick up your Bible if you have one (I had to go get my mom's because I'm not a Christian), or search for this passage online.

Because I am agnostic, I can't say that this experience did not involve God, but I think it's much more likely that Ezekiel was hallucinating, smokin' 'n' tokin' something really powerful, or had an encounter with aliens.

Comments?
Yeah, I can see where you are coming from, but as a Christian Obviously I don't think God was smoking weed, or Ezekiel for that matter. Personally I don't have the best answer, but I would say that because it says that Ezekiel was having a vision, it means that all the things in the vision are symbols. they may also be real, and tangible. I would assume that Ezekiel is describing the Throne of God, and uses figures of speech, combined with symbolism, to paint a more vivid "word picture". While this doesn't help much in understanding the meaning, I hope it gives you a little more insight anyway.

Ezekial was a really interesting prophet. I believe he may have been under the influence of Ergot. Back in those days this happened on a regular basis. I am a Christian and I have no problem with people using drugs that can open their consciousness. I believe He was showing Ezekial what hell was like. Back then He used to talk to people alot more. The ergot helped his visions
Where do you get Hell from in this passage?

Why don't you think that Ezekiel could have been smoking weed?

I'll quote a good button I saw today:

Marijuana, made by God
Beer, made by man
Whom do you trust?

If all things on this earth are God's creations, isn't weed acceptable?

Why don't you think that Ezekiel could have been smoking weed?

Mostly because it doesn't make sense in the context of the passage. I know most of you would find it more exciting, but it says that Ezekiel had a vision from God, not a vision resulting from being stoned.

I have always interpretated that as a visit from aliens.

I have always interpretated that as a visit from aliens.
Using what as your basis for that conclusion?

uh
its a metaphor of jesus' relation to the holy mother church
yeah thats it
a metaphor

Well, they did have hallucinogenic drugs in those days, cannabis among them. I've heard they were often used in religious rituals in the area, the Hebrews possibly as well.

uh
its a metaphor of jesus' relation to the holy mother church
yeah thats it
a metaphor
Jesus's relation to the Holy Mother Church? Obviously you aren't a Christian.

Read it through and imagine you're him attempting to explain the unexplainable. Suitings, weapons, self-propelled vehicles, metallic objects encasing living entities.

Simply put, don't read to much into a book of myths.

I think it was the authors' demonification of a diety of some rival cult religion.
I've seen something along the lines described in Babylonian or Mesopatamian religions.

The animals mentioned are also symbols found in Greek (, Roman, and Egyptian) religions.

Simply put, don't read to much into a book of myths.
Actually based on the symbolism that I know from reading the Bible you are probably right, except the Bible isn't a book of myths, these things actually happened.

Jesus's relation to the Holy Mother Church? Obviously you aren't a Christian.
hey its the explanation of the song of songs, it can be the explanation of ezekiel and the wheel

I wanted to add to my last post, and say, again that Ezekiel is describing God. The symbolism of the Four living creatures is used again in several other books, one of them being Revelation.

hey its the explanation of the song of songs, it can be the explanation of ezekiel and the wheel
Sorry, I am not following your train of thought.

Read it through and imagine you're him attempting to explain the unexplainable. Suitings, weapons, self-propelled vehicles, metallic objects encasing living entities.

Exactly, I got the impression that this was a visit from aliens as well. I only spoke of Ezekiel being high because it's a funny concept.

If extra terrestrials are actually out there, they must be smart enough to hide that from us (or at least the mainstream) since human existence began. Therefore, they must be more technologically advanced. The objects that are mentioned in this passage suggest beings other than God and angels. Why would god have all these things? And angels? Aren't they supposed to just float along, glowing, with halos and such?

C-bass

Exactly, I got the impression that this was a visit from aliens as well. I only spoke of Ezekiel being high because it's a funny concept.

If extra terrestrials are actually out there, they must be smart enough to hide that from us (or at least the mainstream) since human existence began. Therefore, they must be more technologically advanced. The objects that are mentioned in this passage suggest beings other than God and angels. Why would god have all these things? And angels? Aren't they supposed to just float along, glowing, with halos and such?

C-bass

Actually, they are cherubim, remnants of the polytheistic religious culture that have managed to survive to this day in the more obnoxious of the three offshoot monotheisms...
Throughout the varying authorships of Judeo-Christian mythology, "angels" have taken other forms besides pathetic halo wearing nudists.

I think I got the jist of it. There's a lot of symbolism used. Ezekiel is describing God as a warrior on a chariot. (hence the spinning wheels) the four living creatures are cherubim whose job is to protect God. God is described here as a warrior, judging Israel for the sins they have commited. (remember they are in exile at this time) However he isnt going to wipe them out completly as they are his chosen people. He is just refining them for his glory.

Actually based on the symbolism that I know from reading the Bible you are probably right, except the Bible isn't a book of myths, these things actually happened.
It's specualted that events similar to those explained in the Bible, especially the New Testament, are possibly true. Other than that, it's anyone's guess. It's not like anyone can know exactly what happened 2000 or so years ago.