Mid-America Reformed Seminary

This first session of our 2024 Fall Evening Class introduces Chapter 1 of the Book of Ezekiel, focusing on the theme of God's glory. Dr. Andrew Compton explains how Ezekiel's opening chapter presents a dramatic vision of God's glory appearing to the prophet during the Babylonian exile in 593 BC. The vision includes extraordinary imagery: four creatures with multiple faces (human, lion, ox, and eagle), wheels within wheels, and storm winds - all accompanying God's glorious presence. Dr. Compton helps decode this complex imagery by comparing it to modern high-definition or IMAX experiences, explaining that these descriptions combine different powerful attributes to convey God's supreme might and presence. This session emphasizes that this vision was particularly meaningful to the exiled Jews, as it demonstrated that God's power remained undiminished and that He could be present with His people even in exile, making Ezekiel fundamentally a prophet of hope.