A Vision of a Whirlwind

Whirlwinds are mentioned in several places in the Bible.

Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind by angels in a chariot of fire.

2Ki 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Psa 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

God speaks in a whirlwind

Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind,...

God's judgement,

Isa 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. with four beasts

Ezekiel's vision of a whirlwind with angels

Eze 1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
Eze 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

A fiery bright amber colored whirlwind

Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Beasts; living beings, four of them, full of eyes. These were the cherubim angels above the throne of God. The creatures in the whirlwind were similar angelic beings. Ezekiel explains in more detail what he saw in his vision.

Eze 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Eze 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.

The calf's foot in the natural is hard burnished and shiny. The heavenly creatures feet shined as brass. The Son of man was described having (burnished) brass feet in heaven.

Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Eze 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 1:9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

Four angels with wings joined together in a circle.
Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, 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.

Each body had four faces and they flew round and round looking straight forward.This is similar to Revelation 4.

Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

The four creatures, were angels or cherubim. The faces may represent the best of God's creations. The lion is king of the beasts, and also could represent Jesus in the gospel of Matthew; The lion of Judah. The calf, may refer to a strong servant animal or Jesus as the servant as in Mark's gospel. A man is God's highest creation on earth and Jesus was called the son of man in Luke's gospel. The eagle is the greatest of birds and represents the heavenlies; Jesus the Son of God from heaven, as in the gospel of John.

Eze 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.

These appear to have four wings, or two pairs of wings joined one to another. The Cherubs described in Revelation 4 had six wings. Cherubim were depicted above the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant. These angels were always with the presence of the Lord.

Exo 25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

Eze 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.

They travelled with the Spirit in the whirlwind. (Eze 1:4)

Eze 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Eze 1:14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Fiery beings in a fiery whirlwind, spinning as an amber lighted wheel.

Angels can appear as light

Act 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psa 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Psa 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Psa 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Numerous testimonies of near death experiences, speak of a light coming to receive them; some were at peace and others terrified. Not all are going to heaven.

2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Angels are messengers, some are sent to destroy at the LORD's command. There are angels around the presence of the LORD, as those in the whirlwind, and there are angel's around the adopted children of God.

Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

In Jesus we are special holy spiritual people attended by angels. Thank you Lord.

Ezekiel's Captivity

Eze 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.
Eze 1:2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

In the thirtieth year, perhaps referring to his age when he would begin his priestly ministry.(Num 4:3) Jesus began his ministry at 30 years of age. Daniel had been taken captive eight years earlier. It is estimated that Daniel was at this time 35 and Jeremiah was 55.

The river Chebar, a Babylonian river near which many Israelite exiles settled; maybe the 'Habor' or the 'Royal Canal' of Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel was among the captives taken to Babylon with Jehoiachin King of Judah.

2Ki 24:10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
2Ki 24:11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.
2Ki 24:12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
2Ki 24:13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
2Ki 24:14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
2Ki 24:15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Eze 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.

The hand of the LORD; the Spirit of prophesy. Visions, dreams and prophecies are given as God chooses.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Israel had visions of God.

Gen 46:2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
Gen 46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
Gen 46:4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

John received visions from God about Jesus and things to come,

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Although Ezekiel had been taken to a foreign land, The LORD was with him. Take this to heart; you are never alone in Christ Jesus and the LORD will guide you by his spirit even when all seems to be lost around you. In God we receive direction through his word, by inspiration of God, visions and dreams.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.  

Hypocrisy

Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Luke 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Hypocrisy or to be a hypocrite, is to be a player, an actor being something you are not; an impersonator, a pretender. Sooner or later a liar will be found out. Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, they pretended to be righteous but Jesus saw through them.

Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

The Internet has it's share of players. Some have several names but they are known by their fruit. In the early days of witnessing in the chats I heard many stories of peoples broken lives. On occasion I would find that a person was just making up stories and using different names to be different people. It is hard to live a lie, for in time they will be found out. They  were hypocrites, game players. Their secret would be uncovered, what was hidden would be made known. 

Luke 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Honesty and truth need no defense.

Power and Provision

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Luke 9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Luke 9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
Luke 9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Jesus gave the twelve apostles, including Judas Iscariot power and authority over devils, and to cure diseases. This power was imparted to them by God, through Jesus the Son of God. They had Holy Ghost power before Pentecost, but apparently it was given and taken away. For Judas having forsaken him was taken over by Satan.

Luk 22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Luk 22:4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

This time the disciples were to take nothing for their journey, they were to go out by faith. They would be received by some of faith, and there they would stay. Others would reject them and by rejecting them they also rejected the power of God. They were to shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against them. As we witness in the Internet chats, many oppose the power and the message that we have through Christ Jesus. Shake off the dust, remove them from our rooms; they oppose the work of God. Others come to hang out but do not receive what we say. Let them stay if they do not oppose the word of God.

What were the things that the apostles were not to take with them and not to depend upon? Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

Staves were walking sticks or rods. They were used for walking and for protection.The root word is rhapizo, to let fall, to smite with a rod or staff. The stave could be used as offensive or defensive weapons. Staves when used by a king could be a rod of iron, as when Jesus returns to rule or it could be a royal scepter. They were to trust God for protection. A missionary friend commented," the safest place to be is in the perfect will of God."

Scrip, a wallet or sack used by shepherds to carry their provisions. Again they were to trust the LORD to provide for them in their missionary journey. They need no suit cases wallets or luggage.

Neither bread, for it would be provided by those who received them. They were to be thankful for what is provided. It is a shame to be in a restaurant or as a guest in a home and then to complain about the food or the service. If we represent the Lord, we are to be thankful.

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

They were to take no money, from a word meaning shining, such as silver. Silver was also used in making idols. 

Act 19:24  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 

Act 19:25  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 

Act 19:26  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 

Act 19:27  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 

Act 19:28  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 

Money can be an idol too.They were to be focused on the gifts given to them and food would be provided along the way.


Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

They were not to take two coats, but one was allowed. Dress appropriately for the weather. Jesus said that we should share with others if we have extra.

Luk 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

We can remember Paul in a dingy prison asking for a coat or cloke. Paul also requested the parchments containing the Holy scriptures.

2Ti 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

We are to love serving the LORD more than acquiring wealth.

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

In conclusion, we are to actively serve God and be faithful and he will see that we have opportunities to receive our needs, by work or by divine provision. This is having the true wealth of God.

Judas the Brother of James

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 

Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Luke 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
Luke 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

I would like to focus on Judas the brother of James. He is mentioned in as one who was in the upper room when the Holy Ghost was come at Pentecost.

Act 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.


Judas the apostle spoke to Jesus:


Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 
Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 
Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

In several of the newer translations it is written: Judas son of James. There is no new text, only a new interpretation of the text. The reason for this in my research was because the Greek was not specific, it literally reads: Judas of James. My next question is who wrote the book of Jude (Judas)? It is popularly assumed that this was Jude the brother of James and the half brother of Jesus. Can we be sure that Jude was not written by the disciple Jude? The KJV version says that Judas was the brother of a man named James. If he were the son of James he could not be the author of Jude. As it is written:

Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

In this verse it specifically says "brother" of James in the original Greek; adelphos, brother, but which James and whose brother is he? Is he supposedly the half brother of Jesus referring to this verse?

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?


Paul refers to James as the brother of Jesus.


Gal 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

James, the brother of Jesus was the head of the church in Jerusalem He was known as the brother of Jesus, so it is assumed that Jude is the brother of this James. Neither James nor Jude mentioned being brothers of Jesus, but his servants, his bond slaves.

Jude in his epistle does not give himself the title of apostle, as did Peter and Paul in their writings. The apostle John gave many first hand accounts of his personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The evidence points out that Jude was the brother of James and Jesus. Both brothers did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God until after his resurrection. The resurrection is proof that he has power over life and death We can trust Jesus as our Savior as did James and Jude; they were half brothers. We too by faith are the brothers of Jesus through adoption as children of God. Judas the apostle we know little about, but we can expect to see him in glory. 

New Wine and a New Covenant

Luke 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luke 5:38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

New wine is unfermented grape juice. As it is aged it ferments and expands so that it would burst old wine skins; new wine skins were needed. A person addicted to alcohol in wine would prefer the old wine and not the new grape juice. This is a metaphor of the old and the new covenants. The Pharisees of the Lord's time were addicted to the old wine of the law with their many man made laws added to them. The old covenant was mixed with manmade laws and traditions. Jesus warned his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees; the sinful legalism of added rules to put people into bondage.

The new wine represented the fresh and pure new covenant. The refreshing life giving gospel of faith and grace through the work of  Jesus Christ. The truth of the Living Word of God delivered in person by the Son of God.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 

Believe It Or Not

Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mark 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mark 16:13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

A few thoughts from the end of this chapter. Jesus appeared first as a babe to lowly shepherds and when he was risen from the dead he appeared first to Mary Magdalene whom he had earlier cast out seven devils. She was a clean vessel for his use. She believed in him and was the first to deliver the good news of his resurrection to the Disciples who were weeping and they would not believe her. How often do we see those who are of faith acting as if they had no hope, overcome by grief and refusing to believe the true report? After that, he appeared in another form to two men as they journeyed. They were upset with what was happening in their world. We get upset too with all the evil and lack of order in our world. What if Jesus came and walked with you as a stranger, would you be complaining to him about the current events? The stranger spoke to the two men showing them all the scriptures pointing to Jesus' coming and being our Savior. The men then saw that the stranger was Jesus as he disappeared from them. 



Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 

They too went to the disciples to tell them the good news, but they refused to believe them. The Lord is not pleased with our unbelief. Those who should be of the strongest faith can fail too. We should be expecting to see Jesus; perhaps in the face of a homeless person or a person in need? Maybe an angel will come along side of us for a time, appearing as just a person. The angel may be sent to encourage us or to guide us in a direction for a ministry. Finally Jesus appeared before them and was upset with their unbelief. These were the men who were to go out into the world to share the good news. If they were slow to believe then what could they expect from those they witnessed too? We must believe our message and be people of faith. Our excitement and dedication will stir someone's heart. The word of God will accomplish it's purpose. Go, be faithful and share the good news like you believe it.