Ezekiel 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. 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.
When the living beings moved forward the wheels moved beside them, and when the beings rose from the ground the wheels rose together with them. What looks like intricate wheel within wheel machinery, too complicated and confusing for human eyes to explain, is guided from beneath by a hand of infinite wisdom, with the Spirit of God moving and directing every part into perfect order and harmony. That united movement shows the whole world with its complicated human events, the affairs of nations, and coming events are under divine control, with higher power overruling evil rulers and counteracting Satan's plans to bring good to God's faithful people. It also gives the picture of living wheels beneath a cloudy chariot that carries Jesus and the redeemed upward toward the holy city, rolling on wings while wheels and angels proclaim God's holiness.
Wheels Move Together
When the living creatures moved forward, the wheels moved beside them, and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them. The going and the lifting were in step, never confused or independent, but held together by heavenly power. Beneath the cloudy chariot this same going and rising is seen as the wheels move with the living creatures while the chariot carries the saints upward toward the holy city.
The machinery is wheel within wheel, intricate and complicated, beyond human explanation. To the finite eye it looks like confusion and complete entanglement. There are many faces to every wheel, adding to the sense of complexity in the joining of earth and heaven.
Amid and beneath the wheels is seen a hand of infinite wisdom. The Spirit of God moves and directs the wheels, bringing harmony out of confusion. From apparent confusion He brings perfect order and harmony, with every wheel working in its right place and in perfect harmony with every other part of the machinery.
Each part does its specified work, yet with individual freedom of action. Wakeful vigilance and unceasing ministry mark this coordinated activity, connecting heaven's activity with beings on earth. The laws of nature are harmonious and conform with all this working, showing that the living and true God is needed everywhere to maintain order.
God Governs World and Work
The going and lifting of the wheels together with the living creatures shows that the whole world is under divine control and guided by God's hand. The coordinated rising from the earth reveals heaven's close connection with events on earth, with wakeful vigilance and unceasing ministry linking heaven's activity to beings on earth. Complicated human events and the affairs of nations remain under that control, directed by heavenly power and not left to confused or independent action. The Lord rules the world, holds coming events in His hands, and cares for those loyal to Him, including His church and the nations. The Spirit of God moves and directs the wheels, bringing harmony from apparent confusion.
Eternal justice is at work in the world through a powerful influence not under human control. People may fancy that they are directing matters, but higher than human influences are at work in movements those who do not know God cannot comprehend. Myriads of glorified beings stand ready at His word to overrule the power and policy of evil rulers and evil men and to bring good to His faithful ones. God works to counteract Satan's plans and to bring good to His faithful, loyal people, church, and nations.
God governs the work and orders it, coordinating its agencies and bringing perfect order from confusion even when the wheel-within-a-wheel machinery looks intricate, complicated, and beyond human explanation. The wheels work in their proper order and in perfect harmony with every other wheel under God's direction, with the hand of infinite wisdom seen among the wheels. In His providence He is preparing the way so that His work may be done by human agents, since no one is able to manage these things that belong to the great I AM. Human agents are governed as part of that work and must depend on Him rather than seek power or control for themselves.
Every worker must stand at an assigned post of duty and act an assigned part for the time, trusting God as instructor and with everything in regard to the advancement of the work. Workers must not try to control what belongs to God, seek after too much power, or leave God out of their methods and plans. Every one of God's workmen needs the lesson of the wheels within wheels moving with the living creatures, where confusion to the finite eye gives way to every wheel working in its right place in perfect harmony with every other part of the machinery. That lesson should be learned by studying the first and second chapters of Ezekiel with humility and earnest prayer.
Chariot Carries Saints Upward
The living wheels that rise with the living creatures are beneath a cloudy chariot that carries Jesus and the saints upward. That same chariot carries the redeemed upward toward the holy city. It carries them upward toward the New Jerusalem. The wheels move as the chariot rises, rising together with it from the earth.
The chariot has wings on each side and rolls upward as it ascends. As it moves, its wheels cry Holy. The moving wings also cry Holy, and the surrounding retinue of angels cries Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. While this threefold proclamation of holiness sounds, the redeemed shout Alleluia.