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New Defender's Study Bible Notes
10:11 turned not as they went. One of the more bizarre interpretations of these wheels within wheels, popular with many superficial readers, is that they are UFOs. Even a casual reading of their description, however, should indicate the shallowness of such an interpretation. These “living creatures” are the mighty cherubim, highest in the angelic hierarchy, always attendant at the throne of God.
10:15 living creature. This is explicit confirmation that the remarkable “living creatures” accompanying the throne of the presence of God were none other than the holy cherubim. Ezekiel had seen them at the river Chebar in Babylonia; here he sees them at the temple in Jerusalem, just as they were about to leave it.
10:18 the LORD departed. The shekinah glory signifying God’s presence was finally leaving the temple, where God had met His people for hundreds of years. See on Ezekiel 9:3. It next stood over the real cherubim at the east gate (Ezekiel 10:19). The figures of cherubim had been overlooking the Ark of the Covenant in the temple, which was soon destined to be destroyed, with its furnishings carried away to Babylon. The departure of the real cherubim from the temple could well suggest that the ark and its carved cherubim were departing as well. Both were seen later by John in the heavenly temple (Revelation 4:6-8; 11:19).