Did Ezekiel witness the landing of an alien spacecraft (Ezekiel 1:4-6)?

In Ezekiel 1:4-6 we read: "I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north -- an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures." Many New Agers think this verse indicates that Ezekiel witnessed extraterrestrials. But this is reading something into the text that is not really there.

The context indicates that Ezekiel was witnessing a vision of the glory of God (see verse 1). Later in the chapter we read that "this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord" (verse 28).

The "living creatures" mentioned in the passage were angels, since they had "wings" (verse 6) and flew in the midst of heaven (see Ezekiel 10). They compare to the angels mentioned in Isaiah 6:2 and especially the "living creatures" (angels) which are said to be around God's throne (Revelation 4:6).

Finally, the message delivered was from the "Lord God" of Israel to the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:14), not one from some alleged UFO beings. The context was a message from the God of Israel through the Jewish prophet Ezekiel to His "rebellious nation" (2:34; see also 3:4).

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