The Lord Calls Ezekiel

Then there came a voice
from above the expanse over their heads
as they stood with lowered wings.
Above the expanse over their heads
was what looked like a throne of sapphire,
and high above on the throne
was a figure like that of a Man.
I saw that from what appeared to be His waist up
He looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire,
and that from there down He looked like fire;
and brilliant light surrounded Him.
Like the appearance of a rainbow
in the clouds on a rainy day,
so was the radiance around Him.

This was the appearance of the likeness
of the glory of the Lord.
When I saw it,
I fell face-down,
and I heard the voice of one speaking.

He said to me,
"Son of man, stand up on your feet
and I will speak to you."
As He spoke,
the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet,
and I heard Him speaking to me.

He said:  "Son of man,
I am sending you to the Israelites,
to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me;
they and their fathers have been in revolt against Me
to this very day.
The people to whom I am sending you
are obstinate and stubborn.
Say to them,
'This is what the  Sovereign Lord says."
And whether they listen or fail to listen --
for they are a rebellious house --
they will know that a prophet has been among them."

(Ezekiel 1:25-28; 2:1-5)