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Bible Quiz #9 intro – Bible knowledge on ‘Why are there four Gospels?’
This Quiz will take us deeper into a prophetic vision given to Ezekial.

INTRO: The four Gospels, the books of… Matthew; Mark; Luke; and John, are valuable in that they help us understand better who God is, for in these books we may see God from the different perspectives of the different authors.

— The four Gospels are also often described as portraying different aspects of God as revealed in the themes listed below.

• Matthew: Jesus is the King of the Jews / the Lion of Judah.
• Mark: Jesus came as the suffering servant, our burden bearer.
• Luke: Jesus is the Savior of the world.
• John: Jesus is the Son of God, as in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  

In the Old Testament, the purpose of the four Gospels is also revealed by a study of the vision given to Ezekial in Ezekial 1:1 – 3:15 (I invite you to pre-read these chapters in full because, for brevity’s sake, I must jump to key question verses in these exercises.)

— He discussed how they display the four aspects of God Almighty which God revealed to the Prophet Ezekial in the Old Testament book which carries his name.

— The complete revelation of God’s four spiritual aspects comes to Ezekial in picture form, so we who are limited by earthly mindsets might be prepared to receive these Four Gospels.

— There is so much for the Holy Spirit to teach us in the following Bible verses, however, I trust further revelation and appetite for knowledge to His Holy Spirit working in all of us who follow Jesus.

— That being said, let’s dig into God’s Word…

(Quiz starts on next Pg.#1)

Bible Quiz #9 – On ‘What about the Four Gospels?’ (Pg.#1)

ESV of Bible used here – (Mark the correct answer)

Ezekial 1:1… In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

— Q1. Here Ezekial tells us of a vision in which he saw the heavens open to reveal _________.

a/ the future b/ God c/ Israel

Ezekial 1:4-6… As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.  (5)  And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness,  (6)  but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.

— Q2. Here in this vision, he sees the likeness of _______ ___________ _____________.

a/ Israel’s future revealed b/ God’s four winds c/ four living creatures

Ezekial 1:7-9… Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze.  (8)  Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus:  (9)  their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went.

From Ezekial 1:4-9, let’s focus on these four living creatures with the following statements.

— Q3. Ezekial saw that their wings touched and they went ___________ _____________.

a/ straight forward b/ every direction c/ to church

— Q4. As we picture these creatures with each of their wings touching one of the others, each facing forward, the image we see in our minds must take the shape of them standing in a _______ facing outwards.

a/ triangle b/ line c/ square

— Q5. So as each moves forward the area they cover must ___________.

a/ diminish b/ expand c/ remain

— Q6. As Christians, we are also called to ___________ the Gospel of Jesus.

a/ diminish b/ expand c/ hide (Answer: Matthew 28:18-20)

— 7. Does this vision correspond to the world impact of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Yes… No…

Before we leave these verses, I must interject Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (13) And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

— Q8. Here we are told that God’s Word is alive and active, and as it expands it exposes everyone to His truth and shows we all will give account to our ___________.

a/ courts b/ God c/ government

(Quiz continues on Pg.#2)

Bible Quiz #9 – On ‘What about the Four Gospels?’ (Pg.#2)

Returning to our study of Ezekial 1, we pick up at Vs.10… As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

— Q9. This describes these four creatures as bearing the faces of: a man; a lion; an ox; and an eagle.

True… False…

NOTE: See how these features are mirrored in the themes of the Four Gospels…

— The four Gospels are also often described as portraying different aspects of God as revealed in the themes listed below.

• Matthew: Jesus is the King of the Jews / the Lion of Judah. — A lion.
• Mark: Jesus came as the suffering servant, our burden bearer. — A burden-bearing oxen.
• Luke: Jesus is the Savior of the world. — Our Savior had to come in human form.
• John: Jesus is the Son of God, as in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. — Eagle, a symbol of power.
  

Ezekial 1:11-14… Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. (12) And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. (13) As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. (14) And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

— Q10. Compare the moving and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our world today with the moving and effect of these “living creatures”… Mark the similarities you see.

O – expanding (think of an outward expanding square in Vs.12)      O – led of God’s Spirit (Vs.12)

O – convicting power (“like coals of fire” Vs.13)      O – illuminating power (“torches moving to and fro” Vs.13)

O – power beyond man’s control (“a flash of lightning ” Vs.14)

Ezekial 1:15-21… Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. (16) As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. (17) When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. (18) And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. (19) And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. (20) Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. (21) When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 

If the four creatures represent the four books of the Gospels, these mysterious wheels could well represent the Power of the Holy Spirit contained within each Gospel… For example:

— Q11. Each creature is attended by an identical wheel (Vs.15-16)… Each of the Gospels has the

power of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and display God’s mercy on us…     True…     False…

— Q12. These wheel’s movements are random and unpredictable (Vs.17)… Just as we cannot

predict who will be convicted by the Holy Spirit when the Gospel is preached…     True…     False…

— Q13. They contain eyes all around (Vs.18)… No sin is hidden from the Holy Spirit.     True…     False…

— Q14. Reading any of the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) has no life-changing impact unless attended by the power of God’s Holy Spirit…     True…     False…

— We are told a similar fact that “the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.” (Vs.20)…

(Quiz concludes on Pg.#3)

Bible Quiz #9 – On ‘What about the Four Gospels?’ (Pg.#3)

(In conclusion…)

Ezekial’s vision that involves these living creatures, which many Bible scholars say is the picture language of the Four Gospels, concludes in…

Ezekial 1:22-28… Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.  (23)  And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.  (24)  And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings.  (25)  And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.  (26)  And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.  (27)  And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.  (28)  Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

— So ends Ezekial’s vision concerning these “living creatures”… As they fold their wings and stand still, he sees someone with “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.”

— In truth, when Jesus comes to set up His eternal Kingdom of the New Heaven and the New Earth, there will be no more work for the Gospels.

— For everyone who sees that day will already be saved.

— Our JOY from that day on will be of worshipping God, exploring and praising Him for His wondrous works, and sharing that JOY among one another as we serve and fellowship with all the “saints”.

Let’s all participate in the spreading of the Four Gospels’ message here and now, so we must do our part to live lives that will draw people to enter God’s glorious Kingdom with us. …(KK)

(Click here for PDF copy of Quiz #9 intro)

(Click here for PDF copy of Quiz #9 Pg.1)

(Click here for PDF copy of Quiz #9 Pg.2)

(Click here for PDF copy of Quiz #9 Pg.3)