The Heavens Opened

[Ezekiel 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.”

Ezekiel was 30 years old at the time. As a priest, he would have typically begun his service at 25 (Numbers 8:24) and officially started at 30 (Numbers 4:3) if he hadn’t been exiled. Instead, he was taken captive to Babylon at 25 and was called to be a prophet at 30 in the land of exile, becoming God’s mouthpiece to His people living in darkness.

“The heavens were opened” marks instances in the Bible where heaven is revealed to humans. The first time was to Ezekiel in exile (Ezekiel 1:1). The second was when Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:16). The third was during Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:56). The fourth was when Peter received a vision (Acts 10:11). The fifth will be at Christ’s second coming (Revelation 19:11). Additionally, in John 1:51, the Lord Jesus also stated, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jesus’ three and a half years of ministry on earth were also an experience of “heaven opened” for His disciples, enabling them to know God.