un into each other. Moreover, with a helicopter,
it is not necessary to _face_ the direction you intend to go. This
sounds like four men lifting off the ground, spreading out slightly
and starting up and away, in formation.

_18. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful;
and their rings were full of eyes round about them four._

The four creatures are now high in the air above Ezekiel, a dreadful
and awe-inspiring sight for a man of Ezekiel's time. Their "rings"
obviously are the flames from their tip-jets, seen from below--the
only part of the wheel now visible from far below. And the rings
_would_ be full of eyes. When a jet or rocket motor is operating there
is a shock wave generated in the tailpipe which tends to cut the
exhaust gas into segments. Time exposures of jet aircraft at night
often show this. When a tip-jet is operating, these bright, evenly
spaced spots give it the appearance of a string of pearls, "... full
of eyes round about them...."

_19. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went up by them:
and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the
wheels were lifted up._

Ezekiel makes it clear that he does not know whether the men are
lifting the wheels or the wheels lifting the men, but both went up
together.

_20. Withersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their
spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted over against them: for the
spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels._

This is a most sophisticated opinion. Although Ezekiel was describing
only what he saw, he could not help but have some opinions about the
creatures. In verse nineteen he makes it clear that he does not know
whether man is lifting the machine, or the other way around, but here
he makes it clear that whichever, there is no doubt that the creatures
are _controlling_. They are not being carried off by the will of the
wheel.

_21. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood;
and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted
up over against them: for the spirit of the living creatures was in
the wheels._

This carries the idea of control one step farther. Not only are the
men controlling the wheels, but they are self-controlled: They are
flying in formation.

_22. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living
creatures was as the colour of terrible crystal, stretched forth over
their heads above.