Ezekiel the ProphetEzekiel - One of the major prophets who is somewhat unique in that, while he was exiled in Babylon along with the rest of Judah, he lived a more or less autonomous life in the wilderness.  Other Jews in exile came and listened to his prophetic statements, and some of the visions he received were of heaven itself.  His ministry occurred in the first third of the Jewish exile.

 

"Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God (on the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him).  As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire.  Within it there were figures resembling four living beings.  And this was their appearance; they had human form.  Each of them had four faces and four wings.  Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf's hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze...As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance.  Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.  And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.  Then He said to me, 'Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!'  As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.  Then He said to me, 'Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.  I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord God."  As for them, whether they listen or not - for they are a rebellious house - they will know that a prophet has been among them.'" (Ezekiel 1:1-7 & 28 & 2:1-5, NASB)