EZEKIEL 1:3

[Ezekiel 1:3 NKJV] — the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the Hand of the Lord was upon him there.

the word of the Lord came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the Lord’s Hand was upon him. [Ezekiel 1:3 BSB]

The Lord spoke His word to Ezekiel son of Buzi. This was in the land of the Babylonians by the Kebar River. There he felt the Power of the Lord. [Ezekiel 1:3 ICB]

The name "Ezekiel" means "God will strengthen." That name was both mentioned by its own bearer and also fulfilled by God on the bearer in the very Bible verse above. That was the Powerful Hand of God upon the bearer of the name, Ezekiel, both strengthening him with the Powerful Hand of God at the same time the Word of God came to Ezekiel as to priest, not by a Temple but by River Chebar in Babylon. Not saying that event happened to him because of his name "Ezekiel," but saying his name was already a prophecy fulfilling itself by this event. The event was prophetic to unveiling the Church age with or without the Temple (physical building) but with the Power, Spirit, Hand, Word and Visions of God within opened heavens.
 

An important detail is mentioned in this Line but was changed by the event. Ezekiel introduced himself as a priest, the son of Buzi, but the event moved Ezekiel from being called "Son of Buzi" to being called "Son of man" by God. Thenceforth, "Son of man" replaced "Son of Buzi" in how God called Ezekiel subsequently.
 

There was a time the Lord was both speaking face to face and His Hand was upon a man, Moses, to whom the Lord was speaking face to face. But His Hand was upon Moses to shut Moses from seeing God's Face as He passed by him on Mount Sinai. Here the Lord spoke expressly and His Hand was upon the man, Ezekiel, He spoke to. It was not to shut Ezekiel from seeing but to uphold and strengthen Ezekiel to perceive and endure the great Manifestion.
 

That was like filling a man with the Power of the Holy Spirit just for the man to hear the express Word of God. It's more heard among us that the Hand or Power of God was upon a man to either cause him to do or to speak (utterances) as oracle of God. But can a man be filled with Power and the Spirit of God, not really to do or to speak, but to hear or listen to the Word of God and see His Visions only?
 

Ezekiel was filled with Power of God to basically receive, hear, the express Word of God in the visions of the opened heavens. Even so, we would need God's Spirit, God's Power or Hand of God, to even stand, to endure, in His manifest Presence and to hear His Loud Audible Voice and Expressive Word. We are in the days when we would even need the pouring of God's Spirit or Power upon us to even dream certain dreams or to see certain visions and revelations.
 

Let's outline the line of "Ezekiel 1:3."
 

№ 1. — The Word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel… The Word of the Lord can be very expressive and direct while incoming and outgoing. The Lord could be Spirit and yet the Word of that Spirit very expressly or expressive. For instance,
 

[1 Timothy 4:1] — "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…"
 

Expressive Word of God has no need for extra interpretation or resolution to find the meaning, seeing the Word is neither in riddle, parable, nor in dark speeches. Such Word is expressly, eloquent and direct.
 

№ 2. — Ezekiel was still a priest in Captivity at River Chebar of Babylon, even without the Temple, without Altar, without rituals of priests etc. Being in Captivity or in a strange land did not disqualify Ezekiel from being priest, though not to the Tabernacle but to opened heavens.
 

№ 3. — It was in the land of the Chaldeans, Babylonians, where there was no temple or place for God that Ezekiel was both filled with the Power, Hand, Visions and Word of God, having the heavens opened to him. This Ezekiel did not have before at the Temple in Jerusalem, but easily reached in the strange land of godless people of that land or Babylonians.
 

That was a demonstration of a True Church without a Temple (Building). In the Church age, one does not need physical temple, altar, to have opened heavens, to have the Visions, the expressive Word of God and the Power of the Lord's Spirit or Hand upon him or her.