S3E24: Heavenly Visions and Eschatological Revelation in the Book of Ezekiel

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In this episode we discuss the book of Ezekiel and its later interpretation in apocalyptic literature and the New Testament. Just as with the other written prophets, Ezekiel continues the theme of covenantal maintenance, using Israel’s history as a mechanism to describe their future eschatological exile and redemption. Several features in Ezekiel become important to the later apocalyptic writers, including heavenly visions, eschatological imagery, and the way in which these serve to communicate the certainty of God’s covenantal promises. 

Show notes

• A brief overview of Ezekiel (1:32)
• The centrality of the covenantal dynamic – Ezekiel 1:1-2; Tg. Ezek. 2:9-10 (5:52)
• Influential elements in Ezekiel that later characterize apocalypticism (10:44)
• The angelic mediary – Ezekiel 8-11 (14:59)
• Heavenly revelation and divine sovereignty – 1 Enoch 14:18-22 (16:32)
• Eschatological revelation and the recapitulation of Israel’s history – Ezekiel 20 (20:03)
• The purpose of written prophecy – Deuteronomy 31:21-29; Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk 2:2-3 (23:55)
• Gog and Magog – Ezekiel 38-39; Sib. Or. 3.319-323; Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 12:2 (29:46)
• Ezekiel in Second Temple Literature – Ezekiel 36-37; Romans 11:15; 1 Enoch 90:3-4, 18, 20; 4 Maccabees 18:14-19 (35:36)
• Ezekiel in the New Testament – Revelation 4-5; 1 Enoch 14; John 10 (42:26)