PRESIDENT'S ESSAY
Revelation and Ezekiel
POSTED
February 18, 2011

In an article examining the use of the OT in Revelation, Steve Moyise notes the extensive parallels between Ezekiel and Revelation. This is not just a matter of scattered allusions; rather, Revelation overall, and in specific sections, follows the order of Ezekiel quite precisely.

For instance:

God on throne surrounded by living creatures: Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4

Marking of saints: Ezekiel 9-10, Revelation 7-8

Overthrow of harlot, Ezekiel 16, 23; Revelation 17

Lamentation over fallen city: Ezekiel 26-27; Revelation 18

Establishment of new Jerusalem: Ezekiel 37-48; Revelation 20-22

The latter chapters of the two books match one another quite closely:

The valley of dry bones (Ezek 37) links to the first resurrection.

Both have a battle of Gog and Magog (Ezek 38; Rev 20)

Both have birds gorging on corpses (Ezek 39; Rev 19:21).

There is a high mountain in both (Ezek 40:2; Rev 21:10).

In both, something is measured (Ezek. 40:5; Rev 21:15).

Ezekiel’s temple is full of Yahweh’s glory (43:2), just lik the new Jerusalem of John’s vision (21:23).

In both, there is a river of life flowing from the city (Ezek 47:12; Rev 22:2).

The most intriguing of these connections is that between the resurrection scene of Ezekiel 37 and the “first resurrection” of Revelation 20:5. The Revelation verse has been a difficult crux for a long time, but the link with Ezekiel might help resolve it. In Ezekiel 37, the resurrection is clearly a corporate one, the resurrection of Israel and Judah from the grave of exile. If that is the background to Revelation 20:5, then that resurrection too might be a corporate one: The first resurrection is the birth from death of the new Israel, the final return from exile, and blessed are those who share in this first resurrection.

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