Ezekiels vision is an example of contextualization, where god accommodates his selfrevelation to cultural expectations and norms. In other words, it was as if ezekiel could see beyond the skies. On one hand, he was the son of buzi, despised by others, but on the other hand, he was ezekiel, strengthened by god. The book of ezekiel introduction to the book of ezekiel in the bible. This detail seems to parallel the vision of john in the book of revelation, chapter 4. The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named buzi.
King nebuchadnezzar of babylon has already taken many jews into captivity. Each of these beings had four different faceshuman, eagle, lion, and ox. The vision of ezekiel for an informed reading of ezekiel. The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes. The haftarah for the first day of shavuot is of the most hallowed portions of the bible. Jul 03, 2016 watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of ezekiel is distinguished by visions, similes, and. According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth year of the first deportation to babylonia 592 bc and was active until about 570 bc. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his. Interesting facts about ezekiel barnes bible charts meaning. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. On the fifth day of the month it was the fifth year of king jehoiachins exile.
This remarkable book bears the name of the prophet who wrote it. Key personalities include ezekiel, israels leaders, ezekiels wife. Ezekiels commission would last for some 22 years and involve some challenging assignments. The principles set out there show what leads to gods. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. God eventually promises that hell be a kind shepherd who will lead his people out of darkness. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. The prophet ezekiel had a most unenviable assignment. Ezekiel saw these visions on the 5th day of the 4th month. Consult bible dictionaries and list other prophets who were also active during this era.
Summary the book of ezekiel has the most logical arrangement of any of the prophetic books. A number of dates in ezekiel can be crosschecked with dates in surviving babylonian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. The message of ezekiel the main themes of the letter which develop throughout are. He was called to preach a message of coming judgment to the rebellious children of israel, on the occasion of the lords delivery of the nation into enslavement under the babylonians.
It is composed of 48 chapters divided almost half before and after the fall of jerusalem. In response to the rebellion of jehoiakim of judah in 601 b. Ezekiels first vision was of gods throne and included the four living creatures and whirling wheels. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. Ezekiels priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures.
The vision of ezekiel for an informed reading of ezekiel 1. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements. This text is actually the primary source in the tanach for the mystical element of torah, known in the. What other prophet was already ministering in babylon when ezekiel prophesied.
A literary masterpiece of the english language, the original king james bible is still in use today. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel. And nowhere in the bible are gods initiative and control expressed more clearly and pervasively than in the book of ezekiel. Cooper installment 2 the call and commission of ezekiel. So, according to christian interpretations, in prophetic visions ezekiel saw jesus. Ezekiel the son of buzi, a priest, may have completed writing the book in babylonia in about the year 591 b.
It can also refer to making a divine declaration of something to come. It covers a period of approximately 22 years, from 6 to about 591 b. The book of ezekiel is poorly understood and the results are that many people have been led to believe things about ezekiel that have nothing to do with the intended meaning. It is important to elaborate on a few points raised in this article. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. Now we need to see the conditions for seeing the visions. The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. Ayin occurs a number of places in the vision, but it is not always translated. Highlights of the book of ezekiel dvd ariel ministries.
The prophets vision concerns four living creatures that served as a type of chariot for the divine throne, the place from which the likeness of the glory of the lord spoke to ezekiel vv. When were the prophecies given and what do they mean. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. Book of ezekiel known to be written by prophet ezekiel and is placed immediately after lamentation in ot. Ezekiel also had detailed visions of a new temple ezekiel 4043, a restored jerusalem ezekiel 48. In the bible, the hebrew verb nava, rendered prophesy, refers primarily to declaring an inspired message, judgment, moral teaching, or command from god. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision of gods glory during his captivation in babylon. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel. The prophet, fondly called son of man, was really a man of the spirit. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods. When jehoiakims successor, jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, nebuchadnezzar appointed zedekiah king and deported to babylon jehoiachin and the royal family, along with members of the upper class, including ezekiel the priest.
In this vision ezekiel saw four brilliant, powerful angels in action. The book of ezekiel is generally divided into five parts. The book of ezekiel predicted a glorious future for israel if they had cooperated with god. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of god to his exiled people.
The commander who ezekiel saw was godand whenever god appeared in human form in the bible, it was in the form of jesus. Ezekiel was among the jewish exiles whom king nebuchadnezzar took to babylon at. Jan 02, 2020 ezekiels first vision was of gods throne and included the four living creatures and whirling wheels. Ezekiel was the son of a priest, and served as a prophet of jehovah. The visions and oracles of the prophet ezekiel by dr. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. This seminar series highlights the differences between plan a and plan b. Ezekiels visions and prophecies have been the basis of numerous discussions and speculations. Ezekiel witnessed marvelous things in his prophetic visions even as he lived through terrible things on earth. To take just two wellknown passages, the famous gog and magog prophecy in revelation 20.
Highlights from the book of ezekieli watchtower online. The glory and sovereignty of god the book of ezekiel opens and concludes with visions of the glory of god. Highlights from the book of ezekieli watchtower online library. Ezekiel nkjv ezekiels vision of god bible gateway. Jan 30, 2018 english translations of ezekiels vision often break down at the point where the prophet describes eyes. In chapter 1 of the book named after ezekiel, god gave the prophet a glimpse of the spirit realm, which serves god in accomplishing his will. Ezekiel 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. Ezekiel had many things revealed to him through visions. The throne vision, in which ezekiel sees god enthroned in. However, ezekiels version of god isnt really merciful in the commonly accepted, modern day sense of. What beautiful lessons we learn from the first 24 chapters of the bible book of ezekiel.
Preincarnate theophanyjesusgod manifesting in visible form before jesus took on a permanent physical body. Ezekiels visions came mostly from being lifted by the spirit. Over eleven hours of solid biblical teaching, recorded live during camp shoshanah 2011. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Fruchtenbaum leads you through a fascinating survey of the book of ezekiel, summarizing certain parts but detailing others. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. Book of ezekiel enhanced ebook edition illustrated. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. The bible records he was shown gods glory and his throne ezekiel 1, was informed of the abominations committed at jerusalems temple chapter 8 and was taken before israels elders in babylonian captivity chapter 11. The prophet jeremiah is in judah, fearlessly proclaiming the impending destruction of jerusalem and the desolation of the land of judah.
Throughout the book the phrase that is repeated over and over again is, that you may know that i am the lord. The book of ezekiel, one of the major prophetical books of the old testament. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book ezekiel 1. Their defeat is prelude to ezekiels vision of a new israel whose source of life and prosperity is a wellordered cult in a new temple, where the divine glory again dwells chaps. Ezekiel new king james version nkjv ezekiels vision of god. Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Known as mirkevet yechezkel, the chariot of ezekiel, the reading speaks of the revelation to ezekiel in which he saw the entire gamut of divine beings in what he describes as a chariot. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 b. However, ezekiel s version of god isnt really merciful in the commonly accepted, modern day sense of the word mercy. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a. Each of these beings had four different faceshuman, eagle, lion, and ox v.