Ezekiel Part Two Deep Dive

THE APOCALYPTIST IS NOT JUST A PROPHET | KATIE HALDANE

As we have mentioned, Ezekiel is a weird and wonderful text that is often relegated to the ‘books we don’t read in the Bible’ section, alongside Revelation. However, just because the text is not what we are used to doesn’t mean that we need to avoid it. I’m not used to Shakespeare, but the value I get out of doing my best to understand it is immeasurable!

APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE

The first thing we need to understand in this journey into the weird and wonderful world of apocalyptic literature is that it was very common in the ancient Near East as well as the Greco-Roman world of the New Testament. Actually, from 300BC onwards, apocalyptic literature replaced prophetic texts.

The goal of the apocalyptic text is to open the heavenly realm and show you what is going on. That means concepts, visions, colours and imagery that are not of this world. It is so funny that we get so shocked at apocalyptic literature in our Bible that we simply won’t read it but are more than happy to accept a Star Wars movie, Narnia Series or Lord of the Rings, which have way more weird creatures than the Bible does. So what is the difference? Star Wars and the Narnia series are simply not real (sorry guys!) and our Bible is supposed to give us real, fact-based stories that we can build our lives upon. Right? It can be difficult to find the truth in the stories of creatures with four different faces and wheels within wheels, so some just avoid the book entirely. But not you! You are here to wrestle with this concept and train your brain to read apocalyptic literature with confidence. Here are some keys to doing just that.

1. There is a difference between a Prophet and an Apocalyptist

In his article, The Apocalyptic Literature of the Old Testament, George Ricker Berry shows the differences between prophets and apocalyptists. For Berry, prophets had their feet firmly on the earth; they described and spoke into real conditions and expected change to come through human agencies like repentance and changed behaviour, to outwork the plan of God. Prophets were like preachers, their messages were often spoken, and the aim was to turn hearers from the errors of their ways. But that is not the goal nor the median of the apocalyptist. George Berry states,

The apocalyptists were men whose heads were in the clouds, who expected the future to come not as a development of existing conditions, but something entirely new, brought about by God himself, not using human instruments, but intervening directly and catastrophically.

Apocalyptists were writers, not preachers, and were not interested in the conversion of their audience because the only way to save them was a significant God event, not human intervention. So it is with this intention and understanding that as you read Ezekiel, you will see the incredible, catastrophic (in a good way) event that is going to change history. It is meant to be out of your control, your understanding and your power, because the situation that they are writing into simply couldn’t be solved by human hands, only by the intervention of an all-powerful God.

2. The Apocalyptist communicates During Times of great Trial

Prophets speak warning and God’s message throughout history, but the Apocalyptist will speak at the greatest time of depression and oppression. Revelation was written when John had been imprisoned for the faith and Domitian and the Imperial Cult was in full force establishing Roman rule throughout Asia Minor. Ezekiel was written while they were in exile, the greatest moment of trial and heartache for the people of Israel (Ezekiel 1:1-3). And in this time where there seems to be no human hope, ‘the heavens are opened, and God provides visions’ (Ezekiel 1:1 and Revelation 19:11).

3. Apocalyptic literature is meant to encourage

I know it seems odd, because apocalyptic texts seem to confuse more than encourage but they are meant to ‘lift up your eyes’ to ‘open the heavens before you’ with all the wonder, majesty and fantastical imagery that that entails. The literature shows you the ‘above’ nature of the power and world of God. It is beyond your imagination; it is all-powerful and the ruling dominion over the earth. This type of literature is purposed for you to experience the wonder and power of our God. The language, imagery and numbers used are often coded to restrict the message to those within the fold of the Jewish community. So to understand the message, you need to know your Hebrew scriptures.

4. KEYS TO READING THE TEXT

Here is a guide to help you understand the text of Ezekiel better. Apocalyptic literature will always have the following:

· It will predict the downfall of the nation’s opposing the people of God. And this will happen not by human battle but by the power of God coming down to earth.

· The message will always have an element of hope for the people of God. A future hope of restoration and time of peace.

WHERE ARE THEY FOUND IN THE Old Testament?

Apocalyptic texts in our Bible include much more than Ezekiel and Revelation. Daniel contains apocalyptic visions, Joel 3 and Zechariah 14. The new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 65), the river of God (Ezekiel 47), the flowing of prophetic gifts (Joel 2) are a few more apocalyptic texts included in the Old Testament. These incredible moments are not to be shied away from but embraced with all their fantastical creatures and heavenly imagery. You are supposed to escape the heartache of your current situation in the hope and encouragement of this ‘sneak peek’ into the world of our God. The apocalyptist will be creative, weird, committed to his message and passionate beyond words. But it is to these incredible people that God gives the above human message that encourage and delight us today. So jump in and lift your eyes above the earth!