Ezekiel Ezekiel, a priest and prophet, was born around 623 BC. He was probably raised in Jerusalem, and he was married (24:16-18). He went into exile in Babylon with Jehoiachin in 597 BC, where he lived by the Kebar River. He was called to be a prophet in Babylon on July 31, 593 BC (1:1). All that we know of his personal life is from the book named after him. Ezekiel often reinforced his prophetic words with strange actions, such as illustrating his message about the dire lack of food in the final siege of Jerusalem by eating food cooked over dung (4:12). Another time, he lay motionless for 430 days, one day for each year of Israel’s and Judah’s sin (4:4-7). When Ezekiel’s wife died suddenly, he was forbidden to mourn her in public (24:16-18); her death was a solemn warning of what would happen in Judah (24:15-27). Ezekiel’s strange actions were designed to grab people’s attention. At first, Ezekiel’s messages were rejected, but his prophecies were later vindicated as they began to come true and the nation was purged of idolatry. His teaching emphasized holiness, purity, resurrection, and the ritual law. His message of hope encouraged the exiles to remain faithful during t...

Apocalyptic Literature Several Old Testament passages (Isa 24–27; Ezek 38:1–39:29; Dan 7–12; Zech 9–14) have elements that are similar to later Jewish apocalyptic literature. The entire book of Revelation in the New Testament also fits into this literary genre. Apocalyptic literature focuses on visions as the means of communication (the term apocalyptic comes from the Greek term apokalupsis, meaning “revelation”). Other types of prophetic literature, by contrast, put the central focus on the words of the message. To put it in courtroom terms, whereas the prophet delivering an oracle is like the prosecuting counsel, the writer of apocalyptic literature is acting as a witness, describing the heavenly realities that he has seen. Another difference is that prophecy normally looks forward to salvation or judgment within the boundaries of this present world. Apocalyptic literature, by contrast, looks for a fulfillment that transcends space and time. It does not hold out hope for a gradual improvement in society; rather, it foresees a cosmic event that will bring existing realities to an end and replace them with a new reality. Apocalyptic literature has a negative view of the prese...