Texts in Conversation
Revelation’s description of a sealed scroll held in front of the divine throne resembles Ezekiel’s description of a scroll written on both sides and filled with lament. In Ezekiel, the scroll commissions the prophet to deliver a message of judgment to Israel.
Share:
Ezekiel 2:9
Hebrew Bible
6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words. Even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions—do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house! 7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 8 As for you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you: Do not rebel like that rebellious house! Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9 Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. 10 He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Revelation 5:1
New Testament
1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
Date: 92-96 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... we should take full account of the Old Testament source both for the scroll in chapter 5 and for the scroll in chapter 10. In many parts of this book we have seen that John's use of the Old Testament is not a matter of plucking phrases at random out of context, but consists in careful and deliberate exegesis of whole passages. He found reference to a scroll (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3) within the context of Ezekiel's inaugural vision (1:1-3:11), in which the prophet was both granted a vision of God on his throne and given by God the prophetic revelation which it was his prophetic commission to communicate to the people. In Revelation 4, John's account of his vision of God is considerably indebted to Ezekiel's vision of the divine throne (Ezekiel 1). Like Ezekiel's vision, this is intended to prepare for the communication of a prophetic message to the prophet. Revelation 5:1 is closely modelled on Ezekiel 2:9-10 ..."
Bauckham, Richard
The Climax of Prophecy: Studies on the Book of Revelation
(p. 246) T&T Clark, 1993
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.