Holier Than Thou

Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?

Book of Ezekiel, containing the visions and prophecies of Ezekiel son of Buzi, was written around the sixth century (592-571) B.C. by Ezekiel the prophet. Ezekiel, a contemporary of Jeremiah, was a priest of the order of Zadok in Jerusalem who was carried off into exile in Babylon in 597 B.C., where he became a prophet of God and foretold of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, while still warning of punishment for sin. In chapter 18, Ezekiel introduces a new concept of condemnation to the Jews -- that individuals are responsible for their own actions and the punishment of sin falls on the one who sins.

The Book of Ezekiel includes:

Vision of the cherubim - the four living creatures with intersecting wheels - and the glory of the Lord (chapter 1)
Ezekiel is called by the Lord, eats a scroll, and is sent to an obstinate people (chapter 2)
Ezekiel bears the sins of Israel and Judah as a symbol of the years of their captivities and defiles himself as Israel and Judah were to be defiled (chapter )
Prophecies of great ruin because of wickedness
Detestable visions of idolatry in Jerusalem
Judgment on Israel's leaders and promised return of Israel
Symbol of the captivity of the besieged remainder of Jerusalem
Condemnation of false prophets and idolaters
Judgment on Jerusalem, the unfaithful wife
Those who sin will die, no matter how righteous
Lamentation for Israel
Babylon is Jerusalem's judgment
The adulterous sisters, Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Judah)
Death of Ezekiel's wife without mourning
Prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt
Ezekiel divinely elected as watchmen over Israel
Woe to the shepherds of Israel for neglecting their sheep
Restoration of Israel for the sake of the name of the Lord
Valley of dry bones
Israel and Judah united under one king
Prophecy against Gog
Details of the new temple and return of the Lord's Glory
A river of life flows from the temple
Division of land and gates of the city

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovreign Lord says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen --for they are a rebellious house-- they will know that a prophet has been among them." (Ezekiel 1:28-2:5)

"For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:24-26)