The reception of Ezek 26,1-28,19 in Rev 18,9-19

Abstract

The Revelation of John uses the Jewish Scriptures more than any other book in the New Testament. John, its author, uses images and traditions from the Jewish Scriptures, giving them new meanings. Revelation’s addressers were also familiar with these images and traditions and would understand their meaning. Considering this, this article seeks to analyze how Rev 18 takes up Ezekiel’s prophecy about the fall of Tyre (Ez 26-28), which includes the funeral songs about the fall of the city (Ez 26,15-18; 27,28-36) and the catalog of goods that Tire traded with different nations (27,12-25). From the echoes of Ezekiel’s prophecy, John presents the lament of kings, merchants, and sailors over the fall of Babylon (18,10-19). In his laments, the presence of the themes of wealth, maritime trade, the list of goods, pride, arrogant words, and rhetorical questions indicate both the presence of Ez 26,1-28,19, and economic criticism as one of the innovative components of Ap 18.