The best explanation we have ever seen for how biblical prophecy works requires understanding two things: resistance and affirmation. What must be resisted is thinking that the prophets are announcing in precise detail what will happen in time and space in the immediate future. What must be affirmed is that rhetorically the prophets ramp up imminency to press upon their readers the urgency of responding to their message. Notice how not all that was predicted in both Isaiah 40–55 and Ezekiel 40–48, two texts especially important for Revelation, was fulfilled in their “fulfillments”—that is,
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