What makes Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation unique among prophetic books?
Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation are unique among prophetic books because all three were written by Jewish men outside the land of Israel—Daniel from Babylon, Ezekiel from Persia, and Revelation from Patmos—and all three communicate through symbolism, using symbolic language to convey literal truth.
Les explains that these three prophetic books stand apart because they were written by Jewish men, yet all were written outside the land of Israel. Daniel wrote from Babylon during captivity under Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel wrote from captivity in the next empire, from Persia, from Shushan on the Tigris River. John wrote Revelation from the Isle of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, far from Palestine. Les further notes that all three are unique in that they write in symbolism. Ezekiel uses the dry bones, the sticks, and the fiery wheels—symbolisms that have a literal truth. Daniel sees the great image coming down through history. Revelation is also symbolic language, which is why many people are afraid to study it, but Scripture itself interprets those symbolisms in one place or another.