Recently I was asked why the tribe of Dan was not mentioned in Revelation chapter 7. During the course of my research I came across a suggestion that there was a link between Ezekiel’s vision of Jerusalem and the 12 tribes of Israel and the number of the 144,000 sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel in Revelation 7:5-8. Please bear with me while I explain what my question is about.
After reading Ezekiel 40:1-5 I concluded that Ezekiel’s vision was about the earthly temple in Jerusalem that would be built after God’s people were released from Babylonian captivity:
Ezekiel 48:1-29 then lists the tribes of Israel and the land to be allocated to them. Dan’s portion was in the north and on the Mediterranean coast. Then land is allocated to Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah and a special portion to be dedicated to the LORD and the Levites and the Zadokites. Finally, we have Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad.
My NIV Study Bible comments that since Levi was included in this list, Joseph (verse 32) represented Ephraim and Manasseh in order to keep the number at 12. Ezekiel 48:35 concludes thus:
And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.
We know that at the death of Jesus the heavy curtain in the temple was torn in two and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE (Luke 23:44-46). We also know from Revelation chapter 21 that there is to be a New Jerusalem that will come down from heaven and God will dwell with His people once again.
My question is NOT about the omission of the tribe of Dan in Revelation chapter 7.
My question is whether there is any basis to think that the vision given to Ezekiel about Jerusalem and the 12 tribes of Israel who would be given land after their captivity ended is a prophecy about the New Jerusalem and the 12 tribes of Israel described in Revelation chapters 7 and 21.