From Eliyahu
Something strange happens when
we join Ezekiel and Daniel and
their countrymen, taken captive
from their homeland in ancient
Israel, to become exiles in
Babylon. The very first
Scripture we read from that
Exile is found in Ezekiel’s
first chapter. It presents one
of the most vivid and enigmatic
visions in all of the Hebrew
Bible.
The prophet describes a stormy
wind, flashing fire, four living
creatures with multiple faces
and wings, and mysterious
“wheels within wheels” that move
without turning.
Ezekiel says; “This was the
appearance of the likeness of
the glory of YHWH.” However,
in modern times not everyone is
satisfied with that explanation.
This passage has sparked
alternative readings - most
notably, many modern people
think what Ezekiel was seeing
was actually an alien spacecraft
or other advanced alien
technology.
Let’s explore the historical
development of that idea,
tracing its emergence from
fringe speculation to
pop-cultural fascination.
The modern reinterpretation of
Ezekiel’s vision began in the
mid-20th century, shaped by two
converging trends:
- Post-War Technological
Imagination: The rise of
aviation, rocketry, and
space exploration after
World War II expanded public
imagination about advanced
machines and
extraterrestrial life.
- UFO Sightings and Cold
War Anxiety: The 1947
Roswell incident and
subsequent UFO reports
fueled speculation that
ancient texts might contain
evidence of alien
encounters.
These cultural shifts laid the
groundwork for reinterpreting
Biblical visions through a
technological lens, rather than
through the lens of the context
of the verses themselves.
Erich von Däniken and the
Ancient Astronaut Theory
The pivotal moment came in 1968
with the publication of
Chariots of the Gods? by
Swiss author Erich von
Däniken. He argued that
ancient civilizations -
including biblical prophets -
encountered extraterrestrial
beings whose technology was
mistaken for divine power.
Ezekiel 1 became a centerpiece
of his thesis:
- Von Däniken claimed the
“wheel within a wheel”
resembled a multidirectional
flying vehicle.
- He interpreted the
“expanse” and throne as a
cockpit or control center.
- The “living creatures”
were seen as robotic or
alien pilots.
To Von Däniken who was
obsessed with aliens and
flying saucers it looked
like a UFO, so that is what
it had to be. Though widely
criticized by scholars for
lacking historical and
linguistic rigor, von
Däniken’s work captivated
the public and popularized
the idea of ancient
astronauts riding in
Ezekiel’s chariot.
Josef F. Blumrich and the NASA
Connection
In 1974, Josef F. Blumrich,
an engineer at NASA, published
The Spaceships of Ezekiel.
Initially skeptical, Blumrich
agreed with von Däniken’s claims
that Ezekiel had described a
spacecraft. Using his
engineering background, he
proposed:
- A detailed blueprint of a
vertical takeoff and landing
vehicle based on his
inventive reading of
Ezekiel’s text.
- As an engineer he imagined
technical explanations for
the wheels, wings, and fire
as propulsion systems.
- He offered a
reinterpretation of the
vision as a structured
encounter with advanced
technology.
Blumrich’s book lent a veneer of
scientific credibility to the
theory and remains a touchstone
for UFO enthusiasts. NASA,
right?
