While in his cell [whilst incarcerated for embezzlement, fraud and forgery], he claims, he experienced an intense vision.
Von Daniken won’t discuss the nature of the vision…
Erich Von Daniken, ancient astronaut alien fame (or, infamy)—was interviewed by Timothy Ferris; an interview you can find scanned from the original magazine here and yet, one that no one seems to have transcribed as of yet which is why we will provide much of the text within this series.
Von Daniken states:
Mr. Josef Blumrich, chief of the systems-layout branch of NASA has published a book, The Spaceships of Ezekiel. He comes to the definite conclusion, with scientific methods, that the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel described the landing of a spaceship in 592 B.C.
The following exchange takes place:
[Timothy Ferris] Ezekiel also says he saw a heap of dry bones turned into an army of living men.
[Erich Von Daniken] Oh, really? I don’t remember this passage. It must have been a miracle. As wild speculation, I could say maybe he saw a movie or something.
Well, the main issue is the allegedly supposed “Spaceships of Ezekiel” which is in chapters 1 and 10 of the Book of Ezekiel whilst the dry bones are found in chapter 37 so let us set it aside (might as well quote 37:1, “The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones”).
The interview continues:
[Timothy Ferris] If the creature who spoke to Ezekiel was an astronaut, why did he keep insisting he was God?
[Erich Von Daniken] I have just the opposite recollection, that he did not say he was God. I guess it depends on the translation you use.
[Timothy Ferris] In the King James version of the Bible this being repeats many times, very clearly, that He is God and Ezekiel had better listen to Him.
[Erich Von Daniken] Well, if I came down to a primitive people they would look upon me as God. Everything I did would make me God in their eyes, because I did would make me God in their eyes, because I could fly, kill animals with a single shot, and so forth. So maybe Ezekiel called him God. But I definitely do not think the commander of the spaceship said he was God. If he did, it would be proof for me that he was a liar.
[Timothy Ferris] This being is quoted as saying “I am the Lord” over and over again.
[Erich Von Daniken] But what is the Lord? The commander.
Step one in unpacking this is the claim that “the creature who spoke to Ezekiel…keep insisting he was God. Focus on Von Daniken’s reply which is that, that is not the case but it “depends on the translation” which brings the reference to “the King James version” which makes it “very clearly, that He is God.”
But the issue is not translation because we can simply check the underlying Hebrew text. Yet, in any regard let us check the KJV translation for good measure.
The term “God” appears in:
1:1, “I saw visions of God.”
10:5, “the sound of the cherubims’ wings was…as the voice of the Almighty God.”
10:19, “the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them [the cherubim] above.”
10:20, “This [the cherubim] [is] the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel.”
The term “LORD” appears in:
1:3, “The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel…and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.”
1:28, “This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.”
10:4, “Then the glory of the LORD went up…and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.”
10:18, “Then the glory of the LORD departed.”
10:19, “the cherubims…stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house.”
Not all of these identify the “creature who spoke to Ezekiel” as being God or the LORD but some do and so the case is closed.
But it is not closed for Von Daniken:
[Erich Von Daniken] Well, if I came down to a primitive people they would look upon me as God. Everything I did would make me God in their eyes, because I did would make me God in their eyes, because I could fly, kill animals with a single shot, and so forth. So maybe Ezekiel called him God. But I definitely do not think the commander of the spaceship said he was God. If he did, it would be proof for me that he was a liar.
[Timothy Ferris] This being is quoted as saying “I am the Lord” over and over again.
[Erich Von Daniken] But what is the Lord? The commander.
Note what we have repeatedly emphasized which is that the ancient astronaut alien theory is materialistic/Atheistic. After all, he is explaining away an appearance of God/the LORD as being some sort of technologically more advanced alien.
But what, then, of the fact that “This being is quoted as saying ‘I am the Lord’”? Well, “the Lord” is not “The commander” although the LORD God is a commander, of sorts. Rather, the word LORD is capitalized in the text in order to denote that the Hebrew term does not translate directly as ruler, commander, etc. but that it refers to YHVH which is the term/name that the LORD God revealed to Moses in Exodus chapter three.
This particular discussion ends thusly:
[Timothy Ferris] So you’re saying the text is letter perfect when it describes the so-called spaceship but completely inaccurate when it records what the pilot had to say. Isn’t that an inconsistent position?
[Erich Von Daniken] I’m very sorry, but theologians are in the same position. It’s true that I accept what I like and reject what I don’t like, but every theologian does the same. Everyone accepts just what he needs for his theory, and to the rest he says, “Well, that’s a misunderstanding.” [emphasis added]
[Timothy Ferris] Except that you claim to be offering science, not theology, and you say you don’t have much regard for theologians.
[Erich Von Daniken] I have regard for theologians if they are really honest in their hearts. I have some theologian friends and we have long discussions into the night, and they are nice persons. But in the depth of their hearts they are believers. Theology would be science if they would study all religions, not just the one they believe in.
Well, he is scurrying away again by admitting that he accepts that which he can use to attempt to buttress his theory but then asserting that “every theologian does the same.” Of course, the assertion that “Theology would be science if they would study all religions, not just the one they believe in” is generic and, of course, misses the point that theologians most certainly tend to study all religions and yet, base their worldviews upon the one upon which they have settled.
This particular interview did not delve into the details of Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10. If you are interested in this issue perhaps the most sober and evidence backed source on this issue is Michael Heiser’s Notes on Ezekiel’s Vision.
In short, the supposed spaceship is a Babylonian style thrown and the point is to show that Marduk may be the “god” of Babylon but that, in reality, YHVH is on the throne and rules all. This came about because during Ezekiel’s time the Israelites were captive in Babylon and so YHVH was showing them that He is in control, He is on the thrown as the Lord of lords and King of kings.
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