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GOD’S MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT TO TYRE. (Zechariah 9:3-4)
The FIRST PART of the MESSAGE of JUDGMENT to TYRE describes how the catastrophe comes over the city through the nations in phases.
Ezekiel 26:3-6
The SECOND PART describes the attack by the BABYLONIANS under NEBUCHADNEZZAR. Ezekiel 26:7-11
The THIRD PART describes the attack by GREECE. Ezekiel 26:12-14
The detail in which GOD’S PROPHECIES have been FULFILLED over the centuries becomes apparent: Cf. Isaiah 46:9-13
I. HISTORY SHOWS THAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR ATTACKED TYRE!
The BABYLONIANS went to work against TYRE ten years after the ASSYRIANS attacked TYRE. NEBUCHADNEZZAR came to TYRE and besieged it in 585 B.C., one year after JERUSALEM fell, and shortly after TYRE had mocked JERUSALEM and rejoiced at her fall.
Understand that the city was practically invincible. The siege lasted for thirteen years, until TYRE was finally destroyed in 572 B.C.
But when NEBUCHADNEZZAR broke into the city, he found out that the inhabitants had fled to an island about a half mile away.
They had gotten away with almost all of their riches and had built a new city. NEBUCHADNEZZAR was forced to give up because he had no fleet. Ezekiel 26:7-11 was fulfilled through NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S attack, but further prophecies in EZEKIEL 26:12 and forward were not fulfilled at that time.
The BABYLONIAN warriors had given thirteen years of military service and hardly had any pay to show for it. This is also described in Ezekiel 29:17-20.
II. HISTORY SHOWS THAT THE GREEKS BECAME EXECUTORS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT! Zechariah 9:13
JUDGMENT came upon TYRE continuously: Ezekiel 26:3
TYRE was finally destroyed and the WORD OF GOD fulfilled.
The PERSIANS came in 539 BC After they conquered the BABYLONIAN EMPIRE, they also conquered TYRE.
A king of CYPRUS fought against the new city of TYRE in 370 BC
ALEXANDER THE GREAT finally came from GREECE in 332 BC, and he fulfilled the still outstanding PROPHECY OF GOD almost 250 years after NEBUCHADNEZZAR.
In order to conquer TYRE, ALEXANDER built a dam or causeway from the mainland. It was half a mile long, 65 yards wide, and up to 220 yards deep in places. For the causeway, he used the remains of TYRE, such as the walls, stones, wood, earth, debris, and even the dust. Ezekiel 26:12, 14
History tells us that ALEXANDER THE GREAT conquered TYRE after seven months; 30,000 people were sold as slaves, 2,000 men were crucified and 8,000 others were killed. The BIBLE is always FULFILLED!
The pronouns “he” and “his” in Ezekiel 26:7-11 refer to NEBUCHADNEZZAR. Yet, in Ezekiel 26:12, the pronoun is changed to “they,” which refers to the GREEKS.
GOD’S PROPHECIES were literally FULFILLED. Ancient TYRE had become a bare rock and was never rebuilt. Actually, ancient TYRE is hardly identifiable by archaeologists. Ezekiel 26:21
The surrounding nations were so shocked by what the GREEKS did to TYRE that they voluntarily surrendered to ALEXANDER: Ezekiel 26:18
However, we must note that EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY sounds like one continual PROPHECY.
But there were various FULFILLMENTS before the main FULFILLMENT actually took place. Again, 250 yrs passed between NEBUCHADNEZZAR and ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
When NEBUCHADNEZZAR departed, TYRE might have thought they got away with it, but the LORD’S PROPHECY had to be and eventually was FULFILLED completely, only it took place in phases:
Isa. 46:10
III. SO, WHAT ARE WE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS? WHAT IS THE MESSAGE FOR OUR DAY?
TYRE is a picture of the end-time NATIONS.
Just as SATAN developed his power within a willing TYRE, he will develop his power in all the NATIONS of the end-times against the LORD’S PEOPLE, ISRAEL! Observe at least FOUR THINGS.
FIRST: End-time JUDGMENTS predicted by GOD will come upon the GENTILE NATIONS like waves! Ezekiel 26:3; Cf. Haggai 2:6-7, Matt 24:4-8
GENTILE NATIONS have an increasing hatred for ISRAEL!
SECOND: We should come to see that GOD is LORD through HIS JUDGMENTS! Ezekiel 26:6; 28:23-24-“…they shall know that I am the LORD.”
GOD has brought cities, nations and empires to their downfall throughout history in order to establish HIS TESTIMONY.
All this is so that this world will realize that there is one GOD! Isaiah 46:9-10
THIRD: The GOD OF ISRAEL does not allow HIS PEOPLE to perish.
After GOD ended HIS MESSAGE of JUDGMENT to SYRIA, TYRE and the PHILISTINES in Zechariah 9, we read of ISRAEL in Zechariah 9:14-17.
We know that SATAN will release his RAGE in a FLOOD OF WAVES against the JEWISH PEOPLE in the END-TIMES (Revelation 12:15 onward). He and those he works in want to exterminate ISRAEL, GOD’S HOLY TESTIMONY on earth! But he (and they) will never achieve this!
FOURTH: Every person should surrender his or her rebellious heart to GOD’S offer of salvation! Isaiah 46:12-13
Central Baptist Church of Orange Park, Florida
Independent Fundamental King James Bible Believing Teaching Preaching @pastorjerryn.thrower
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Yes, I was thinking right along with you about the judgment of God not being as swift for our country as it was for Sodom and Gomorrah. Birth pangs toward our being caught up from (and out of) this world. “🎶🎵What a day that will be!