#26 TYRE

The prophecies of the Bible delineate what will happen early in Revelation, i.e., Daniel’s final or 70th week. This begins in Amos 1 & 2, is supplemented by Zephaniah 2, Isaiah 17- 19, Daniel 11:40- 44, and particularly Ezekiel 25 to 39. However, one of the confusing aspects of this in Ezekiel is Tyre. Ezekiel devotes three chapters to this ancient city, destroyed by the Muslims in 1291 AD. To understand these three chapters, I believe you have to understand some of its history. Tyre was the chief city of the Phoenicians with the other two major cities being Sidon and Byblos. Likely, this began with Sidon, the first born of Canaan per Genesis 10:15. The Phoenicians were traders whose ships went all over the Mediterranean Sea, founding Carthage, the main enemy of the Romans till they destroyed it circa 146 BC. The Phoenicians also founded colonies in other parts of North Africa, Spain, and Sicily. Some have written they sailed to India by rounding the southern tip of Africa. Another believed they obtained iron ore from the Great Lakes. Their trade made them exceedingly rich.

In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon while besieging Jerusalem. The king of Judah, Johoiakim threw open the gates of Jerusalem and welcomed him. Nebuchadnezzar took some treasure from the Jewish Temple and some of the Jewish young men, most notably Daniel and his three friends, best known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and returned to Babylon. The Bible relates that Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years per 2 Kings 24:1. Afterwards, he conspired with Egypt against Nebuchadnezzar, who returned circa 598 BC and bound Jehoiakim in chains to carry him off to Babylon per 2 Chronicles 36:6. However, it does not say he was carried off to Babylon. Jeremiah lists a different fate for Jehoiakim in 22:18- 19, His body would be dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem. Earlier, in Jeremiah 36 (The book of Jeremiah is not in chronological order.), a scroll from the prophet, listing what God would do to Jerusalem, had reached the king. Jehoiakim read some of the scroll and then cut off that portion and threw it into the fire. He repeated this until the scroll was completely burned. God’s response was to have the scroll rewritten and add new sections. In verse 30, God relates: “He (Jehoiakim) will have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat of the day and the frost of the night.” At the end of the first century AD, the Jewish historian, Josephus, relates that when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem the second time circa 598 BC, King Jehoiakim threw open the gates of the city to him. After all, it had worked well in 605 BC, but Nebuchadnezzar did not appreciate treachery and had Jehoiakim killed and his body thrown out beyond a city gate to rot.

Circa 597 BC, Jerusalem’s best citizens, soldiers, artisans, and such were carried off to Babylon, leaving only the dregs under the new king, Zedekiah, behind. The son of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, who would have been king under the usual order of succession, was also carried off to Babylon. God predicted this in Jeremiah 24, when he put two baskets of figs before the prophet, one with fruit just ripe and ready to eat and the second so bad it could not be eaten. Good figs referred to people who made up a vibrant nation; the second basket contained the dregs. The good figs were sent to Babylon.

In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem.

In 585 BC, the year after he destroyed Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Tyre, a very rich city. The siege continued till 572 BC, when the mainland city was finally taken. However, the seafarers of Tyre had a small island a quarter to a half mile out in the Mediterranean Sea. They simply took their gold, silver, and most valuable items to this island, so the rich loot Nebuchadnezzar had envisioned after his 13-year siege, never materialized. On to Ezekiel 29:18 (God speaking to Ezekiel) “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it. `9 “Therefore thus says the LORD God; ‘Surely I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he shall take away her wealth, carry off her spoil, and remove her pillage; and that will be the wages for his army. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt for his labor, because they worked for Me,” says the LORD God. Tyre was a rich city, but Egypt had several rich cities. After taking Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, filled with admiration for himself, asked, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” Thus, he condemned himself to seven years in the pasture as noted in the fourth chapter of Daniel.

So Nebuchadnezzar worked for God when he destroyed mainland Tyre, and Tyre became an island in the sea. This brings up the question: Why does God want the mainland city of Tyre to be destroyed? Or why does He want Tyre to be an island in the midst of the sea?

Apparently, the people of Tyre built walls and harbors on their island, in effect, abandoning the mainland. All went well till about 331 BC when Alexander the Great passed by. He was fresh from his second victory over the Persian Empire and on his way to Egypt when he came to Tyre, demanding their surrender. They were astonished and amused at all this. After all, they were in the middle of the sea. How could any army get to them? Nebuchadnezzar all over again? And if it tried, their adversary would have to deal with their navy. After all, they were the Phoenicians. But Alexander, in one of the greatest engineering feats of the ancient world, threw the remnants of mainland Tyre-their stones, their timber and their soil into the midst of the sea per Ezekiel 26:14 and build a causeway to the island. The Greeks destroyed the city, enslaved its people, and tore down its walls, making the island like the top of a rock per Ezekiel 26:4, 32. As previously noted, the Muslims destroyed Tyre in 1291 AD. Although chapters 27 & 28 of Ezekiel refer to things that very likely happened in the past, I suspect they are double prophecies also referring to the End Times.

Ezekiel 27: Features of Tyre: Situated at the entrance of the seas

Merchant of the peoples on many coastlands with goods from all over the world

Borders in the midst of the seas

Inhabited by people from all over the world

Loved by rulers, mariners, and merchants.

If Ezekiel 25-39 is soon to be fulfilled, does this apply to another nation in our time, especially since Tyre was destroyed by the Muslims in 1291 AD?

When I was growing up in a small town in South Carolina in the 1950s, my immediate world was composed of blacks and whites. When I have gone back more recently, there was added a substantial number of Mexicans. There were three Chinese restaurants and a physician from South Africa plus another from India. Certainly, America is not an island, but with reference to Jerusalem, we are in the midst of the seas. I think this chapter 27 could refer to America also.

Ezekiel 28:2 Prince of Tyre who says, “I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, in the midst of the seas.”

The Prince has gained riches for himself.

God says that He will bring strangers against this prince, the most terrible of nations (Islam?), who will draw their swords against the prince, and cast him into the Pit, where he will die the death of the slain in the midst of the seas by the hand of strangers.

The prince of Tyre presents me with a peculiar problem. Christ said in Matthew 24:32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree; When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near- at the doors! 34 “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” Earlier in the same chapter, verse 30, He referred to His coming to reign, not rapture. So how long is a generation? I suspect this is answered in Psalm 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years… I believe Israel is a very strong nation. Hence, to me a generation is 80 years, perhaps 80.49, which would round off to 80 . The rabbis say Israel is the fig tree. Israel was founded again in 1948 at midnight on May 14- 15. I believe the LORD will return on the one-day Feast of Yom Kippur to reign. Yom Kippur in 2028 begins at sunset on September 29, the longest date out. Yom Kippur in 2027 begins at sunset October 10, and for 2026, it begins at sunset on 20 September. If my interpretation is correct, the final week of Daniel must begin within two years.

Some believe the rapture will occur before then on a Jewish feast with the favorite being Trumpets; others believe God will follow the days of creation as He did with the millenniums. On the first day, He separated the light from the darkness. Adam and Eve were given the choice of following God, the Light, or the darkness in the first millennium. God said the light was good. They chose the darkness. The first year of Daniel’s 70th or final week could be when the rapture of the church occurs. In the second year the seas and the atmosphere were formed. The seas represented the Gentile nations, and nothing was good. In fact, the world was so wicked that God sent the Flood, and the Tower of Babel occurred towards the end of the second millennium, another rejection of God. There will be no Christian nations in the world in the second year. Ah, but there is Israel. However, Israel is a secular nation, not yet come to faith. The third day is the day of double blessing. Israel returns to God, but not yet Christ, and the Temple is built or begun in the third year. The fourth day is the creation of the sun, the moon, and the stars. The sun is Christ, the moon Satan, and the stars the angels, fallen and otherwise, and the Israelites, not just the Jews. All the lost tribes must return also. In the fourth year, the final contest is begun with the abomination of desolation set up to begin the Great Tribulation’s 1260 days. The fifth day is when the great sea beasts come forth, but also the fish, and the birds. The great sea beasts would be the 10 units or nations of the anti-Christ’s kingdom per Daniel 2 when Nebuchadnezzar’s statue ends with ten toes. The birds could be fallen angels claiming to be extraterrestrials from UFOs here to help mankind and the earlier stars could just be Israelites. The fish are new Christians, who are beheaded en masse. The sixth day is when the land beasts come forth, but also man. The land beasts could be from Micah 5:5-6 on the Assyrian, another name for the anti-Christ. Perhaps the creation of man is represented by Israel beginning to turn to Christ at this time, or, less likely, Israel regains Jerusalem. The seventh day is the day of rest when all the armies of the world are marching to Jerusalem for the final act.

King of Tyre- the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28: 12) In Eden (v 13) Anointed cherub (a super angel) The king is the power behind the prince- Satan himself!

If I am correct that Tyre is modern America, Satan is the king of Tyre. How could that possibly be? Since 1972, we have had about 65 million abortions in America. The family unit was deconstructed in 1965, and marriage, the best environment to raise kids, is occurring less and less, at least with marriages that last. The Bible has been replaced with evolution, a theory of nonsense. American history has been transformed. Slavery is the original sin of America. I find it curious that William Wilberforce, a new Christian in the British Parliament began the abolition of slavery. First, the slave trade was outlawed circa 1806 by Parliament, and then slavery within the British Empire was outlawed circa 1833. It was further outlawed by the American Civil War. Somehow, Britain and America get no credit for its abolition, only for being part of it. The Barbary pirates stole an estimated million white Europeans for slavery from 1600 to the early 1800s. The Ottoman Turks probably stole more whites in the Balkans for slavery after conquering Constantinople in 1453.

If the king of Tyre is Satan, then the prince of Tyre would seem to me to be the leader of the USA, likely the President. My impression of President Trump is that he is now a Christian. For most of his life, he was not, but somehow God got a hold of him. Are there other options in an election year? Joe Biden is the Democrat candidate, but he doesn’t seem to me to be up to the prince of Tyre. Many believe he will not fill out a four-year term, if elected, because of health issues. Hence, the position of Vice-President is very important. Earlier, Biden had promised to pick a woman, but the leader of Tyre is a prince, not a princess. Earlier in the week, his top two choices were Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris. I suspect that will change. In any event, I do not believe the prince of Tyre is in power at the moment, but he must come forward soon, if I am correct. Perhaps the 22nd amendment?

This year of 2020, the Feast of Trumpets occurs in Jerusalem at sunset on 18 September, Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar. It is the only feast in which the moon is not full, but only a thin crescent in the sky. According to one of my DVDs, it can only be seen from 6 to 10 PM in Jerusalem. It lasts for one day unless the sky is overcast, and it cannot be seen. In that case, it is celebrated the next day, Tishri 2. Christ said we would not know the day or the hour. If the rapture occurs, then I would expect the President and the Vice-President to be taken. That would leave Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House as the next president, but the election would still go on, and I would expect a male to be elected Vice-President. What would Islam do if their chief enemies, the Christians, were removed on the sign of their god, the crescent moon? Obviously, this would be from Allah, and it would be time to take back Jerusalem from the infidel Jews -Amos 1 & 2 (?).

Ezekiel 28:21 -Sidon -2nd greatest city in Phoenicia (Lebanon) NOTE: If Tyre of Ezekiel 27 is not in Lebanon at this time in history, then Lebanon is still judged in this great judgement against Islam by having Sidon named for judgement. Some believe Allah and the God of the Bible are the same. After all, both religions show reverence for Jesus. To the Islamic, Jesus is coming back to destroy all the churches and synagogues, and break all the crosses. There is only one God in Islam and Jesus is not God, and He did not die for our sins meaning we are still in our sins, according to the Muslims.

Isaiah 23 The burden against Tyre

Wail, you ships of Tarshish (I believe the ships of Tarshish refers to their destination, not being owned by people of Tarshish, but by the Phoenicians. Dr. Chuck Missler, who died a year or two ago, felt Tarshish represented the British Isles, though most scholars believed it was Tartusus, a city on the Atlantic coast of Spain just beyond the pillars of Hercules where Spain and Africa are closest. Per 2 Chronicles 9:21 For the king’s (Solomon’s) ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the merchant ships came, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and monkeys. Ezekiel 37:12 Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods. Britain was well known as a source of tin for the ancient world as was Spain for silver. The bronze age when tin was mixed with copper lasted per Wikipedia roughly from about 3300 to 1200 BC. A recent television show touted Israeli archeologists finding large copper mines in or near Israel dating to the time of Solomon, about 970 to 930 BC. They suggested copper was the source of Solomon’s great wealth. Ships that go out must have something others want. The suggestion was copper, for which I suggest they traded for tin in Britain, silver in Spain, and ivory, apes, and monkey in Africa on the way back to Israel. Tarshish was Jonah’s destination when he fled from God. Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you (the Russo-Muslim invaders of Israel), ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ Were the young lions of Tarshish America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? These young lions of Tarshish seem powerless to prevent this invasion. Apparently, the power of the Anglo-Saxon nations has been drastically curtailed. I believe the Anglo-Saxons are the lost tribes of Ephraim and Manesseh, who had the blessing of God, a blessing that was brought forth at the end of the sixth millennium, comparable to the end of the sixth day when man was created. Each millennium followed a day of creation. This may explain Isaiah 60:9 which seems to refer to the End Times: Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; and the ships of Tarshish will come first to bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them, to the name of the LORD your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has glorified you.

Back to Isaiah 23:1 For it is laid waste, so there is no house, no harbor; From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them.

4 Be ashamed, O Sidon; for the sea has spoken, the strength of the sea, saying, “I do not labor, nor bring forth children; neither do I rear young men, nor bring up virgins.

If the strength of the sea is Tarshish, and Tarshish is a reference to Britain, her colonies, and America, can it be this is a reference to how we bring up our children? Before World War II, young men were brought up in the Bible rather than the nonsense of evolution from our modern temples, the universities. Virgins were common among men and women at that time. Perhaps this has much to do with Tyre’s demise.

In verse 8, Tyre’s merchants are referred to as princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth.

14 Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste.

15 Now it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre will be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot:

16 Take a harp, go about the city, you forgotten harlot; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered.”

17 And it shall be at the end of seventy years, that the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire, and commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.

18 Her gain and her pay will be set apart for the LORD; it will not be treasured nor laid up, for her gain will be for those who dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for fine clothing.

Deuteronomy 23:18 forbids the wages of a prostitute being consecrated so the suggestion here is apparently the prostitute is redeemed.

The commentary Bible noted this 70-year period is difficult to place. Was Tyre forgotten because of God’s ferocious judgement on her after she was so greatly blessed? Are the 70 years ending well into Christ’s millennium?

Trumpets (Tishri 1), 2020 begins sunset 18 Sept Jerusalem for 1 day, but the next day, Tishri 2, if the sky is overcast and the new moon cannot be seen on Tishri 1. The US Presidential election is the first Tuesday in November, the 3rd, 2020.

There is another feast of possible significance-Tabernacles, the ingathering of fruit for that year and perhaps the church for that age. A practicing Jew will live in a temporary abode, through whose roof one must be able to see the stars. For seven days the observant Jews live in these shelters, commemorating the forty years in the wilderness after the Exodus and going up into their permanent habitations on the last day of the feast. Is that when the Christian leaves his “tent,” or body, for the final body God will give him or her via the rapture? It is a seven-day feast, with the first day being a high Sabbath. It begins on 15 Tishri and goes till 21 Tishri. The day after Tabernacles concludes is also a high Sabbath. When the temple was functioning, the Jews would sacrifice 13 bullocks on the first day of Tabernacles, and go down one bullock each day to seven on the seventh day, for a total of seventy bullocks sacrificed during the feast. I suspect this was for the nations. There were seventy after the Flood. On the day after Tabernacles concludes, they sacrifice one more, likely for Israel, not just Judah, but all Israel. It seems to me the end of the last day of Tabernacles, or a little over three weeks before the American presidential election for 2020 would be a very good time for the LORD to rapture His church. However, I favor Trumpets.

One must keep in mind that I believe Christ’s millennium is the Sabbath of a Biblical week, with each day a thousand years per Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8. Each millennium follows a day of Creation. It may be that this will also occur during Daniel’s final or 70th week of seven years. If so, God separated the light from the darkness on the first day. This could also represent the rapture of the church during the first year of Daniel’s final seven year week. This means the rapture could occur next year, or the following year, as I do not believe the final week has started yet. Because I believe Daniel’s final week will end on Hanukkah, then it will likely begin in the month of January or a week or two before or after.

Passover (14 Tishri), 2024, begins sunset, Monday, April 22 to sunset Tuesday, April 23, and 1260 days earlier begins at sunset 9 Nov, 2020 by my calculations. I urge you to do your own. Will the two witnesses appear shortly after the American presidential election (Revelation 11:3) if they are to be killed on this Passover, 2024, perhaps the same day of the anti-Christ’s assassination? The anti-Christ is presumed dead for three days, mimicking Christ, and then resurrected, but with a blind right eye and a useless arm per Zechariah 11:17. Three and a half days after the two witnesses are killed, they will be resurrected, likely on the Feast of Firstfruits which according to

Leviticus 23:11 is always after the regular Jewish Sabbath of sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Is this shortly after the anti-Christ is resurrected?

-Gentry