Description
Ezekiel prophesies against the ruler and king of Tyre in a way that portrays the Antichrist as Satan-incarnate. He also prophesies the end-time return of Jews to Israel, and God's judgment of the nations that scorn them at the battle of Armageddon.
Commentary
In chapters 26 and 27, Ezekiel prophesied judgment against ancient Tyre, which was fulfilled in the siege by Nebuchadnezzar in the 6th century BC, and in its conquest by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.
In verses 1 to 11, Ezekiel prophesies the defeat of the prince (or 'ruler') of Tyre, a man who thinks of himself as a god. This is the end-time Antichrist who will set himself up in God's temple and declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Antichrist will plunder many nations (Daniel 11:40), including Lebanon (Habakkuk 2:17). So the prince of Tyre here in Ezekiel 28 is the Antichrist. He becomes Tyre's ruler when he conquers Lebanon. At the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus will liberate Lebanon from Antichrist's rule, in accordance with Isaiah 10:34 which says, "…and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one" (KJV).
In verses 11 to 19, Ezekiel prophesies against the 'king of Tyre', who figuratively represents Satan, the power behind the human 'prince of Tyre'. This chapter, along with Isaiah 14, portrays the Antichrist as Satan-incarnate. Ezekiel describes Satan's original beauty and perfection, his presence in Eden, and his privileged position on God's heavenly mountain before he sinned and became proud. In verse 17, Ezekiel describes him being thrown to the earth because of his pride and corruption. This is an end-time event that occurs during the Great Tribulation as described in Revelation 12:9. In Revelation 13:2, Satan gives his power and throne to the Antichrist's end-time empire. It is likely that Satan will so possess the Antichrist that he will effectively incarnate himself in human form as the Antichrist. In verse 19, the nations witness the humiliating defeat of this Satanic Antichrist, an event which occurs at the battle of Armageddon.
In verses 21 to 23, Ezekiel prophesies against Sidon, giving more detail of Lebanon's fall before Jesus as described in Isaiah 10:34. As a result, Israel will no longer suffer painful attacks from the surrounding nations (v24). In context, this is especially a reference to Hizbollah and its attacks against Israel from Lebanon.
In verses 24 to 26, Ezekiel prophesies the end-time restoration of Israel, and their deliverance at the Battle of Armageddon when God will reveal his sovereign power over them in the sight of the nations (v25). Israel will then live securely in the land after God executes judgment on the surrounding nations that scorned her (v26). Given that these verses clearly fit within the context of Jesus' second coming, it is reasonable to understand the whole chapter within such an end-time context.
Chapter 28 introduces an end-time section of Ezekiel in which nations are portrayed as going down to the pit of hell along with the defeated Antichrist.
The map below shows the locations of ancient Tyre and Sidon:
In verses 1 to 11, Ezekiel prophesies the defeat of the prince (or 'ruler') of Tyre, a man who thinks of himself as a god. This is the end-time Antichrist who will set himself up in God's temple and declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Antichrist will plunder many nations (Daniel 11:40), including Lebanon (Habakkuk 2:17). So the prince of Tyre here in Ezekiel 28 is the Antichrist. He becomes Tyre's ruler when he conquers Lebanon. At the end of the Great Tribulation, Jesus will liberate Lebanon from Antichrist's rule, in accordance with Isaiah 10:34 which says, "…and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one" (KJV).
In verses 11 to 19, Ezekiel prophesies against the 'king of Tyre', who figuratively represents Satan, the power behind the human 'prince of Tyre'. This chapter, along with Isaiah 14, portrays the Antichrist as Satan-incarnate. Ezekiel describes Satan's original beauty and perfection, his presence in Eden, and his privileged position on God's heavenly mountain before he sinned and became proud. In verse 17, Ezekiel describes him being thrown to the earth because of his pride and corruption. This is an end-time event that occurs during the Great Tribulation as described in Revelation 12:9. In Revelation 13:2, Satan gives his power and throne to the Antichrist's end-time empire. It is likely that Satan will so possess the Antichrist that he will effectively incarnate himself in human form as the Antichrist. In verse 19, the nations witness the humiliating defeat of this Satanic Antichrist, an event which occurs at the battle of Armageddon.
In verses 21 to 23, Ezekiel prophesies against Sidon, giving more detail of Lebanon's fall before Jesus as described in Isaiah 10:34. As a result, Israel will no longer suffer painful attacks from the surrounding nations (v24). In context, this is especially a reference to Hizbollah and its attacks against Israel from Lebanon.
In verses 24 to 26, Ezekiel prophesies the end-time restoration of Israel, and their deliverance at the Battle of Armageddon when God will reveal his sovereign power over them in the sight of the nations (v25). Israel will then live securely in the land after God executes judgment on the surrounding nations that scorned her (v26). Given that these verses clearly fit within the context of Jesus' second coming, it is reasonable to understand the whole chapter within such an end-time context.
Chapter 28 introduces an end-time section of Ezekiel in which nations are portrayed as going down to the pit of hell along with the defeated Antichrist.
The map below shows the locations of ancient Tyre and Sidon:
Tags
Places: Tyre, Sidon, Lebanon, Israel
Symbols:
Tags: Antichrist, Antichrist as Satan-incarnate, Return of exiles to Israel, Restoration of Israel, Armageddon, Judgment of surrounding nations, Nations cast into the pit
Symbols:
Tags: Antichrist, Antichrist as Satan-incarnate, Return of exiles to Israel, Restoration of Israel, Armageddon, Judgment of surrounding nations, Nations cast into the pit
A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
1 The Lord’s message came to me:
2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Your heart is proud and you said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas” – yet you are a man and not a god, though you think you are godlike.
3 Look, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you.
4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself; you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.
5 By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart is proud because of your wealth.
6 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you think you are godlike,
7 I am about to bring foreigners against you, the most terrifying of nations. They will draw their swords against the grandeur made by your wisdom, and they will defile your splendor.
8 They will bring you down to the Pit, and you will die violently in the heart of the seas.
9 Will you still say, “I am a god,” before the one who kills you – though you are a man and not a god – when you are in the power of those who wound you?
10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
11 The Lord’s message came to me:
12 “Son of man, sing a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the sealer of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared.
14 I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.
16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God – the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom on account of your splendor. I threw you down to the ground; I placed you before kings, that they might see you.
18 By the multitude of your iniquities, through the sinfulness of your trade, you desecrated your sanctuaries. So I drew fire out from within you; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth before the eyes of all who saw you.
19 All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you; you have become terrified and will be no more.’”
A Prophecy Against Sidon
20 The Lord’s message came to me:
21 “Son of man, turn toward Sidon and prophesy against it.
22 Say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Look, I am against you, Sidon, and I will magnify myself in your midst. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I execute judgments on her and reveal my sovereign power in her.
23 I will send a plague into the city and bloodshed into its streets; the slain will fall within it, by the sword that attacks it from every side. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
24 “‘No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
25 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob.
26 They will live securely in it; they will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live securely when I execute my judgments on all those who scorn them and surround them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”
1 The Lord’s message came to me:
2 “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Your heart is proud and you said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas” – yet you are a man and not a god, though you think you are godlike.
3 Look, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you.
4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself; you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.
5 By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart is proud because of your wealth.
6 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you think you are godlike,
7 I am about to bring foreigners against you, the most terrifying of nations. They will draw their swords against the grandeur made by your wisdom, and they will defile your splendor.
8 They will bring you down to the Pit, and you will die violently in the heart of the seas.
9 Will you still say, “I am a god,” before the one who kills you – though you are a man and not a god – when you are in the power of those who wound you?
10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
11 The Lord’s message came to me:
12 “Son of man, sing a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘You were the sealer of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared.
14 I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.
16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God – the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom on account of your splendor. I threw you down to the ground; I placed you before kings, that they might see you.
18 By the multitude of your iniquities, through the sinfulness of your trade, you desecrated your sanctuaries. So I drew fire out from within you; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth before the eyes of all who saw you.
19 All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you; you have become terrified and will be no more.’”
A Prophecy Against Sidon
20 The Lord’s message came to me:
21 “Son of man, turn toward Sidon and prophesy against it.
22 Say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Look, I am against you, Sidon, and I will magnify myself in your midst. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I execute judgments on her and reveal my sovereign power in her.
23 I will send a plague into the city and bloodshed into its streets; the slain will fall within it, by the sword that attacks it from every side. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
24 “‘No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.
25 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob.
26 They will live securely in it; they will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live securely when I execute my judgments on all those who scorn them and surround them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”
(NET)
