The Prophecy concerning Tyre

I am thinking about giving this speech sometime, so tell me what you think.

In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, 'Aha, the gate of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,' therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock. She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. And she shall become plunder for the nations, and her daughters on the mainland shall be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord. They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters. I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt, for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God. I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more. Though you be sought for, you will never be found again, declares the Lord God."

We see here that there are seven prophecy's made against Tyre, one, that many nations would rise up against Tyre, two, the island would turn out flat like the top of a bare rock, three, fisherman would spread their nets over the island, which requires a very flat surface. Four, it would never be rebuilt, and five, never found again. Six, Concerning the mainland, it would be destroyed, and seven, the debris would be thrown in the water.

But why all this destruction? What did Tyre do to deserve this? Well as it says in the Bible, the city of Tyre was feeling pretty happy because of the of the downfall of Jerusalem. Tyre is rejoicing over over that fact, and feeling that they will be the greatest city in the world. Now that Jerusalem is out of the way, they will be the biggest, richest, most powerful trading city ever. Everybody's happy, especially the prince of Tyre.

(Read Ezekiel 28:2) Wow! The prince of Tyre has got a lot of pride!

And because of this excessive pride of both the people and the prince of Tyre, they will be destroyed. Remember, pride comes before a fall, and a lofty spirit before destruction.

The first of the “many nations” brought against Tyre was Nebuchadnezzar, who made a thirteen-year siege on the Tyrian city through the years 585 and 573 B.C. First destroying all the city's that provided Tyre with food, the daughter villages. When Nebuchadnezzar finally broke through the gates of the mainland city, he found that nearly all of the people had moved by boat to the island for safety. So Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the mainland citys, left it in a pile, and moved on, not bothering with the island. Leaving Tyre just as proud as ever. Then Tyre set about fortifying their island, they made walls one hundred and fifty feet high, extending to the very edge of the island, They made underwater obstacles that would pierce any unwary ships, and over the next two hundred years they built ships like crazy until they had a first class navy.

The next of the many nations was Alexander the Great. And he had an odd habit. Every time Alexander would destroy a city, he would throw the rubble of that city into the nearest body of water. He would do that with every city he conquered, as a testimony to his power. When he came upon Tyre in 333 B.C., he had no fleet of ships like Tyre's, so he took the rubble from the old Tyre, and cast it into the water, with the intention of making a mole, or a causeway, 200 feet wide, as a passageway to the island. During this process, he even scraped the dirt off of the island to use it in the construction! But about halfway there, both the depth of the sea, and the attacks from Tyre increased. The Tyrians were so greatly hindering the progress that eventually Alexander realized that to take the fortress, he would need ships. Since he had no navy with him, he told the nations he had conquered to build him some ships. Byblus gave about 80, a big one came from Macedon, 120 from Cyprus, and they came from many other places. With this now very large naval force at Alexander's command, the conquest of Tyre was now just a question of time. After a gruesome year of battles, Tyre fell. Alexander then scraped the rubble of the island into the sea and walked away victorious. Most of the site is now flat, and bare like the top of a rock, a place where fishermen still spread their nets to dry.

Eighteen years later, when Antigonus came, the city of Tyre had recovered significantly, but after fifteen months of battles, they were again destroyed.

About thirty years later, Ptolemy Philadelphus built the harbor of Berenice on the Red Sea and made a road to Coptos with rest stops and everything. He also reopened the canal that went from the Pelusiac branch of the Nile to the Gulf of Suez. Because the traffic of the Red Sea had originally passed by Tyre, but it now flowed to Alexandria instead, Tyre took a great hit.

About fifteen hundred years later the Muslims easily took Tyre, and held it until the crusaders came, and then the crusaders destroyed it. Now the only remnants of the city are some broken down pillars and walls that remain from the crusaders time period. All that remains is the standard rubble.

The Bible also says that the island would not be built upon any more. Now, if you visit the modern day island of Tyre, you will not be able to tell where the old city was! Even though it covered the whole island. You can't see any remains there. There are freshwater springs supplying the island with thousands of gallons of water per day, but they are just running into the sea. The island would be a great place to build a city, but this prophecy has stood true, and no one is there today, Except for the occasional fisherman, because if you are going to spread your nets on an island, you are not going to live ten miles up the coast are you?

The Bible also says that the city would never be found again, as in, the riches that the city knew before will never be found again.

If Ezekiel had looked at Tyre in his day, he would have seen that there was only one chance in every 75,000,000 that all seven of these prophecy's would come true. But they all came true to the smallest detail.

So we see that because of the pride and gloating of Tyre, they were brought low, and humiliated through the men and nations that God said He would send against them. We also see that God will bring everything to pass that He says will come to pass. So when He says that some rich city is going to turn out flat, and scraped clean into the sea, it will happen!

Encouragement

There is a point where the strongest man can be brought low by discouragement. When people are brought to this point, for whatever reason, they can either accept the fact that they need God, or they can continue in their self-pity, or cover it up with worldly pursuits. Encouragement comes from the Hand of God working in our lives, but often God works through you and I, ministering in the person's life. So we need to remember that there are certain people in this world that need our support.
To list a few, there are...

1.Fellow Christians and missionary's around the world.

Hebrews 13:3: “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” The Christian missionary's all over the world have to deal with local governments restricting Christianity and the importation of Bibles, but still they keep reaching out towards the non-believer. Many times they will be cut off from their family communicationally, and have will have very little contact with friends, or even Christians. A good organization to look into that supports missionary's over the world is Voice of the Martyrs.

2.Your nation's soldiers.

America has soldiers all over the world, and some soldiers have no family connections. Others will be away from home maybe for several years. They will endure both physical and spiritual attacks from their enemy. Some, when they come home, will have post-traumatic stress syndrome, or they might be frightened with firecrackers, or just have lots of bad dreams. I don't know of that many soldier friendly organizations, but it would be a good thing to check out

3.Your neighbor.

Romans 15:2: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
But you might be wondering “encourage in what? What are we encouraging these people in? Just to be happy people?” My answer is no. We are to encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord in their walk with the Lord, and to show the non-believers, in love, that they need the Lord.

Eccles. 4:9-10: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

I'll tell a story about a man with Operation Mobilization named Don Nichols. He went to India in 1967, and contracted TB just after arriving, and he decided to go to the local, government-run sanitarium. He wasn't able to speak their language yet, and had tried to give out tracts and literature in their language to the patients, doctors, and nurses. But everyone refused.
The first few nights I woke up around 2 a.m., coughing. One morning during my coughing spell, I noticed one of the older and sicker patients across the aisle trying to get out of bed. He would sit up on the edge of the bed and try to stand, but in weakness would gall back into bed. I didn't understand what he was trying to do. He finally fell back into bed exhausted. I heard him crying softly.
The next morning I realized that he had been trying to get up and walk to the bathroom! The stench in our ward was awful. Other patients yelled insults at the man. Angry nurses moved him roughly from side to side as they cleaned up the mess. One nurse even slapped him. The old man curled into a ball and wept.
The next night I again woke up coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle again trying to stand. Like the night before, he fell back whimpering. I don't like bad smells, and I didn't want to become involved, but I got out of bed and went over to him. When I touched his shoulder, his eyes opened wide with fear. I smiled, put my arms under him, and picked him up.
He was very light due to old age and advanced TB. I carried him to the washroom, which was just a filthy, small room with a hole in the floor. After he finished, I picked him up, and carried him back to his bed. As I laid him down, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something that I could not understand.
The next morning another patient woke me and handed me a steaming cup of tea. He motioned with his hands that he wanted a tract.
As the sun rose, other patients approached me and indicated that they also wanted the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day nurses, interns, and doctors asked for literature.
Weeks later an evangelist who spoke the language visited me and discovered that several had put their trust in Christ as a Savior as a result of reading the literature.
What did it take to reach these people with the gospel? It wasn't health, the ability to speak the language, or a persuasive talk. I simply took a trip to the bathroom.

Encouragement comes in many different forms. Let your life be one that incites others closer to God.

The Importance of Knowing the Scriptures - Hermeneutics

Reading the Bible is important, but often we interpret what we read in the wrong way. When this happens we can not make an accurate defense of the Scriptures. Likewise, we can take verses out of context, or use them the way we see fit, imposing our own beliefs upon the scriptures, and not looking for the meaning of that passage. That is what the devil wants. If he can help it, no one will know the true meaning of the scripture. To prevent this, we go into hermeneutics: "the art of finding the meaning of an author's words and phrases." (Webster Dictionary)
One of the components of the above practice is going back to the original language(s) that the Bible was written in. Once we go back to that language (Hebrew or Aramaic for Old Testament, Greek for New Testament) we can find out how each word could be translated.

Example: John 21:15
"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?'
"Yes, Lord," he said, 'you know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.'"
The love that Jesus talked about and the love that Simon Peter talked about came from different Greek words, they were not talking about the same love!

Example #2: Ezekiel 26:6 KJV vs. NIV
"Also her daughter villages which are in the fields shall be slain by the sword. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.’" (KJV)

"And her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD." (NIV)

Do you see the importance?

Application:
Next time you read a controversial passage, or an interesting or perhaps thought provoking verse, go to a Bible commentary such as Calvin's Commentary and they should give you the background for that verse along with some explanation. Or better yet, get a Greek New Testament, and a Hebrew/Aramaic Old Testament, and learn some new languages! But whatever you do, don't be selfish in your Bible readings, give God all the glory.
The Adherent

Why Campaign?

All of creation is theocentric, therefore when we go campaigning for a political candidate, we must remember that we are not replacing the theocentric order with our own, we are acknowledging the order that already exists. I am a Calvinist, and I believe in honoring God in every area of life, and I see politics as just one more arena for us to bear witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Daniel 4:34). Christian political engagements are to be our declaration that Jesus is Lord!. For Christians to ignore this is to ignore the God's rule over that area. When that happens, and the political realm is devoid of Christians, atheists rush to fill that void with something else (Psalms 33:12). We must ground our political and cultural activity in an understanding of the ultimate sovereignty of God Almighty. We are called to be in the world, but not of the world. So as the elections come up, get involved and show your support.

Have a good day!
The Adherent

Quick note

Hello readers!
Just letting you know that I have another blog at:
theadherent.blogspot.com
although this is just a duplicate of the blog you are looking at right now.
Thanks!
The Adherent

Do Not Sin

Situation ethics is the belief that sometimes man can sin. The “situation ethics people” will say that because of the norm, or the present situation, it is “demanded” that you sin. They will try to come up with a time when you are “forced” to sin. Once the sin is justified by being the only thing to do, it is suddenly transformed to being “good”. Other times they will say that the Bible contradicts itself, then you can just choose the portion of scripture you would rather follow! But so called “Christian” situation ethics is defeated by 1 Corinthians 10:13:
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (KJV) and also in Romans 6:1-2:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (KJV)
Another problem with those who hold fast to situation ethics is that they do not take the sovereignty of God, or the power of the Holy Spirit into account. It sees God as stupid, Because He was stupid in not foreseeing that His laws would contradict.
And if you were forced to sin, you did not really sin, therefore you do not even have to confess your sins! So you will never need the saving blood of Jesus. So you see, situation ethics is another way of covering up your sins. May you never do the same. Have a good day!
The Adherent

Adherence and the Evolution of Mankind

The Bible does deal with evolution, in fact, the bible is in direct contradiction with it. The first problem with it is, that when people are given the choice between science and the Bible, they think, “oh, well, the Bible doesn't talk about science, and science is always true, right? You can see science.” But that is the problem. Then when they listen to scientific experts that endorse evolution and the theory that Earth is billions of years old, they adopt that as their foundation for knowledge of the world. Therefore when they see something like rock layers they automatically assume that those rock layers were formed over long periods of time. You see, we must found everything we believe on an absolute point of reference, so when we base anything on this absolute, it will be true. John 17:17: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. The evolutionists have no absolute point of reference, so they have built their house on the shifting sands. Since there is only one absolute point of reference, the Bible, let us go to it in search of something that refers to how old the Earth is. Genesis 1:3-5: 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. Most “evolutionary Christians” will try to make the evenings and mornings of the Creation period millions of years long, but that is totally out of context. Whenever the Bible refers to a “day” or “evening” or “morning” they mean a literal consecutive day, evening, or morning. Also, evolution appears to be in contradiction with several scientific laws, such as the laws of thermodynamics and such. Although there are several examples of the contradiction of science and evolution that has been argued, disproved, and proved by several people and in several books, evolutionists will not listen to that. Because of their pride and constant denial of creation, very few non-Creation-believers will be swayed by evidence. Instead you need to argue with their presuppositions. A presupposition is the underlying foundation and origin point of the person's ideas or concepts. For example, when someone claims that evolution is true, their presupposition is that evolution is a fact, and not theory, all evidence supports it, all rational people believe in it, and it is the best explanation of the beginning of the universe. But then you need to point out that evolution contradicts itself, evolution is only put forth by a few scientists, and none of these theory's stand up to rigorous pressure. Creation has evidence, while evolution has only dogmatic faith. If they have trouble believing what you say, you can switch from presuppositionalism to evidentialism. One of my favorite books on evidentialism, if that is a word, is Evidence that Demands a Verdict, and More Evidence that Demands a Verdict, both by Josh McDowell. It takes into detail the historical accuracy of the Bible. I hope this has clarified what you need clarified! Remember to start with the only absolute, when you make an argument, adhere to the Good News, and have a good day.
-The Adherent