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Isaiah 23:1 - 23:18
The
previous Isaiah Chapter revealed The True 'Nail', a symbol ultimately for our Lord Jesus
Christ, as opposed to a false 'nail' who wants to be That Nail our Lord Jesus Christ. The
false nail is the 'antichrist'. One of the most important Messages from GOD in that
previous Chapter was how there are two 'nails' man follows. One is The Sure 'Nail', and
that symbol links with the Biblical symbols for our LORD being 'The ROCK' (Deut.32; 2
Samuel 23; 1 Corinthians 10). And "the key of the house of David" is
upon His Shoulder, being our Lord Jesus Christ (see also Rev.3:7; Isaiah 9:6).
But there is a fake 'nail' written of also which is seldom
taught from God's Word. Shebna represents a follower of the fake 'nail', that nail being
Satan himself. The examples of the king of Tyre and Pharaoh are also of the Shebna type
(Ezek.28; 31). So this 'nail' analogy is yet another example of that Wicked one wanting to
usurp The Throne of The Father and The Son. We've already covered many titles God reveals
in His Word for that "accuser" of our brethren in Christ. You now have
another, the fake 'nail'.
In this Chapter of Isaiah 24 God is rebuking Tyre, that
ancient area of world commerce. Towards the latter part of this Chapter, a parallel will
point specifically to the latter day version of the Babylon harlot system. And much of
this Isaiah 24 will carry into the next couple of Isaiah Chapters, as God gave through
Isaiah another view of the Apocalypse, or The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev.1).
We ask a Word of Wisdom from our Heavenly Father in Christ
Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.
Isa
23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid
waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed
to them.
This Tyre (Hebrew 'Tsor' = 'rock'), was an ancient area of
world commerce with a double city. Part of it was on the mainland and the other part was
an island about one mile long separated by a strait half a mile wide. The remains of that
barren 'rock' is still there today, and is situated approximately fifty miles south of
Beirut on the coastline. God is describing through Isaiah how He would make Tyre desolate
and "laid waste". It did happen historically through Nebuchadnezzar's
army of mercenaries, and in final later with Alexander the Great (Ezek.26; 27; 28). Tyre
represents the Kenites (son of Cain), and their false kingdom by the false 'rock' Satan
(Deut.32:31).
"Tarshish" was an ancient Phoenician
city in southern Spain. Tyre received many of its various metal ore by Tarshish. Psalms
72:10 has a reference to the kings of Tarshish of the isles also bringing presents to our
Lord and Saviour when He returns to rule. So Tarshish represents those nations of the area
around the Mediterranean who dealt commerce with Tyre.
"Chittim" ('Kittiyiy' meaning
'the bruisers'), though historically represented Cyprus, is more generally
applied to the islands of the Mediterranean, and specifically the descendents of Javan,
son of Japheth who was grandson to Noah. For future prophecy, 'Chittim'
represents God's 'bruisers' which come against the 'antichrist' and his false reign of the
future (Dan.11; Romans 16:20). That event is of a spiritual war, not a physical one (see
Ephesians 6 for the Armour God's elect are to have on for that event).
Isa
23:2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of
Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.
3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is
her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.
Because of a supposed safe dwelling of that island 'rock' of Tyrus, it served as an ideal
place of world commerce. Tyre had double walls rising to 150 ft.1 "Be
still", or 'be silent' (Hebrew 'daman'), God is telling those of Tyre, for their
isle will be "laid waste".
The "seed of Sihor" refers to the
fertile lands which the Nile river supported, as grain in abundance was one of Tyre's
major trade commodities. And because of its location, commerce, and seat of the
controllers, Tyre became "a mart of nations".
This 'system' of merchants is still with us today, as
those of Tyre were scattered to other lands after the island destruction. The inhabitants
of Tyre only had to relocate their ships of commerce. This is not about the honest
merchants of the world. It is concerning those who seek to control 'all' economies of the
world. The Kenite wants power over it 'all'. It shouldn't be difficult to see the state of
the 'world global economy' today, and how this basis of Tyre is in control again. The
stronger economies of nations now bailout other weaker nation's debt, passing the cost
down to the consumer and taxpayer. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) is instrumental
in that work. And commercial banks are allowed to fabricate money just by a book entry
(research the 'Mandrake' mechanism of fiat money banking).
Isa
23:4 Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even
the strength of the sea, saying, "I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do
I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins."
5 As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely
pained at the report of Tyre.
When God brought the destruction of Tyre, all its splendor vanished. That past prophecy
was fulfilled, exactly as our Father said it would occur:
Ezek
26:3 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I am
against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea
causeth his waves to come up.
4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers:
I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of
the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to
the nations.
And
so it is "like the top of a rock", still today. GOD Rules, not man!
Isa
23:6 Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.
7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is
of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
Many of the inhabitants of Tyre would then escape to areas around the Mediterranean such
as southern Spain (Tarshish) in order to setup trade again. In essence, God pushed and
scattered the Kenites to the western lands at the destruction of Tyre.
This word "ancient" is Hebrew 'qedem',
meaning 'the east, antiquity' (Strong's no. 6924). This points to Tyre as being
associated with the marts of the ancient east all the way back to Babel (Gen.11). In
Ezekiel 28 God gave a prophecy to the king and prince of Tyrus, and Satan was strongly
alluded to as the head over that system of Tyre (see Ezek.28:11-19 especially). The Tyrus
link to Satan shows that this false system of material gain and power seeking was one of
the matters which originally caused his fall in that time of the first earth age. In
Revelation 12:3-4, our Lord Christ gave us this link also, naming the number of
"seven crowns" being different in that time 'of old' when Satan rebelled, as
compared with the future "beast" system being setup today, with "ten
crowns" (compare Rev.12:3; Rev.13:1; and Rev.17). Because of this link our Lord made,
we are to understand that this Isaiah 23 Chapter holds also to a prophecy against a modern
Tyre, as a 'type' for the future one-world "beast" kingdom being setup in 'our
day'.
Isa
23:8 Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city,
whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the
earth?
"Who has done this to you Tyre?", our LORD is saying. "Who has brought this
counsel against you Tyre?" The LORD GOD did this to Tyre, and He will do likewise to
the false 'ten crown' beast system being setup today.
Her merchants which controlled the wealth made for
themselves their 'own' kings over the peoples. That is the meaning of "the
crowning city". But Who is The One Which has sole Authority in making kings on
the earth? Our Heavenly Father has That Sole Authority only. Satan wants to be 'God'
remember? (Ezek.28; 31; Isaiah 14; 2 Thess.2). Thus that Wicked one tries to steal God's
Authority in making kings and leaders of the people also. Does this still happen in the
politics of nations today? Are there still those on earth in high places who see
themselves as "the honourable of the earth"? If you said yes, then this
prophecy is not totally completed yet.
Naturally, I'm not against our 'good' leaders who seek to
actually serve the peoples, and there are some good leaders out there, but way too few in
my opinion. So who are those who think of themselves as "the honourable of the
earth" today?
Isa
23:9 The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all
glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
Our
Heavenly Father YHVH through His Son will cause all the honourable of the earth to fall
into Satan's trap. This "honourable" is about those who set themselves up in
their 'own' form of glory above God. All Glory is to The Father and His Son our Righteous
KING over all the earth (Zech.14:9). Recall earlier from Isaiah 10 and 14 how our Father
has purposed this Plan, and none can "disannul it" (Isa.14:27). His
Plan of Salvation includes the destruction of the "beast" Babylon Satan is
trying to setup. Our American leaders must be strong to resist friendship with Tyre, and
put their faith on The True Nail Jesus Christ. Either they lead God's Way, or they will be
led by Tyre. There is no in-between.
Many who fit that "honourable of the earth" type
think they themselves have the power to pull mankind out of any bad situation, through man's
philosophy, science, and...man's false religion. Why do some desire to clone human organs,
and even humans? Is God honored by the act of cloning humans? Obviously not, for cloning
humans is the act of trying to 'play God'. Ancient Tyre also marketed human slaves, and
the final stage of the coming ten crowned "beast" will be a marketing of 'souls'
instead (Ezek.27:8-13; Rev.13-17).
Isa
23:10 Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there
is no more strength.
The
old city of Tyre fell to waste like a river washing filth downstream. So what did the
American Indians do once they polluted an area of a river? They packed up and moved
'upstream' to a cleaner part. Likewise, the inhabitants of Tyre packed up and moved to
other ports. Nebuchadnezzar first sieged Tyre and the inhabitants had time to load up
their ships with the majority of goods and escape.2 This was revealed in
Ezekiel 29 also:
Ezek
29:18 "Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army
to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every
shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the
service that he had served against it:
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I will give the land of
Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her
spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
This should inform you of another reason why God's 'counsel' against old Tyre still has
another fulfillment. The island 'rock' was made waste, but the leaders and princes of Tyre
did not all perish, but escaped elsewhere to continue their trafficking.
Isa
23:11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms: the
LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant
city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
12 And He said, "Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed
virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no
rest."
This shaking of kingdoms is when God laid Tyre to waste. The tense of this 11th verse is
past historical tense; that the destruction of that old island is past. Now God's rebuke
comes upon "the merchant city", meaning those Kenites who escaped from
Tyre. Strike out that KJV word "city". It's not in the Hebrew
Manuscripts, as it's Strong's word no. 9999, meaning an inserted word. The phrase "the
merchant" is Hebrew Kena'an, meaning 'Canaan' (Strong's no.
3667). If we had read this verse directly from the Hebrew, then we would instantly know
our Father is not speaking of all 'merchants', but of a specific peoples mixing with the
sons of Canaan, i.e. the Kenite (Hebrew 'Qayin', son of Cain, Strong's no. 7014).
God is saying in verse 12 something like, "Go on, get
up from Tyre and pass over to Cyprus (Chittim, or 'Kittim'). You won't get any rest there
either."
Isa
23:13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till
the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers
thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and He brought it
to ruin.
14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
The
main point of this verse is how our Father is in control. This "land of the
Chaldeans" reference was a time when it was just a small area of southern Babylonia
(circa 2286 B.C.?). It would become much later at its prominence the kingdom of Chaldea
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. Assyria itself later fell around 625 B.C., clearing the way
for the kingdom of Babylon to come into existence (Zeph.2:13-15). The tower of Babel was
raised in Shinar Babylonia and God destroyed it. The Assyrians reigned over the area
forming the Assyrian kingdom of palaces and towers, and Cyaxares the Mede would later aid
in its destruction. And then out of nowhere, the kingdom of Babylon would come into being,
and also later be destroyed by Cyrus and the Medes. And yet after Cyrus, Alexander of
Grecia (Greece) would both destroy the Medo-Persia Empire, and provide the final defeat of
the area of Tyre. All those kingdoms greatly lauded by man rose... and fell... at God's
Hand.
Because Nebuchadnezzar didn't get any spoils with his
siege of Tyre, God gave him to conquer Egypt, using him to chastise and rebuke His People
along the way (recall Ezek.29 above). All these past 'ancient' kingdoms rose, but
eventually fell by God's Hand. So who did these of Tyrus think they were, bragging their
kingdom of Tyre was of "ancient days"? (Isa.23:7 above). God even
destroyed that first earth age when Satan rebelled, trembling this old earth then
(Jer.4:23 >). Therefore, this Isaiah 23:13 verse is like our Father is saying to Tyrus,
"You see what I did to all these other kingdoms prior to you Tyrus? Use them as your
example, for you are laid waste!"
So what's the deeper Message for us which The LORD is
giving His with this example? One major Truth is that there is only ONE TRUE KINGDOM, and
It is That of our Heavenly Father's through His Son Jesus Christ. Recall from Isaiah 9:6
that "the government shall be upon His shoulder", and none other. God
through Isaiah refers to The Perfect Government on earth with His Son reigning over It
forever (Rev.11:15). Until that time when God's Perfect Government returns to this earth
as a spiritual Kingdom, Satan will ever be trying to setup 'his version' of It on this
earth. Our Father wants His children to grasp this Message; especially for our leaders
which He sets in power. God does also send His faithful children good leaders at the times
when His children, as a nation, turn back to Him in thankfulness, and prayer through His
Son. The first requirement is to recognize that He exists and is there for us, and 'IF' we
turn to Him through Christ Jesus, "...for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12).
Therefore, these historical lessons of kingdoms rising and
falling have a direct parallel to rising and falling powers in the West also, such as WWII
and WWI Germany, fall of the Ottoman Empire (Turks), fall of Napoleon, fall of Francia
(France) as a kingdom, the fall of old Islam with its invaders into Christian southern
Europe (711-732), and the fall of the Roman and Greek Empires.
Only one powerful 'kingdom' with the "house of
David" has survived in the West today. And though I am not from there, I am forced to
recognize it and her allies, for obviously... God Himself has set it in place, causing it
to survive when many other Western powers have since long died out. That kingdom of today
is Great Britain, "a multitude of nations", and a 'kingdom' which The
Father has preserved, along with her allies and many friends (Gen.48:18-22). This land of
America God has preserved also, as we represent Manasseh, Ephraim's (Great Britain)
brother.
Thus, all the rising and falling of past kingdoms in the
West were also... by God's Hand. It's not a coincidence that Great Britain and America
have been preserved. Only those who forget their history can't understand this, and to
their own destruction. Recall what our Lord said to Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus? "...it
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks"
(Acts 9:5). The Greek word for "pricks" is 'kentron', meaning 'a
point, a sting (figuratively poison), or goad (figuratively, divine impulse)'
(Strong's no. 2759). That means one who tries to kick against a cactus or prickly pears
with bare feet. Ouch! Paul, though in ignorance by following the 'traditions' of
his fathers, was going against God's Divine Plan. Paul being Christ's "chosen
vessel", was turned back to our Lord (Acts 9; Galatians 1:14).
In Numbers 33:55, God referred to the "workers of
iniquity" who mixed in with the children of Canaan, as being "pricks"
in Israel's eyes for turning away from His Commandments. That Hebrew word also means 'a
brier, or thorn' (Strong's no. 7899). If you further recall who the metaphorical
'thorns' are in God's Word, i.e. the "workers of iniquity", then our Lord Jesus
revealed something deep to His. The symbolic kicking against the "pricks"
mentioned in God's Word has two meanings. One is that by following Tyre, it goes against
God's own children He protects, including His People He established in the Western
Christian Nations. Paul was doing just that by following the "traditions" of the
Pharisees by persecuting Christians, and thus Christ Jesus also. The other meaning is that
God will only allow the children of the wicked to be defeated by His Hand, and none other.
The 'thorns', or 'pricks' in both houses of Israel's eyes represent a chastising force
against God's People as they turn away from The LORD. The 'thorns' are necessary for the
negative side of our Father's Plan, and God allows them to work according to His Will (see
what Jesus said about leaving the 'tares' alone, not attempting to utterly destroy them;
Matt.13:27-30).
Now compare all this to what God has said to Tyre in this
Chapter of Isaiah. How does God preserving the Western Christian Nations through history
fit with this also? The Truth... those who put their trust and faith on The Father and The
Son will never fall at the hands of their enemies; not as people nor as a nation...
"if"... we stay on Him doing His Will (see Ezek.38 & 39 for the defeat God
works upon Esau in the future).
Isa
23:15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be
forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years
shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
This "seventy years" applied to the captivity time of the "house
of Judah" to Babylon during Nebuchadnezzars reign (Jer.25 thru 29). This again links
Nebuchadnezzar as coming up against Tyre.
Isa
23:16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been
forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the
LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with
all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
Our
Lord Christ's Book of Revelation mentions kings who commit fornication with "the
great whore":
Rev
17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials,
and talked with me, saying unto me, "Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment
of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the
inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication."
This "great whore" is the last and final stage of false worship with
Satan himself, but he will be "transformed" and disguised an angel of
light (2 Cor.11:14). As the 'serpent' is cast out of heaven to earth with his
angels in our near future, how will you react? (Rev.12:7-9). Will you believe our Lord's
Word as written concerning this event? Our Lord Jesus Christ explains who that "many
waters" symbol is. It represents "...peoples, and multitudes, and
nations, and tongues" which the "great whore" will rule over.
(Rev.17:15). That's where this "great whore" will sit; not in one
specific area, but over 'all' nations of the earth. The "great whore"
is Babylon, the devil's own system of 'confusion' to lead as many as will, to worship him,
in place of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have
committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for
her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas,
that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.'
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no
man buyeth their merchandise any more:
This means all the historical events upon old Tyre is an 'ensample' to us today, upon whom
the ends of the age is come (1 Cor.10:11). Instead of the seventy years captivity of God's
People, the latter days is symbolic of a seven year period. But never forget, our LORD did
shorten that "great tribulation" period for His elect's sake
(Matt.24:21-27; Rev.9).
The Isaiah 23:17 reference to "all the kingdoms
of the world upon the face of the earth" is where we are again today, with a
one-world global elite attempting yet a final example of Tyre with Babylon as the model.
The harlotry is with these "merchants" of Tyrus, meaning Satan's own "workers
of iniquity". But the merchandise this final time is for 'souls' of those would
worship the antichrist instead of staying true to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in His
Word. That harlotry can mean putting 'anything', and I do mean 'anything' in place of The
Father and The Son in worship. I say this not to put a guilt trip on my sisters and
brethren in Christ, but to help prepare you for the false one's coming.
The next verse is for those who stay true to Christ Jesus
in His Word:
Isa
23:18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it
shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell
before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
This is where "her" merchandise went, and the reason why it isn't
bought anymore. It goes to God's elect who stay true on Christ Jesus, not worshipping the
first supernatural one disguised as an "angel of light" coming to play
Messiah.
Some reading this who have not bothered to get into God's
Word for themselves, will not fully grasp that a false messiah is coming first, before our
True Lord Jesus Christ's return. Too many of my Christian brethren are prepared to jump
into spiritual bed with the first one coming who "...doeth great wonders,
so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men."
(Rev.13:13). They are so in love with man's babelings of a flesh 'antichrist' that they
can't separate God's Truth from the lie. To believe on the first one coming, which will be
'a spurious messiah', is to accept "a lie" of "strong
delusion" God has prepared for those who put their trust in other things,
instead of Him through His Son's Word (2 Thessalonians 2:11). That's right! The latter
days is a test for some. God loves those who love Him, but He expects His to listen to
Him, and to love 'His Truth'; not man's watered down version of The Truth. If you've been
with me thus far in these Isaiah studies, and have also taken the time to 'check' me out
per Holy Writ, then you should be well prepared in your 'faith' on Christ Jesus to a much
greater degree possibly than before. There shouldn't be any doubts in your mind that God's
Word reveals a false messiah coming first. You 'know' what the "lie"
and "strong delusion" really is, and from God's Word, not mine.
The next Isaiah Chapter will begin what some call 'the
Apocalypse of Isaiah'. It is another view of the Book of Revelation events which Christ
Jesus gave to us through His beloved Apostle John.
Peace and blessings to you
in Christ Jesus,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
1 Tyre,
Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1998
by Biblesoft).
2 Ibid.
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study Bible,
Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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