After hearing the cities, “Tyre and Sidon”, mentioned several times in recent news, I looked them up to see where they fit in the end times scenario. I read your response to the Lebanon question but I was wondering if the scriptures in Ezekiel 27 and 28 are dual fulfillment prophesies…as both cities still exist and are not “under water”.
I also wondered if the “two branches” mentioned in Ezekiel 37 could be taken as the Jews and Gentiles??? Thank you for your insight.
Tyre was warned of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s intentions to conquer the Middle East with God’s permission (Jeremiah 27:1-11). The Babylonians laid siege to the city and after 13 years broke through, only to discover that the residents had secretly moved to an island just off the coast leaving the army to defend an empty city. Nebuchadnezzar tore down the mainland city but couldn’t defeat the island fortress because he couldn’t prevent them from replenishing it from the sea.
300 years later Alexander the Great swooped down through Lebanon. Coming to Tyre he took the remains of the original city and threw them into the sea to build a causeway out to the Island. Then he attacked over the causeway and conquered the city in 8 months. In throwing the remains of the original city into the sea, he completed the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy in chapter 27.
In Ezekiel 28 the focus shifts from the earthly ruler of Tyre, who thought himself a god, to the supernatural power behind the throne, Satan, and verses 11-19 talk about his fall and future destiny.
Sidon was actually destroyed twice, once by the Assyrians shortly before the Babylonians conquered Assyria in 606 BC and later by Alexander. (Ezekiel 28:20-23)
Ezekiel 28:24-26 is a Millennial (Kingdom Age) passage and promises that then Israel will finally enjoy a time of peace without malicious neighbors. This tells us that until then, Israel’s neighbors will continue to be thorns in their sides as the Lord prophesied in Judges 2:1-3.
Tyre and Sidon were both part of the Promised Land, given to the tribe of Asher to conquer and destroy. Needless to say it didn’t happen, and after a suitable time the Lord withdrew His promise of victory and condemned the Israelites to a future of problems with their neighbors. And so it has been ever since.
The two branches in Ezek. 37:15-28 refer to the scepters of Judah and Ephraim, representing the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. The country split into two parts after Solomon’s death in about 900BC. This is a prophecy that the Lord will put them together again in the End Times.