Ezekiel 27 is a lament for Tyre. We read of the wonder, beauty, majesty and power of Tyre for verse after verse. They were seafarers without parallel in the ancient world. Many nations provided both their boatbuilders and boat workers. Other nations provided soldiers. Nearly all the known world of the day held trade partnerships with Tyre, because of her ability to travel throughout the Mediterranean. All that would be lost. The boats would travel to sea and be lost there. The people of Tyre would mourn, and the kings of many nations with them, because of Tyre’s influence. All of that was ending, because of Tyre’s idolatry.
Ezekiel 28 continues the prophecy and lament for Tyre, but this time it is specifically against the “prince” of Tyre. Because of the specifics of the lament, some consider the “prince” to be a spirit, perhaps a fallen angel. The LORD tells us the prince was wiser than Daniel, and considered himself a god, which is why the LORD was going to send men to kill him. The LORD asks, “Will you still consider yourself a god then?” It’s a question worthy of asking ourselves when we find ourselves filled with pride over some accomplishment. All wisdom comes from God. As Jesus’ apostle John tells us every good and perfect gift comes from God. Even our ability to work and earn wages is God’s gift to us. We must take a lesson from the prince of Tyre and remember there is one God, who is the LORD of all. Our worship must be for Him alone. The chapter concludes with a brief prophecy against Sidon, and then a promise that the LORD will bring His people back together from all the lands where He has scattered them. At the end of the day, those who belong to the LORD will be shown mercy.
Ezekiel 29 is a prophecy against the Pharaoh of Egypt and the land of Egypt. Once again, because of Pharaoh’s pride in saying he formed the nile, the LORD will “hook” Pharaoh like a sea creature and cast him into the wilderness. Egypt will be left desolate. This will come at the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and all the wealth of Egypt will be carried off by the Babylonians. The LORD does promise to restore Egypt after 40 years. They will be resettled in the land, but it will never again be a great nation, nor will it rule over other nations. Part of the reason for the judgment of Egypt is also, because they were a “broken reed,” which caused Israel to fall. Once again, at the end of the chapter there is a brief word of hope and promise for Israel.
As we return to Matthew 24, we read Jesus’ prophecy of the coming destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and also of Jesus’ return. Sometimes readers combine the two into one event, but it is clear because the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD that Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the Temple was for the short term, while His prediction of His return was for the long term. The key point about Jesus’ return is we must be ready for it. Many spend their lives in seeking to determine when Jesus will return. They scour the books of prophecy and the Book of Revelation to determine where we are in history, so we can know when Jesus will return. The problem with that is Jesus told us no one knows the day and hour of His return. The key is to be ready. Jesus told us it will be as it was in the days of Noah when the flood came. Only Noah and his family were ready. Everyone else was going about life as usual. Then the flood hit and everyone died. In the same way, we must be ready, not surprised, when Jesus returns. Those who are ready will receive Jesus and the blessing of being with Him forever!