Prophecy Is Definite, and Is Accurately Fulfilled
1. What does God say of His ability to read the future? “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” Isa. 46: 9, 10. “I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of My mouth, and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.” Isa. 48: 3-5. 2. How did God give these prophecies which declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done? “And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1: 19-21, A.R.V. 3. What was the position of the city of Tyre in the sixth century before Christ? Ans.—She was the leading maritime and commercial city of the world. 4. What definite prediction did the Lord make concerning her? “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. 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. 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.” Eze. 26: 3-5. 5. What definite king does the prophet say will come against Tyrus? “For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.” Verse 7. 6. Were other kingdoms or nations beside Babylon to come against Tyrus? “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.” Verse 3. 7. How complete was to be the destruction of Tyrus? “And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God.” Verses 13, 14. NOTE.—When the foregoing prophecies were uttered in regard to Tyrus, it was ridiculous, from the human standpoint, to think that they ever could be fulfilled. She was the dazzling glory of the world's commerce, and to touch her meant to unsettle commercial conditions, and to bring great financial losses to many peoples. The selfish interests of men stood in favor of preserving that great business center. But God uttered the prediction, and went into detail in telling how her destruction would be accomplished. Her destruction was spread over a number of years, just as the prophecy would indicate by the statement that “many nations” were to come against her. But when the work was finally completed, the great commercial metropolis was reduced to that point of desolation that only a few lonely fishermen may be found spreading their nets there. And regardless of the natural advantages of the place, it has never been restored. In every one of the numerous particulars has the prophecy been most literally and truly met. God's prophecies are specific, and they are definitely fulfilled.