Tyre as a Type of Apostate Church
(Continued from page 888.) monarchy, and at the end of that time those kingdoms that had been so widely oppressed by Babylon would be in a measure relieved. See Jer. 25:11, where it is said that these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. At the end of the seventy years Babylon was overthrown; the days of one king seem to have reference to the days of one kingdom, king and kingdom being used as synonyms. See Dan. 7:17; 8:20. At the end of the seventy years a new city was built on the site of Tyre, which rivaled the old one in splendor and luxury. The second Tyre was overthrown by Alexander the Great. The character of Tyre is also indicated by the expression used in this prophecy; she is represented as a city given to fornication, even as Babylon of old. She had used her riches in evil ways instead of for the glory of God. She is therefore called a harlot city, and in her restoration the Lord says she shall continue in the same character. She shall sing as an harlot, and shall turn to her former wickedness and commit fornication with all the kings of the world upon the face of the earth. In this sense Tyre is used as a type of the apostate church of the Lord. But the 18th verse of this prophecy points to a time when there would be those in the city of Tyre who would yield their riches to the Lord, not that Tyre herself would do it, but that there would be those whose hearts were given to God, and who would yield to God that which was his own. We find in the history of the Christian church that the Christian religion was early established at Tyre. Both our Saviour and Paul visited it. Acts 21:3-6 shows that there were disciples there in the days of the apostles. Jerome says: "We have seven churches built to the Lord in Tyre. We have built the wealth of all which was not treasured up nor hid, but which was given to those who dwelt before the Lord." That there were many Christians there seems evident from the fact that it early became the seat of a bishop. The prophecy in Isaiah does not tell us as to what is right or what is wrong; it simply predicts what shall be concerning Tyre. It does not mean to convey the idea that the wickedness of Tyre was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, or that her ill-gotten riches were acceptable before him. We are simply told the judgments that would come upon Tyre, how she would recover from the judgments, and how in that wicked city there would be those who would honor God by the wealth and substance which they had.