ArchivedEzekiel prophecyEzekiel prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would completely destroy Tyre and that it would never be rebuilt (26:7-14, 21; 27:36; 28:19). We know from historical records, however, that Nebuchadnezzar's invasion destroyed only Tyre's mainland villages, but his siege of the island stronghold was unsuccessful. It was Alexander the great who destroyed Tyre completly. Even Ezekiel himself acknowledged later in his book that his prophecy against Tyre had failed, and so Yahweh, as compensation for his unpaid labors at Tyre, was going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar (29:17-20). That prophecy also failed miserably, but first there is a matter of contradiction between Ezekiel's prophecy against Tyre and one that Isaiah also made that we should look at first. As Ezekiel did, Isaiah uttered prophecies of destruction against the nations around Israel, and one of those prophecies was against Tyre. In 23:1, he said, "The burden of Tyre. Howl you ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them." The prophecy continues in typical fashion through the chapter, predicting waste and devastation, and beginning in verse 13, Isaiah clearly indicated that the destruction of Tyre would be only temporary, not permanent. Isaiah had a very different opinion of Tyre's destiny. He said that it would be destroyed and forgotten 70 years but at the end of the 70 years, Yahweh would visit Tyre and it would be restored. Obviously, one could make a much better case for the fulfillment of this prophecy than for Ezekiel's. Nevertheless, Isaiah's prophecy against Tyre poses a serious problem for biblical apologists. They must explain why Isaiah predicted only a temporary destruction of Tyre, whereas Ezekiel predicted an everlasting destruction. Yahweh promised Ezekiel in (Ezekiel 29:1-11) would give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar as compensation for his failure to receive "wages" for his labors against Tyre. The prophecy against Egypt was very specific: Egypt would be laid completely desolate by Nebuchadnezzar and remain so for a period of 40 years. Notice that the prophecy is very specific in stating that Egypt would be "an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia." Ethiopia was on the southern border of Egypt, and Migdol was in the northern delta of the Nile. Hence, the prediction was that the country would be laid waste from its northern border to its southern border. The next verse says that no human foot or animal foot would pass through it for 40 years. There is no historical evidence of any kind to suggest that Egypt was ever desolate and uninhabited for the space of 40 years. Hence, the prophecy obviously failed. Some inerrantists try to claim that this is a prophecy that will be fulfilled at a future date, but the prophecy was specifically addressed to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and the rule of the pharaohs ended long ago. Furthermore, as the verses below show, the prophecy made Nebuchadnezzar Yahweh's instrument of vengeance against Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar has been dead for 25 centuries. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. [Deuteronmy 18:20-22] According to Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Ezekiel must be executed! Alexei |
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