Those that favor the idea of mystic Tyre being here spoken of, and not ancient Tyre, (which could never be so considerable in point of commerce and of riches), conclude, that what is here spoken refers to that glorious era of the Church, when the Lord shall bring again his people. It is very probable, that the Holy Ghost by the Prophet's ministry, directs the Church to this contemplation. The great slaughter to be made in Tyre; and the cry of the wounded; and the Princes of the Sea, coming down from their thrones to clothe themselves with trembling, and to take up a lamentation; these are no doubt most striking features of some very horrible visitation, and to some great maritime power. But what nation is here meant, I do not presume to say. The Lord in his own time will reveal; and that is consolation enough for the faithful in Christ Jesus. Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him. Isaiah 3:10. This, let every real, regenerated follower of the Lord Jesus, carry in his bosom; and beg of God the Holy Ghost to engrave the truth of it upon his heart. One point, here predicted, is abundantly plain, and in which I would wish the Reader to be more earnestly interested; namely, that when this mystic Tyre is brought down to the ground, then the Lord saith, I shall set glory in the land of the living. And what is Jehovah's glory, but Jehovah's Christ? the one only ordinance of heaven, for salvation, to his Church and people. And who are the living, but those who are regenerated, and become new creatures in Christ? Reader! let no man deceive you. He that hath the Son! hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. 1 John 5:12. Nothing short of the new birth, the new life, hid with Christ in God, will avail in that day, when God riseth to shake terribly the earth, (or what is the same thing to every individual as it concerns his own everlasting welfare), the day of every man's death will determine for him finally and fully, whose he is, and to whom he belongs. Reader! are you in that blessed state now? Hath the Lord, as it concerns you, set glory in the land of the living? Is Christ formed in you, the hope of glory? Oh! precious testimony of God the Holy Ghost, when witnessing with our spirits, that we are children of God. So that we can, and do, bear witness also, to that soul comforting truth, Thy God, thy glory! Isaiah 60:19.
Ezekiel 26:15-21
15 Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?
16 Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling;c they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
17 And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!
18 Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.
19 For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
20 When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;
21 I will make thee a terror,d and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.