THEOSISJerome of Stridon
The Lord's message came to me, saying, Son of man, deliver this word to the ruler of Tyre: This is what the Sovereign Lord declares: Your heart is full of pride, and you proclaim, "I am God," sitting on a throne of divinity in the midst of the sea. Yet you are merely a man, not God, and you have elevated your thoughts to be equivalent to those of God. Are you wiser than Daniel? No secrets escape you. Through your own wisdom and understanding, you have amassed wealth, collecting gold and silver in your vaults. Your great intelligence and commerce have augmented your power, and you have grown proud because of your might.
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Therefore, the Lord God states: Because you have set your heart on par with the heart of God, I will bring upon you foreign invaders, the mightiest of nations, who will draw their swords against the splendor of your wisdom and tarnish your glory. They will strike you down, and you will meet your end as one slain in the depths of the sea. Before those who strike you, you will assert, "I am God," but in the hands of your assailants, you are but a man, not God. You will die like the uncircumcised, falling at the hands of foreigners; for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord.
In a similar manner, the prophet Isaiah spoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who arrogantly equated himself with God, declaring his intention to rise above the stars and be like the Most High. Cast down from his lofty position, he was destined to hear, "How you have fallen, O morning star!" Likewise, as for Pharaoh, it was recorded by the same prophet, "My rivers are my own, and I made them for myself." The ruler of Tyre also boasted in hubris, claiming to be God and taking his place among the divine, while in truth, he was merely a man and not God. Even if such claims sound like the delusions of madness, we must comprehend this exaggeration as reflective of their overwhelming pride, which caused them to misidentify their temporary power and blessings as eternal.
Just as kings and princes represent authority, they also symbolize opposing forces, as the Apostle Paul wrote: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Furthermore, he stated that true wisdom is not from this age or the rulers of this age who are doomed to perish. He pointed out that the princes of this age lack true understanding, for had they understood, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Daniel's prophecy references Michael, the chief prince of Israel, as well as the princes of Greece and Persia. Moreover, Moses articulated in Deuteronomy that when the Most High scattered the nations, He appointed their guardians in accordance with the number of the angels, while His own people were Jacob, His inheritance was Israel.
Recognizing that the best kings—David, Solomon, Josiah, and the prophets—foreshadowed the Lord Savior, we should not be taken aback that the worst kings illustrated the nature of apostate rulers. Hence, we must interpret the narrative regarding the arrogant kings and their rebellious principles on two levels. Although you may find yourself surrounded by the sea's waters, and isolated on an island, understand this: though you possess a fragile human body, the pride swelling within you has led you to believe you occupy the throne of God in paradise.