Take up the zither and wander through the city, O forgotten harlot, play beautifully and sing countless songs to ensure that you are remembered. Having engaged in unfaithfulness with many nations, you will find that your former lovers have scorned you; forsaken, exposed, and defiled by the impurities of captivity, amplify your song and mourn for your past transgressions. Wash away the remnants of your former sin with tears, so that you may seek the mercy of God upon you.
At the conclusion of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre and restore its fortunes, rekindling its relationships with all the kingdoms across the earth. Historically, Greek and Phoenician records align in affirming the fulfillment of this restoration, as after seventy years, the city regained its former authority and resumed trade with all nations. This trading is aptly referred to as fornicating since, just as a harlot enters places of indulgence and pays for her sins, merchants from all over flock to the city, consuming all its splendor.
Moreover, Tyre's commerce and trade shall be consecrated to the Lord, not hoarded in warehouses, but dedicated to those who dwell in His presence, enabling them to eat and receive sustenance. While we cannot ascertain that this was historically realized, it is plausible to suggest that following the reconstruction of Jerusalem and Tyre, there was mutual goodwill, with Tyrians often sending offerings to the temple of God. Ezra recounts how he expelled the Tyrians who sold fish on the Sabbath and barred their entry into the city, indicating that other exchanges may infer similar prohibitions. The Jews have postponed their expectations to a future fulfillment, claiming it will come post-Antichrist, within a thousand years. It is not unexpected that those who have turned away from the truth of Christ consider this, particularly since some Jewish Christians assert that the millennial bliss is referenced here.
For my part, much like I interpret the imagery of Babylon in relation to the completion of the ages, recognizing the altar of the Lord established in Egypt after idol destruction as reflective of Christ’s time, and concerning the vision of Moab recognizing the Savior’s reign established on earth—as well as acknowledging the ordinances of our time in the visions of Damascus and others—so too, I understand the last vision of Tyre concerning a period of Christian flourishing. When it returned to its prior condition, every merchant resumed his trade, with their goods and labors offered to the Lord. Consider the churches in Tyre, observing their wealth, which is not stored away but shared with those who dwell in God's presence, serving at the altar and partaking from it. The provisions given to the Tyrians are not for mere wealth accumulation or clerical enrichment but to meet life’s necessities, enabling them to be satisfied with food and clothing, as indicated by the Apostle. Notably, it is emphasized that the commerce and goods of Tyre dedicated to the Lord are meant for those living in His presence, not merely for those in Jerusalem, as the Jews might believe. Even so, it is established that those who preach the gospel are to live by the gospel.
Serving the Lord and living in His presence is determined by virtue, not location. To this point, we have explored Isaiah’s visions and burdens concerning known nations as best we could through historical interpretation, noting the remnants of the Hebrew text. What follows pertains to all nations and the overarching destruction of the world. You did not request such elaboration, and I, having scarcely fulfilled your initial request, lacked the time to produce any additional commentary outside of that.
Now, it will occur that Tyre shall endure a period of seventy years, reflective of a king's time—a man's time. Following this interval, Tyre will be likened to a harlot’s song. Play the zither; roam the city, a forgotten harlot. Strum the zither beautifully, sing numerous songs to ensure that you are remembered. Ultimately, after seventy years, the Lord will intervene on behalf of Tyre, restoring it to its former glory, with its commercial activities extending to all kingdoms upon the earth. Its trade and goods shall be set apart for the Lord: they shall not be hoarded for mere accumulation, but shared with those who stand before the Lord, allowing them to feast and find fullness in their provisions.
The expression of remembrance before the Lord and the reference to man’s time is not from the Hebrew but is added in the Greek interpretation. Tyre, once struck by calamity for seventy years, will be redeemed, so that upon the fulfillment of desolation, the song of this erstwhile harlot will transform into praises for God, and she will take the zither, tuning its strings beautifully to play, ensuring her memory is restored with the Lord—a remembrance once neglected due to her unfaithfulness. Tyre shall be reinstated to its former state, privy to the wealth of all the kingdoms; yet the fruits of her labor will not be for the Tyrians alone, but for those who dwell before the Lord, that they may partake and fully enjoy the bounty of the earth, which shall be gathered by all for the joy of celebration.
God’s message calls Tyre and Sidon to repent, promising that their efforts and goods will be dedicated to Him. Who among sinners cannot harbor hope for salvation, provided they express their repentance well and tune the once out-of-tune strings of virtue to sing praises to the Lord? In the forty-fourth Psalm, symbolic of the union between the bridegroom and the bride, identified as God the Savior and the mysteries of the Church, we read: "And the daughters of Tyre shall be there with gifts; the wealthy among the people shall seek your favor." Here, the bridegroom addresses the bride of Tyre, instructing her to heed, look, and incline her ear, forsaking her kin and paternal home, for the king is drawn to her beauty. This portrayal of her elegance is captured in the vision where “the queen stands at your right hand in gold from Ophir.”
If the king yearns for the beauty of the repenting Tyrian who bears the jewels of diverse virtues, how much greater shall be her goods and trade, aligning not with the Tyrians but with those who dwell before the Lord? Having repented, they will listen to the Savior’s invitation: "Come, eat and drink, brethren." The faithful comprehend what it means to feast on the treasury of all virtues. The temple lay in ruins for seventy years, as testified by Jeremiah, Daniel, and Zechariah. Ezekiel also proclaims that Sodom will be restored to its prior state and that following devastation, Egypt’s seven rivers will again flourish. The significance of the seven years, or the number seventy, whether represented as individual days or collections of sevens, represents complete repentance. Thus, when Tyre finishes this time of repentance, it rightly returns to its former standing.
I believe this harlot is presented through a mysterious allegory found in the Proverbs of Solomon: “Pay no attention to the wicked woman; for honey drips from the lips of the harlot, which may please your palate momentarily but will later turn bitter.” The harlot gazes through her window to the streets, since the pathway to death is broad and inviting. Spotting an unwise youth—never daring to tempt the wise—she engages him in shadows and veiled pleasures, leading him to his demise. Yet, should she repent, sing earnestly, and fulfill her designated time for complete restoration, she will feast and find satisfaction. Let this be a lesson for Novatian to heed.
THEOSIS