(Shipshapewaters Part I)

The Coming End of the Earth’s Water World – Part I

From outer space, the most differentiable feature of planet earth is its blue color. No other planet has such wonderful hues of blue and green.

Water. It covers 75% of the surface of the earth. No other planet has ever been discovered to date that has liquid surface water. Earth has just the right amount of water … not too much; not too little. Too much, and the mountains would be covered; too little, and the earth would be an equally uninhabitable desert.

Yes, water is essential for life. However, there are probably trillions of other essential conditions required for life on earth. God has created an earth that has water … and, spectacularly, life. The fact that water molecules might be found on other planetary bodies, is no more significant than finding iron or carbon or any other element or compound.

Crucially, not only did God create water as a necessity for life, but also that it might play a very significant role in the cosmological story of mankind. He has used this unique feature of His earth—water—to carry out His plan for mankind. How so?

The Bible tells us that God will intercede in the geological structures of the world with respect to water at least four times (if not more). To begin, as already intimated, He created the seas on the second day … this after having separated the water to below and above the “expanse” (atmosphere).

Then, when mankind became utterly godless (only some 1,650 years after Creation)—when “the Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” Genesis 6:5)—He intervened again, allowing a great worldwide flood that extinguished all mankind save for eight.

The next and third time that the Lord will intervene with a global impact (with respect to water) is the Tribulation period. God, in wrath, destroys seas and rivers, decimating the marine networks of mankind … these being the proud, smug achievements of mankind’s rich elites.

The tribulational decimation happens in several steps. First, Revelation tells us that “a third of the living creatures in the sea died […]” (Revelation 8:9). This is after the second trumpet sounded by the angels.

Then, finally, the great trading colossus, whose great men were merchants and sea captains, is completely destroyed, never to be restored (Revelation 18). And, to make sure of that, God wipes out all of the world’s seas. This is the 4^th intervention. Says the Bible, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea” (Revelation 21:1).

This is where we will pick up the thread from our recent series, which focused on the endtime resurgence of the spirit of Tyre … this being the same spirit that inhabits Babylon, the Great City. These are both shown to be seafaring entities that amass great wealth. And, in each case God intervenes, Tyre being the foreshadowing of the annihilation of Babylon the Great City.

Ship-shape for the End-times

Ship-shape is an old saying originating in the 1600s, meaning orderly or organized. To be ship-shape was to be ready and fitted for a journey. In this sense, the world is rapidly becoming “ship-shape” for the last days. But, you may be surprised to learn that the shape of the times also has to do with ships … yes, seafaring vessels. It is an interesting development of our day that is prophetically significant.

In Revelation 18, we read the account of one of the last epic events on earth before the Millennium begins—the sudden destruction of Babylon the Great:

‘In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin’ (verses 17-19).

This account is somewhat puzzling. It is the end of days—supposedly a modern time—and a world-impacting destruction is taking place, where seemingly only people engaged in seafaring trade are weeping and mourning. We envision sea captains, and those who make their living from trade, standing afar off throwing dust on their heads. This is strange. What about the rest of the people of the world? Why is it that ships are mentioned so prominently?

Ships are referred to one additional time in the book of Revelation, this at the time after the second trumpet, as mentioned. “The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed” (Revelation 8:8-9).

To conclude, both references to the prominence of ships mentioned in Revelation concern the time of the Great Tribulation. While that time is yet future, it is already possible to see the shadows of that time reflected in worldwide trends. So it is with ships. In fact, reviewing the developments within the world’s marine industry over the past half-century, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that future events spoken of in Revelation are fast approaching.

Shipping in Biblical Times

Shipping developments in the world today are unprecedented and fascinating. But before we investigate this global industry, let’s first examine what the Bible has to say about ships. We find that several types are mentioned in the Bible—for example, smaller boats of the size that might ply the Sea of Galilee, or papyrus boats.

In the Old Testament, we find another type mentioned, which in Hebrew roughly means “transporter of Tarshish.” Many Bible versions simply translate this phrase as the word ship. However, in doing so, something is lost in the translation.

The ships of Tarshish were the transport ships of the Mediterranean, the Red Sea area, and possibly the Indian oceans. One could consider this term as a class of ship such as we today use the classification of Panamax (ocean-going vessels sized to pass through the Panama Canal)[1] or Great Lakes freighter (the ship size that can navigate the North American Great Lakes, the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence River). There are numerous other classes.

The ships of Tarshish were the trading ships of ancient times. For example, King Solomon had “a fleet of trading ships [navy of Tarshish] at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons” (1 Kings 10:22).

In the New Testament, however, Tarshish is never associated with the word ship. Of course, by this time, the world trading empire of Tyre (which was associated with Tarshish) had disappeared many centuries before. Besides, the Greeks themselves were a seafaring nation. Therefore, a trading ship would not be referred to as a “ship of Tarshish.”

To the Greeks, a ship was a trading ship. The key to see is that ships are generally associated with the notion of goods trade—in other words, the import and export of merchandise. The two times that ships are mentioned in Revelation, we should consider that the text is referring to this type of sea vessel—the trading ship. Clearly, trade is a big preoccupation of the world at that future time. Is that time near?

In Part II, we will lay out the evidence for the answer to that question. Global shipping has been completely transformed over the last six decades. In our view, its trend represents another one of those fast-moving, exponential time pieces of the last days that mark the “season” of our times.

About the Author: Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. You can contact him at staff@eternalvalue.com.

[1] Ships classified as Panamax are of the maximum dimensions that will fit through the locks of the Panama Canal, each of which is 1000 ft long by 110 ft wide and 85 ft deep.

The Bible is full of prophecies about the endtime conditions of people’s pocketbooks. Many of today’s financial and economic developments that we observe would already broadly qualify as future fulfillment of these prophecies. For example, Scripture clearly speaks of a last day globalization of the world’s economies, its geopolitical convergence, and the related temptations it poses for believers. A major manifestation of this threat is what we have come to call the “Endtime Money Snare.”

An intensive commercialization of the world occurs in the last days. Most prominently, this is seen in Revelation 17—18. Crucially, the Old Testament also shows foreshadows of this future unfolding condition. A major one is found in the Bible’s account of the city of Tyre. Satan himself, the fallen angel, is shown to inhabit Tyre’s trading prowess and wealth.

Interestingly, many prophecies are found in the Bible that apply to this ancient commercial trading juggernaut of its day. For example, it would be destroyed, but then again is to rise for a time. Yet, when will this happen? Just who or what is this revived Tyre? There is a strong case to be made that the spirit of Tyre is the very same spirit that inhabits the trading colossus of the end times, Babylon the Great.

 

The Modern Day Prophetic Type of Tyre

The Bible’s account of Tyre’s reign and fall makes for a convincing parallel to the accounts of Babylon the “great city” shown in Revelation. Some background on ancient Tyre therefore would be helpful. Who was Tyre? It was a Phoenician trading port on the shores of the Mediterranean, north of Israel. At its prime (700 to 600 BC), it was the most powerful and prosperous sea-trading nation of its time, with prominent colonies in Cyprus and around the Mediterranean.

An extensive account of its enormous economic clout is given in Ezekiel 26:1-21. It was an extremely rich nation—“By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth,” Ezekiel tells us in chapter 28, verse 5.

They were the masters of trade … in fact, dishonest trade, according to Ezekiel 28:18. Associated with Sidon, another Phoenician city in the Levant, outposts of its trading empire included Carthage and Tarshish (believed to be on the eastern coast of modern-day Spain). In 332 BC, already reduced to an island city, Tyre was finally and permanently destroyed by Alexander the Great, fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecies that she would become “a bare rock … a place to spread fishnets” (Ezekiel 26:4-5, 14). But, that would not be the end of Tyre … at least not for the spirit of Tyre.

The Biblical accounts of Tyre must be seen to be significant. Why? For several reasons. Firstly, there are more prophecies in the Bible about Tyre and its two sister cities, Sidon and Tarshish, than any other nation or city group except Judah and Israel.

Tyre is mentioned prophetically more times than ancient Babylon, Egypt and Assyria … even Rome or the revived Roman Empire. By my count, there are 21 prophecies naming Tyre or her sister cities. Jesus Christ and seven prophets—Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Joel, Amos and Zechariah—made prophetic statements about Tyre. Ezekiel himself made a total of eight prophecies against Tyre and its related sister city states.

Why is so much attention given to Tyre in the Bible … both in the Old and New Testament?

There must be a reason. The Bible presents Tyre as an archetype of all nations that put their faith in their economic might and dishonesty (lying particularly). And, this may be the most significant reason: Many of the prophecies concerning Tyre refer to a future fulfillment that is yet to occur.

We count as many as 10 such prophecies. Most certainly, at least seven of these have endtime implications. These speak of the re-emergence of a great materialistic trading system. If Tyre serves as a foreshadowing of the last-day Babylon the Great (which is our view), then we should consider that the major architect behind its rise will be the Spirit of Tyre; namely, Satan himself.

Without a doubt, the, Bible shows that the spirit behind the trading nation of Tyre is Satan:

Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; […] You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. […] All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more’ (Ezekiel 28:12-19).

These verses we have quoted leave no doubt as to the nature of the spirit behind the ancient rise of Tyre.

Crucially, Bible prophecy tells us that this spirit of Tyre would again rise in the endtimes. Where do we find this prophecy? Isaiah 23:17 says: “At the end of seventy years, the LORD will deal with Tyre. She will return to her hire as a prostitute and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.”

The term “seventy years” in this verse figuratively reflects the notion of an era … or a generation. In other words, “after an era,” Tyre would return to her hire as a prostitute (aligning with the prostitute of Revelation 17). This must be yet future, though its precedent developments are clearly already visible in our day. According to history, there is no record of Tyre having revived within 70 literal years to ply trade again with the entire world. That has not happened to this day. Also, it is only after globalization has swept the world that Tyre can trade with “all the kingdoms on the face of the earth.”

Another reason we can know that the re-emergence of the spirit of Tyre will occur in the end times is because of this prophecy: “Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the LORD, for abundant food and fine clothes” (Isaiah 23:18). These conditions can only occur once the Millennium takes place.

 

Spirit of Endtime Tyre Here Today

The wicked, demonic spirit behind Tyre returns to the world scene in the last days. In our view, Endtime Tyre has already begun to rise on the world stage, and the Great City of Babylon is its New Testament parallel (Revelation 18). In other words, the Bible’s accounts of Tyre provide a foreshadowing of the last-day Babylon the Great.

Viewing world financial and monetary trends and developments today, the advanced state of globalization, and a great frenetic fixation with wealth and global trade, one cannot be faulted for thinking that the commercial aspects of Babylon the Great City and the ancient spirit of Tyre are already in existence.

Do endtime Tyre and the commercial colossus of Babylon the Great already exist today? In my view, yes. However, that is not to say that prophecies have yet been fully fulfilled. We cannot know Babylon’s exact time of judgment described in Revelation, nor how perverse it may become. But, its dangerous, controlling and deceiving presence has clearly emerged upon the world, erupting in a very short space of time—not much more than two hundred years. Any economic historian would agree that a rapid phenomenon has gripped the world since the late 1700s or so.

A vast commercial colossus now spans the entire earth, the very essence of its driving force being the worship of earthly wealth (materialism). Seen in terms of its underlying motivations and spirit, it is deeply corrupt and violent—based on deceitful trading and lying (see Zechariah 5). While some people will wince at these statements, it can be factually proven.

The account of Babylon the Great City in Revelation—this the last-day manifestation of ancient Tyre—may sound out of date, talking about commodities such as myrrh and frankincense … items that are hardly the staple of today’s global trade. That may be true. However, these and 25 other commercial terms mentioned (including iron, bronze and wood) all are still in use today. We would not expect the Apostle John to have specifically mentioned cargoes of computer chips or flat-screen TVs.

Also mentioned is that that Endtime Babylon’s trade would be carried in ships. Even in this day of motorized transportation and transcontinental airplanes, the reader may be surprised to know that sea trade (marine shipping) is still by far the most prominent form of the transportation of goods in the world today. Ships remain the very backbone of the world’s trading system. Well over 90% of all global trade in goods is still carried in the hull of ocean-going ships.

The pictures provided of Babylon the Great in Revelation 18 are hardly out of date. When that day of Babylon the Great’s judgment comes in full fulfillment, indeed, “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off” (verse 17) as they watch its destruction. “‘Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!’” (verse 19).

Points to Ponder

Reviewing the evidence, readers may already conclude that Babylon the Great City—a world spanning commercial system—is in her prime today. Indeed, such a system is already evident in our times. However, we cannot say that Bible prophecy is completely fulfilled. One reason is that the Tribulation period has not yet started.

Revelation 18:23 says that Babylon the Great will lead “all the nations… astray” with her magic spell. It is an observation that should immediately put Christians on guard. Could the magic spell of this endtime financial manifesto be leading Christians off the narrow path as well? Are we steering our lives to the siren call of the luxuries and false wealth of this idolatrous endtime commercial system?

These are serious questions, because a very dire warning is given. The Lord’s people are admonished to come out of her so that they “will not share in her sins … for her sins are piled up to the heavens” (verses 4-5). Even though the Church will have been raptured away before the great catastrophic collapse of this endtime commercial system occurs, we will still be held accountable for our complicity and the participation of our hearts while this system took form and became world-dominating. Whether or not the interpretation of Babylon the Great presented here is correct, the warning it presents to Christians today surely remains relevant.

Scripture many times reaffirms the fact that it is God alone that raises and tears down. As soon as man claims his prosperity and might are the result of his own acumen and power, destruction soon follows. Moses spoke of this principle during his last admonishments to Israel before they went into Canaan under Joshua’s leadership:

“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed” (Deuteronomy 8:17-19).

Another example of man’s conceited folly is found in Nebuchadnezzar. He boasted, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). He said this as he viewed the peak of splendor of his kingdom from his illustrious balcony. No sooner had the words come out that God struck him down immediately with a mental illness for a period of seven years. A similar condition will apply for the world in the seven-year Tribulation period.

The King of Tyre betrayed the same self-reliant attitude. “‘In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas’” (Ezekiel 28:2). We see here again that the spirit behind Babylon is the same as the one behind the commercial colossus of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:12-19). We also see this spirit run rampant across the last-day world in Revelation 18, where it speaks of Babylon the Great in commercial terms. It is infused with the same attitude: “I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn” (Revelation 18:7).

Destruction will be sudden and swift when it comes. “Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great” (Revelation 18:2). Her doom comes in one hour.

The world is indeed shaking and tremoring.  Financial markets are manic and volatile. The world’s economic and trading systems groan with imbalances and high risks. It is not unreasonable to conclude that the time of judgment cannot be far off. The Day of the Lord approaches ever nearer!

About the Author: Wilfred J. Hahn is a global economist/strategist. Formerly a top-ranked global analyst, research director for a major Wall Street investment bank, and head of Canada’s largest global investment operation, his writings focus on the endtime roles of money, economics and globalization. He has been quoted around the world and his writings reproduced in numerous other publications and languages. You can contact him at staff@eternalvalue.com.