ETHBAAL III

“Who?” you say.

Yes, at first glance this name is quite strange. But stay with me. In fact, there is an Ethbaal in your Bible, I Kings 16:31. He is the father of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, the most wicked woman our Scriptures have ever recorded. This was undoubtedly a marriage for politics. Because Ethbaal, as you may know, was certainly not a Jew. Etbaal was king of a nation that was already corrupted and would one day be swept away by history.

I speak of Phoenicia, and of its great city Tyre, located approximately in the area of ​​present-day Lebanon and Syria. “Phoenicia was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spanned the Mediterranean from 1500 BC to 300 BC,” according to Wikipedia.

“Furthermore, as Canaanites, they were unique in their remarkable maritime achievements… The Phoenicians were among the greatest merchants of their time and owed much of their prosperity to trade.”

In fact, Ezekiel’s prophecy mentions this commercial aspect of the Phoenician way, showing how it corrupted this civilization.

But until his demise, to rule these cities was to be a man of world power, glory, and riches. His influence spread throughout the world. Although they were not technically an empire, they were surrounded by and connected with empires, and the greatness of these connections became an integral part of Phoenicia.

Etbaal is called “king of the Sidonians” in the Kings passage, and Josephus adds that he was also king of Tyre, Sidon’s twin city. These were the main cities of the Phoenician culture.

“Ethbaal”, by the way, means “with Baal”. Baal was the predominant god of Israel’s enemies, and Ahab indulged in Baal worship to please his evil queen. Etbaal and her daughter were two of the reasons why God’s curse fell on the northern kingdom in 721 BC.

The name “Etbaal” was used by other kings of Tire for generations to come. One of them, Etbaal (or Itto-Baal) III, seems to be the subject of the initial prophecy given by Ezekiel in his 28th chapter. Josephus says that he was the one who reigned at the time of the fall of Jerusalem. Therefore, the words of Ezekiel 28 would apply to him, since judgment would soon come at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar (570 BC).

I list this man as one of the “seven” kings of Revelation 17:11, not solely because of any of the above facts. I number it by that prophecy of Ezekiel to which I have referred. There is possibly no clearer description anywhere in the Bible of a man so devoted to Satan’s program for this planet. He and Satan are simultaneously cursed, just as Satan and the serpent share a curse in Genesis 3. Listen carefully to the main points of this prophecy, paraphrased. God is speaking to the prince of Tyre, Et-baal III:

• You are proud.

• You say “I am a god.”

• Your riches have been earned by your superior knowledge and wisdom.

• Your success in trade has lifted your heart.

• Strangers come against you.

• You will be thrown into a well.

But keep listening as God now speaks to the king – the true ruler – of Tyre, Satan himself, incarnate in this wicked man:

• In fact, you were perfectly wise and beautiful.

• You were in Eden.

• You were the first of the angels created.

• By being involved in commerce on earth, you became violent and entered into sin.

• I throw you out.

• You were still proud.

• I throw you to the ground.

• I allowed you (within Ethbaal) to be reduced to ashes.

• You will no longer be.

Part of this prophecy seems to speak of Satan’s final judgment in the lake of fire.

We compare what we have seen here with others of its kind, and with the final model called the antichrist and ask, is this the one who will be resurrected in the last days? Notice his characteristics compared to those of the antichrist:

• Proud

• Exalted above God, wanting to be God

• World Ruler

• As a descendant of the Canaanites, a true enemy of Israel

• Filled with Satan and cursed with him

• A violent end

Yes, it seems to qualify, doesn’t it? Could he go back and try to complete his work against Israel and Israel’s God? I think.