Messianic Prophecies

Around 80% of the Bible’s predictions have already been fulfilled. That does not mean that the Bible is only 80% accurate. Far from it in fact. I venture to say that the Bible is 100% accurate and will be proven to be so as time transpires. The remaining 20% of Bible prophecy are yet to be realized, simply because they relate to events immediately before, during and after the second coming of Messiah (which hasn’t happened yet but will happen).

As Christians, we believe our Savior’s name is the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s important to understand that “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name, but rather a title. The word “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Christos” which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah. When we say, “Jesus Christ” we are literally saying, “Jesus the Christ” or “Jesus the Messiah.” But are these claims valid? Can we be sure that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah?

Through what we call Messianic Prophecies, God provided a sure and certain way to recognize Messiah when He came. These are events written in the Bible, hundreds and even thousands of years before they would take place in time. Think about that. Only God could reveal such amazing detail to His prophets, millennia in advance of the historical events.

God had declared that His Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), and a son of David (Jer. 23:5,6; 1 Chron. 17:10b-14). God had also said that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14), in the surroundings of poverty (Isa. 11:1-2), in Bethlehem, the city of David (Micah 5:2). He would be proceeded by a herald (Isa. 40:3-5, Mal. 3:1), be seen riding on a donkey (Zech. 9:9, 10) and would be present 483 years after the decree was made to rebuild Jerusalem, after the Babylonian captivity (Dan. 9:24-27). He would be a prophet (Deut. 18:15-19; Isa. 61:1, 2), a priest (Psalm 110:1-7) and a king (Gen 49:10; Isa. 9:6,7).

But there’s more. He would be legally tried and condemned to death and would suffer and die (Isa. 50;4-9; 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22), by means of piercing his hands and feet (Zech. 12:10; 13:7; Psalm 22), his death would be substitutionary (in the place of others), he would be buried in a rich man’s tomb and he would be resurrected from the dead (Isa. 52:13-53:12; Psalm 16:1-11; Psalm 22).

All in all, around 330 prophecies such as these were fulfilled by Jesus in His first coming, and as I have indicated above, many more will be fulfilled when He comes back to earth.

Amazingly, more than 30 prophecies were fulfilled in just one day – the day Jesus Christ died!

Ps. 41:9 – Mark 14:10 – Betrayed by a friend

Zech. 11:12 – Matt. 26:15 – Price: 30 pieces of silver

Zech. 11:12 – Matt. 27:3-7 – Money used to buy a field

Zech. 13:7 – Mark 14:50 – Shepherd killed, Sheep flee

Ps. 69:19 – Matt. 27:28-31 – Shame and dishonor

Ps. 35:11 – Mark 14:56 – False witnesses

Ps. 22:1 – Matt. 27:46 – He cries out to God

Ps. 22:8 – Matt. 27:43 – Challenge for God to save Him

Ps. 22:14 – Jn. 19:34 – Water flows out of wound

Ps. 22:16 – Matt. 27:35 – They crucify Him

Ps. 22:17 – Matt. 27:36 – They stare at Jesus on the cross

Ps. 22:18 – Jn. 19:24 – Gambled for His clothes

Ps. 22:31 – Luke 23:4 – Jesus declared faultless

Isa. 50:6 – Matt. 27:26-30 – Spat on and mocked

Isa. 52:14 – Jn. 19:5,14 – A broken man, yet King

Isa. 53:4, 5 – Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet 2:24 – He bears our sins & sicknesses

Isa. 53:7 – Matt. 27:13, 14 – He opened not His mouth

Isa. 53:7 – Jn. 1:29 – Jesus the Lamb of God

Isa. 53:8 – Jn. 11:50-52 – Jesus died not for Himself but for His people

Isa. 53:9 – Matt. 27:57-60 – Laid in a rich man’s tomb

Isa. 53:12 – Luke 22:37 – Numbered with the transgressors

Isa. 53:12 – Luke 23:34 – Jesus prays for His killers

Ps. 109:24 – Matt. 27:32 – Too weak to carry cross

Ps. 69:3 – Jn. 19:28 – Jesus thirsty

Ps. 69:21 – Jn. 19:29 – Given vinegar to drink

Ps. 38:11 – Luke 23:49 – Friends stand afar off

Ps. 109:25 – Matt. 27:39, 40 – Mocking heads

Ps. 31:5 – Luke 23:46 – He gives up His spirit

Exo 12:46 – Jn. 19:36 – His bones not broken

Gen. 3:15 – Jn. 19:18 – Satan bruises Jesus’ heel on cross

Amos 8:9 – Matt. 27:45 – Darkness at crucifixion

Fulfilled Prophecy

Nathan Busenitz serves on the pastoral staff of Grace Church and teaches theology at The Master’s Seminary in Los Angeles. Here’s an article he wrote entitled “Answering Attacks On Biblical Prophecy.” (original source – https://thecripplegate.com/answering-attacks-on-biblical-prophecy/)

Fulfilled prophecy is one of the strongest evidences for the truthfulness of the Bible and the authenticity of Jesus Christ.

Numerous Old Testament predictions were fulfilled perfectly in Christ. As the apostle Peter preached: “To Him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43).

Our Lord Himself, on the road to Emmaus, demonstrated how the Old Testament pointed to Him as the Messiah. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). Jesus’ life, which culminated in His death, burial, and resurrection, was the perfect fulfillment of God’s prior revelation (Matt. 5:17); everything took place “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4).

Though the evidence is overwhelming, unbelieving critics and skeptics raise objections nonetheless. In their unwillingness to embrace the truth, they propose alleged “problems” with biblical prophecy. But how are Christians to answer those kind of critical attacks?

In this post, I’d like to briefly respond to five common objections to biblical prophecy:

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Critical Objection 1: Many biblical prophecies were written after the events they predict.

This objection is usually reserved for prophecies that were both predicted and fulfilled during Old Testament times. (After all, it’s impossible to credibly assert that messianic prophecies from the OT post-date the life of Christ.) Continue reading

Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures

Dan Phillips is known for his writing on the Pyromaniacs blog and has served as a teacher, pastor, seminar speaker, newspaper columnist and radio talk show host. I have often enjoyed his fresh insights into the Scriptures, the fruit of his firm grasp of the original languages.

Just recently, he taught two sessions at the 2011 Ashford Bible Conference in my homeland of England. His theme was “Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures.”

I am sure that if you enjoy rich and in depth Bible teaching, you will be very much blessed by watching the two videos below.

Dan writes about his approach to this venture saying:
Continue reading

The Messianic Claims of Jesus Christ

As Christians, we believe our Savior’s name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Its important to understand that “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name, but rather a title. The word “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Christos” which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah. When we say, “Jesus Christ” we are literally saying, “Jesus the Christ” or “Jesus the Messiah.” But are these claims valid? Can we be sure that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah?

Through what we call Messianic Prophecies, God provided a sure and certain way to recognize His Messiah when He came. These are events written in the Bible, hundreds and even thousands of years before they would take place in time. Only God could reveal such amazing detail millennia in advance of the events.

God had declared that His Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), and a son of David (Jer. 23:5,6; 1 Chron. 17:10b-14). God had also said that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14), in the surroundings of poverty (Isa. 11:1-2), in Bethlehem, the city of David (Micah 5:2). He would be proceeded by a herald (Isa. 40:3-5, Mal. 3:1), be seen riding on a donkey (Zech 9:9, 10) and would be present 483 years after the decree was made to rebuild Jerusalem, after the Babylonian captivity (Dan. 9:24-27). He would be a king (Gen 49:10; Isa. 9:6,7), a priest (Psalm 110:1-7) and a prophet (Deut. 18:15-19; Isa. 61:1, 2). Continue reading