• Zechariah, the Biblical prophet, was shown that
in the end, Jerusalem would be "...a burdensome stone (a
dilemma) for all people", and that all nations
would gather against Jerusalem to battle. (Zechariah
12:3)
• It was revealed to Ezekiel
in 592 B.C. that "in the latter days" Israel
would be gathered from all the nations from which they
had been scattered and brought back to the land of Israel.
(Ezekiel 11:17) In 70 A.D. Israel was taken captive
by the Romans, ultimately scattered across the entire
globe, and gathered again by UN mandate on May 14, 1948,
2,540 years after the original prophecy.
• Daniel was shown the precise time of Jesus Christ's
entry into Jerusalem and subsequent crucifixion, 483
years ahead to the day. (Daniel 9:20-27)
• Other prophets were shown much information about
the Messiah to come, family lineage, where He would
be born, where He would preach, and many details concerning
His death and resurrection.
• Such facts were repeatedly taught by Jesus, Paul,
Matthew, Peter, Apollos, and others as a demonstration
of the integrity and validity of the Scriptures.
Prophecies Concerning Jesus Christ
Let us look more closely into the prophecies about
the promised Messiah's fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
When the gospel of Jesus Christ was new to the world,
believers like Paul would venture into foreign lands
to bring a message to change people's minds that were
cemented into their set of beliefs and values. What
was able to catch their attention and convert them to
followers of Christ in city after city amongst so much
opposition?
See below what is recorded about Paul:
Acts 17:1 "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis
and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was
a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and
three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging [explaining],
that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead;
and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul
and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude,
and of the chief women not a few."
And again about the preacher Apollos:
Acts 18:24 "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born
at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures,
came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace.
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly,
shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."
And Peter writes:
2 Peter 1:19 "We have also a more sure [reaffirmed]
word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star [Jesus Christ]
arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved
by the Holy Ghost."
Here are just a few of the more
than 200 Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah
fulfilled in the New Testament.
You are encouraged to look these up in your Bible.
Many reference editions of the Bible cover these prophecies
in detail.
What Jesus Himself taught to His disciples after
the resurrection:
Luke 24:25 "Then he said unto them, 'O fools,
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and
to enter into his glory?'
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded
unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
himself."
Luke 24:44 "And he said unto them, 'These are
the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with
you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms, concerning me.'
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, 'Thus it is written, and thus
it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should
be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.' "
What is the Conclusion?
Have these facts caught your interest, as they did
the audiences of Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Jesus Himself?
The next step for you is to experience the life that
is contained in the Word of God. Jesus said in John
6:63, "...the words that I speak to you, they are
spirit, and they are life." We challenge you to
read the New Testament and experience this life first
hand. As God brings His life to your spirit, through
the vehicle of His written Word, the Bible, you will
experience the gifts of revelation, faith, and relationship
with Jesus Christ that have changed people's lives all
over the world for the past 2000 years.
A good place for you to begin reading is the Gospel
of John. We are confident that if you search with an
open and honest heart, you, too, will experience the
new life (new birth) that comes through knowing Jesus
Christ. Here is a final scripture for you to consider:
John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
next
article
»
