The value of prophecy
1/20/2010 3:54:21 PM
Fulfilled prophecies and the reliability of Scripture


 

In the dictionary, 'prophecy' is just one page removed from 'promise'-- when it is God who breathes the prophecy, you can count on it as a promise.  God spoke through the Old Testament prophets (Micah, Isaiah, Zechariah, et.al),  to prepare the people for the Messiah's birth.


When Jesus Christ was born, He was the fulfillment of about 60 major prophecies concerning the Messiah.  These were promises given to God's people.
Christianity rides on the fulfillment of these prophecies in our Lord.  Is Scripture reliable?  Was Jesus who He claimed to be?  Well, what happened?

Take a look at what God the Father said about the place of prophecy- I have declared the former things from the beginning; they went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it.  Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Even from the beginning I have declared it to you;  before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, lest you should say, "My idol has done them, and my carved image and my molded image have commanded them."  Isaiah 48:3,5
And then Jesus said: Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17

Look at just eight of the prophecies about Jesus:
--that He would be: (I have abbreviated the prophetic verse for you)

Born in Bethlehem  prophecy:  Micah 5:2           fulfillment: Matthew 2:1, 2:4-8, Luke 2:4-7; John 7:42
But you, Bethlehem...out of you shall come forth the One
  to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting  
 
Preceded by a messenger (john the baptist)                   Isaiah 40:3                                 Matthew 3:1-2, 11:10, Luke 1:17; John 1:23
A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord...'

 

Would enter Jerusalem                                      Zechariah 9:9  Matthew 21:6-11, Luke 19:35-37a
 on a donkey   Your King is coming to you...lowly and riding on a donkey...
 
Betrayed by a friend                           Psalm 41:9                                    Matthew 10:4
 Even my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up
  his heel against me.
 
Sold for 30 pieces of silver                                 Zechariah 11:12  Matthew 26:15
  'if it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.' So they weighed
  out for my wages 30 pieces of silver.
Money thrown down, used to buy                          Zechariah 11:13          Matthew 27:5, 27:7
 a potter's field
 I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.
Dumb before His accusers                                 Isaiah 53:7                                   Matthew 27:12
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.
Hands and feet pierced                                      Psalm 22:16    Luke 23:33
   They pierced My hands and feet.                   **this was not the way of execution at the time this prophecy was written; crucifixion
came in with Roman rule
 
**The chance that any man might have lived and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th--
1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000        Science Speaks, Peter Stoner
 
Look at the details of these prophecies--most written some 700 years before the birth of Jesus-- in the last weeks, we have read of these events taking place.  We have been able to picture Jesus entering Jerusalem, the betrayal in the Garden, and how He stood silent at trial.  We winced as the tent pegs were driven through His wrists and tops of His feet. . . prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Remember that these are just eight of the five dozen prophecies.  Yet. . . so many missed Him.  They were not looking.
 
Please do not be found as 'one not looking'-- God is trustworthy because he keeps his promises; He is trustworthy because Jesus Christ was the exact fulfillment of five dozen prophecies/promises spoken hundreds of years before His birth.  Are you looking for Jesus to return again in the clouds?  He will, you know. . . it is a promise!?   
 
So that you may know,
Christine 
 
 
?Acts 1.11; 1 Thessalonians 4.17
'Want more?  Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell; Who Made God? and answers to over 100 other tough questions of faith, Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler; The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel