God Simplified

Category: Blog

These are insights, reflections and thoughts that I have.

  • Fulfilled Prophecies: The Link Between Old and New Testaments

    There’s an expression about the Old and New Testaments. It states: “The New is in the Old contained; the Old is the New explained.” When it comes to Christ, He is contained in the Old Testament. Meaning the Old is about and points to Christ. The Old is explained in the New by the person of Christ. This, basically, states that the prophecies “contained” in the Old Testament are “explained” or fulfilled by Christ in the New. Christ even said, referencing the Old Testament: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39)(NKJV). Christ told people that the Old Testament Scriptures were about Him. People then didn’t believe and many still don’t today. This article will tell you many prophecies from the Old Testament. These prophecies have been fulfilled in the New Testament by Christ. He is God the Son and the Second Person of the Trinity. He became human and was named Jesus.

    Three things will occur when you believe the fulfilled Old Testament Messianic Prophecy (Prophecies about the Messiah). First, is the great confidence it gives you. Prophecy fulfilled is one of the best ways for the Bible to show truthfulness and trustworthiness. No one-not any human being- knows the future. They can’t foretell what lies ahead. The only being who knows exactly how all things will play out, is our omniscient Father. The information I’m going to give you proves, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the validity of Christ being born. It also shows who He is, what He did, and why He came. It’s more than just a coincidence. It’s confidence. The probability of one man fulfilling these predictions is, mathematically, impossible. Jeff Kinley and Todd Hamson, Christian authors, speakers and experts in eschatology (study of biblical prophecy), wrote this. “Fulfilled prophecy is the built-in verification system that proves the Bible is indeed the Word of God…. Fulfilled prophecy separates the Bible from any other religious work”1

    Second, is the feeling of expectation. When we are expecting something, we get excited. When as the last time you were excited about the Lord or the Bible? Maybe once you read this, your outlook will change. Kinley and Hamson also said that “Every Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah was fulfilled-literally and exactly as Scripture predicted. Given this perfect track record, it stands to reason that every future prophecy will also be fulfilled in the same way.”2. How amazing is that?! Every single prophecy in the Old Testament has happened. It has come to pass exactly as it was written hundreds and thousands of years ago. To me, this is mind-boggling.

    Third, it gives us motivation and drive. Being convinced of the Lord’s inevitable return should make us want to please Him in all we say and do. It should motivate us to live life the way God expects-according to His will. When you are overjoyed and exhilarated by something, don’t you want to share it with others? Most do. So, why is it so hard for some people to share their faith? We, obviously, believe it’s true and it’s not called the “good news” for nothing. So hang on! There is a lot of Scripture here, but the facts are laid out and easy to understand.

    Various Old Testament Books

    We’ll start with the prophecy of the virgin birth. Isaiah 7:14 says “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (Emmanuel).” The Hebrew meaning of Immanuel is “God with us”. Matthew 1:23 reiterates the prophecy when recounting the birth of Jesus. He is fulfillment of the prophecy and embodies the concept of “God with us” or Immanuel.

    Numbers 24:17 say “…A star shall come out of Jacob….” Jacob wrestled with God all night when he was in Peniel, near the Jabbock River. Afterwards, God told Jacob that his name would no longer be Jacob but Israel (Genesis 32:28). In this verse, Jacob is synonymous with Israel, so the verse is saying a star will come out of Israel. This verse was in a series of four prophecies/blessings about Israel by Balaam (Numbers 22:41-24:25).

    Micah 5:2 states, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah…the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Bethlehem Ephrathah is the full and specific name for the town of Bethlehem. Jesus is the One to rule “from everlasting”. The verse says He will be Ruler in Israel. In the last days, God said He will make a “New Jerusalem” for the believers. Jerusalem serves as the capital city of Israel. So, it stands to reason that Christ will rule “New Jerusalem”. He will be the “One to be Ruler in Israel”.

    Hosea 11:1 says “…and out of Egypt I called My son.” This prophecy speaks to Jesus’ family fleeing Bethlehem to escape King Herod’s decree. The wise men who followed the star announcing Jesus’ birth went to Herod. They asked the whereabouts of the child who “…has been born King of the Jews…” (Matthew 2:2)(NKJV). Herod was worried about what the wise men had said. He ordered all the male children under the age of two, in Bethlehem, be killed. The Lord came to Joseph in a dream telling him to take his family and flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13). So the voice came from “out of Egypt”calling Jesus there.

    Abraham

    Genesis 22:18, Genesis 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:12-16. and Jeremiah 23:5-6 all discuss the Messiah descending from the family line of Abraham and David. “The scepter shall not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:10)(NKJV) He will descend from the tribe of Judah. God told Abraham that “In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed…(Genesis 22:18)(NKJV). Two thousand years later, Paul speaks of that promise to Abraham and his seed. Paul notes that God said “and your seed”-meaning one man. He did not say ‘and your seeds’-implying many (Galatians 3:16). That one man, or seed, is Christ who came to bless and save all nations.

    David

    God told David ” …Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)(NKJV). The house refers to David’s royal lineage and descendants, his dynasty. The kingdom points to David’s kingship or reign.The throne denotes David’s seat of authority, the right to rule through Davidic lineage. The promise is that his kingdom would be established forever, under the authority of his Greater Son, the Messiah King. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is Son of David and Messiah, reigning on the eternal throne of David. (In ancient Israel, the title “Son of David” was linked to the Messiah, the anointed One. This man would deliver Israel and restore the Davidic Kingdom. By accepting this title, Jesus demonstrated His Messianic identity and claim to inherit David’s throne. Jesus had legal claim to the throne through, His earthly father, Joseph’s lineage. He had a biological claim through his mother Mary’s lineage. If interested, the genealogy from Abraham to Jesus is located in Matthew 1:1-16).

    Moses

    Moses told the Israelites that “‘The Lord would raise up for them a Prophet like me from your midst…’” (Deuteronomy 18:15)(NKJV). The comparisons between Moses and Jesus are as follows:

    • They were both the son of a king (Pharaoh and God) but had Jewish parents.
    • At birth, a ruler tried to kill them.
    • They both were shepherds (a literal shepherd and the Good Shepherd).
    • They both tried to save their people.
    • They were rejected by their own people.
    • Miracles were done by each of them.
    • They were great teachers whose countenance (facial appearance or expression) glowed.
    • They both, ultimately, rescued their people from slavery.

    All of these comparisons identify Jesus as the One who was spoken of. He is “…worthy of more glory than Moses…”. (Hebrews 3:3)(NKJV).

    Zechariah

    The book of Zechariah holds many predictions that have come to pass. Zechariah 3:8-9 states that God is “…bringing forth My Servant…” and that He will “remove the iniquity of that land in one day” (NKJV). It announces the coming of the Messiah. It states that He will remove the sins of the people in one day. He will also bring restoration between humans and God. Zechariah predicted that the “king” will be “lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9)(NKJV). Jesus was very specific in the Gospels about the animal He rode into Jerusalem. It must have been a colt on which no one had sat (Mark 11:2). It proclaims in Zechariah 9:10 that He would “… speak peace to the nations.” His “dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea and from River to the ends of the earth’.” We know that Jesus spoke peace and is the embodiment of love. The verse also emphasizes that He will rule every corner of creation (from sea to sea). (The capital R in River is because they are referring to the Euphrates River. It is specified because it serves as an important geographical marker. It also marks symbolically the Messiah’s future reign because it signifies the border of the Promised Land.) It goes on to say that Jesus will be a shepherd-a Good Shepherd-to His people (Zechariah 9:16). In Zechariah 11:12-13, thirty pieces of silver was the “princely price they set” on the Lord. The silver, not being accepted, was thrown on the temple floor and given to a potter. In the New Testament, Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. After he realized his mistake and felt sorrow, he returned the silver to the religious leaders in the temple. The religious leaders, in turn, took the silver and bought a potter’s field. (In ancient times, a potter’s field was a burial place. It was most often used for people who were unknown, unclaimed, poor, or considered undeserving of a formal burial.) Finally, Zechariah 9:11 says “As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.” (NKJV). This explains the blood covenant (promise) we have because of Jesus. He shed His blood as a promise to wash away our sins. Due to this, we, formerly prisoners, have been set free.

    Isaiah

    The book of Isaiah foretold events that would occur 700 years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah 61:1-3 prophesied the coming Messiah would:

    • be “anointed” “to preach good tidings to the poor”
    • “heal the brokenhearted”
    • ”proclaim liberty to the captives”
    • open “the prison to those who are bound”
    • to proclaim “the day of vengeance of our God”
    • “to comfort all who mourn”
    • “to give them beauty for ashes”
    • give them “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”

    In Isaiah 9:1 we see more about Christ’s ministry.

    • It would start in “the land of Zebulun and Naphtali.” These territories would become known as Galilee.
    • His ministry would be “by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan” and “in Galilee of the Gentiles.” This states that Jesus’ ministry started north of Israel in Galilee. He called His first two disciples, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, from the Sea of Galilee.

    Isaiah 35:5-6 (NKJV)tell us:

    • “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,”
    • ”and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”
    • ”Then the lame shall leap like a deer,”
    • ”and the tongue of the dumb sing.”
    • other signs and wonders shall be done

    The entire 53rd chapter (NKJV) of Isaiah speaks to the life of Christ:

    • vs 2 He would “grow up before Him as a tender plant”
    • vs 3 “He is despised and rejected by men”
    • vs 3 He is “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”
    • vs 3 “…and we did not esteem (respect and admire) Him”
    • vs 4 “Surely He has borne our grief and carries our sorrows”
    • vs 5 “He was wounded for our transgressions (sin, departure from God’s will)
    • vs 5 “He was wounded for our iniquities (evil, corruptness)”
    • vs 5 “by His stripes we are healed”
    • vs 6 “we like sheep have gone astray”
    • vs 6 “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”
    • vs 7 “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter”
    • vs 8 “He was cut off from the land of the living”
    • vs 8 “for the transgressions of My people He was stricken”
    • vs 9 “they made Him a grave with the wicked-but with the rich at His death”. (He was put to death on a cross like a criminal. After His death, He was placed in the tomb of a wealthy man.)
    • vs 9 “He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth”
    • vs 10 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (Not meaning the Lord took pleasure in His death. God was pleased that humans would be reconciled back to Him.)
    • vs 10 “You (God) make His(Jesus) soul an offering for sin”
    • vs 11 “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied” (God would be satisfied with the offering of Christ for the sins of all.)
    • vs 11 “By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many”
    • vs 11 “For He shall bear their iniquities”
    • vs 12 “because He poured out His soul unto death”
    • vs 12 “and He was numbered with the transgressors”
    • vs 12 “and He bore the sin of many”
    • vs 12 “and made intercession for the transgressors”

    Psalm

    One thousand years before the birth of Christ, King David predicted the next in Psalm:

    • 16:10 “…nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (the decay that typically occurs after death)
    • 22:1 “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (David predicted Jesus’ exact words.)
    • 22:15 “My strength is dried up” “My tongue clings to My jaws” (speaking of Jesus’ exhaustion and thirst)
    • 22:16 “they pierced my hands and feet”
    • 22:18 “they divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots”
    • 68:18 “You have ascended on high…” (foreshadowing the ascension of Christ)
    • 69:21a “they gave me gall(biter substance often linked to poison) for my food”
    • 69:21b “for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”

    These may be many, but they are only some of the predictions that relate to Christ’s first coming. The whole Old Testament story, beginning with Adam, includes figures like Abraham, Jacob, Boaz, David, Solomon, and other kings. It is not just a story about the nation of Israel. It is the story of one family line in the life of Israel: the lineage of the Messiah. The entire feel and topic of the Hebrew Scriptures look ahead to the arrival of a Prophet, Preacher, and King. He would save Israel and redeem (make right with God) the people of the world. Each and every prophecy about the Messiah has come true. Why would anyone choose not to believe in what’s to come? Jesus came and He’s coming again. He came, lived and died according to hundreds of foretellings about His birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection. There is no coincidence. He is exactly the Man the Old Testament says He is. He will return just as it is written. It is unavoidable. He is unmistakable.

    1. Todd Hamson and Jeff Kinley, The Prophecy Pros’ Illustrated Guide to Tough Questions About the End Times (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2012), 13.
    2. Ibid.,9

    David Jeremiah, Unmistakably Jesus. More than a Coincidence. Turning Point