CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES

Jesus Christ, the Fulfillment of Prophecy.

 

One of the most prevalent evidences which may be presented as proof of the inspiration of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus Christ is the number of recorded and fulfilled prophecies which were made of Him. The prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Jesus Christ are similar to arrows that are shot in the dark. They were recorded at various times; ranging from four hundred to fifteen hundred years before Christ. It was humanly impossible for the prophets to see the fulfillment by their own foresight. Thus they shot into the dark. However, each of the statements finds its fulfillment in the coming of Jesus Christ. The inevitable conclusion is that God inspired the words of the prophecies and that the One that fulfilled all of them must be divine.

But the question might be asked concerning the proof of the dates of these prophecies. In other words, how do we know that these prophecies were written so many years before Christ? Much could be written in answer to this question, but the following quotation will furnish enough to settle the question:

“It cannot be truthfully said that these prophecies concerning the Christ are history and that they were written after events. This has been said, but how unjustly, may be seen in the following acts:

• The whole Old Testament was translated into the Greek language fully 280 years before Christ. The Septuagint version is still highly prized. But the books of the Old Testament must have been regarded as sacred long before this version was made.
• The language and style prove the Old Testament to be very ancient.
• The Old Testament is itself reliable history, and from this and other sources the dates of several books may be known within certain limits. Isaiah was written at least 650 years before the era of Christ; Daniel was written before the close of the seventy years of Babylonian captivity, and hence not later than 536 BC. The Psalms of David were a thousand years old when Jesus suffered on the cross and rose from the dead. The last book, Malachi, was four hundred years old when John the Baptist appeared as the one who should harbinger the Messiah's coming.
• The events predicted concerning the Messiah took place at the beginning of the Christian age, and many of them which concern His kingdom are transpiring in our own time.”

(Everest, Divine Demonstration. Pg. 349)

Having shown that the books of the Old Testament were written at such a time that it was impossible for the writers to foresee the future by their own power and that they could not have a part in bringing to pass the fulfillment thereof, we are now ready to consider examples of prophetic utterances and the record of their fulfillment. These shall be presented in the following manner. First, there will be a statement of what was prophesied. Following this statement will be a reference to the Old Testament prophecy, followed by the reference to the New Testament which tells of the fulfillment.

 I. Christ's kingdom was to be established during the days of the Roman Empire .

Prophecy: Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

In Daniel 8 , there is an extensive breakdown in the history leading up to this last kingdom of Rome ( Babylon , Media & Persia , Greece , and then Rome ).

Fulfilled: Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,”

Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

The Letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul, while in prison in Rome and shows the kingdom to be in existence. In addition the letter to the Hebrews was written later in the first century during Roman rule and also shows the kingdom to be in existence.

 II. Christ was to be born of the seed of woman (apart from natural procreation).

Prophecy: Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

Fulfilled: Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”

 III. Christ was to be of the seed of Abraham.

Prophecy: Genesis 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Fulfilled: Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.”

Matthew 1:1 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:”

 IV. Christ was to be of the seed of Judah .

Prophecy: Genesis 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah , Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Fulfilled: Hebrews 7:14 “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah , of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.”

 V. Christ was to be of the seed of David.

Prophecy: Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord , "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.”

Fulfilled: Matthew 1:1 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:”

Luke 1:32 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”

 VI. Christ was to be born in Bethlehem .

Prophecy: Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

Fulfilled: Matthew 2:1-6 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' "

 VII. Christ was to be born of a virgin.

Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Fulfillment: Matthew 1:22-23 “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

 VIII. There was to be a slaughter of babes after His birth.

Prophecy: Jeremiah 31:15 “Thus says the Lord : "A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more."

Fulfilled: Matthew 2:17-18 “Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."

 IX. The Christ was to be preached by a forerunner who would come in the power of Elijah.

Prophecy: Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord .”

Fulfilled: Matthew 11:11-14 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

 X. Jesus was to preach in Galilee .

Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-2 “Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.”

Fulfilled: Matthew 4:13-16 “And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."

  XI. The Christ was to perform miracles.

Prophecy: Isaiah 35:5-6 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.”

Fulfilled: Matthew 11:4-5 “Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

 XII. The Christ was to teach in parables.

Prophecy: Psalm 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,”

Fulfillment: Matthew 13:34-35 “All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

XIII. His public ministry was foretold by Isaiah.

Prophecy: Isaiah 42:1-3 "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.”

Fulfilled: Matthew 12:15-21 “But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 18 "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust."

 XIV. His entry into Jerusalem was foretold by Zechariah.

Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem ! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Fulfilled: Matthew 21:4-5 “All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion , 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

 XV. He would be numbered with transgressors.

Prophecy: Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”

Fulfilled: Luke 22:37 “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end."

Luke 23:33 “And when they had come to the place called Calvary , there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”

 XVI. His garments would be parted and lots cast over them.

Prophecy: Psalm 22:18 “They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Fulfilled: John 19:23-24 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things.”

 XVII. They would look on Him whom they have pierced.

Prophecy: Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

Fulfilled: John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.; 37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."

“In a day when Israel knew no other method of execution than that of stoning, it is a striking fact that the prophet referred not only to the betrayal of the coming Savior, but to His pierced palms as well.” ( Rimmer, Internal Evidence of Inspiration. Pg. 220)

 XVIII. None of His bones would be broken.

Prophecy: Psalm 34:20 “He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.”

Fulfilled: John 19:33 “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.; 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken."

 XIX. He would be with the rich in His death (the kind of burial He would have).

Prophecy: Isaiah 53:9 “And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.”

Fulfilled: Matthew 27:57-60 “Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.”

 XX. His resurrection was foretold by David.

Prophecy: Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Fulfilled: Acts 2:30 -31 “Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”

We have now considered twenty prophecies of the Old Testament which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. This does not exhaust the list by any means but it is enough to show clearly that the prophets shot many arrows of prophecy and they all found their mark in fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

It is interesting to note at this point, that many of these prophecies, the fulfillment lie in control of those whom had no part in them and nothing to gain by them (His garments being cast lots for, who He would be executed with, slaughter of babes, etc.). This must be considered as testimony against those who would say that He knew the prophecies and just followed them in an attempt to deceive.

After His resurrection, Jesus said: Luke 24:44

“Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Based on this evidence we may conclude that the prophets were inspired of God and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Next: “ Who Wrote the New Testament and When Was it Written? ”