HE CAME, HE’S COMING BACK, HE IS HERE
You can test the prophetic accuracy of Scripture by asking this one question:
Did it come to pass?
This is really the only way to know if something that is prophesied is true or not. Let’s consider some of these prophecies from the Old Testament.
Let’s look at the places where the Old Testament accurately predicts Jesus’ birth and death. In answering the question of where the Old Testament predict Jesus’ birth and death, I want to divide the listings into two categories. We will first start with those pointing to his birth, and then those pointing to his death.
Old Testament Predictions of Jesus’ Birth
You can test the prophetic accuracy of Scripture by asking this one question: Did it come to pass? This is really the only way to know if something that is prophesied is true or not. Let’s consider some of these prophecies from the Old Testament.
Let’s look at the places where the Old Testament accurately predicts Jesus’ birth and death. In answering the question of where the Old Testament predict Jesus’ birth and death, I want to divide the listings into two categories. We will first start with those pointing to his birth, and then those pointing to his death.
Old Testament Predictions of Jesus’ Birth
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
This Scripture points to the manner in which he will born, and also to one of the names given to Christ: Immanuel, meaning God with us. This was pointing to both his human birth and his divine nature. This was written over 700 years before Christ was born.
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
We know Jesus was born in Bethlehem and this Scripture tells us in advance the place Jesus would be born. This prophecy was written by Micah approximately 800 years before Christ was born.
Hosea 11:1“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
This prophecy was written by Hosea also approximately 800 years before Christ was born. This verse looks backward and forward. Remember the Israelites were slaves in Egypt when God brought them out. Also remember that Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with the baby Jesus to avoid the slaughter by Herod. This verse can apply to both of those situations. However, it was referred to by Matthew in his writings (Matthew 2:14-15).
Old Testament Predictions of Jesus’ Death
One place we can turn to that accurately predicts Christ’s death is Psalm 22. I will highlight a few verses from this Psalm.
Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Psalm 22:7-8 “All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the Lord,’ they say, ‘let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’”
Psalm 22:16-18 “Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
This Psalm was written by David approximately 1000 years before Christ came. I just want to highlight within this Psalm the many references to the actual crucifixion of Christ. I will include the New Testament reference for each of these:
• Jesus cried out “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)
• They mocked and hurled insults shaking their heads at Jesus (Matthew 27:39, Mark 15:29)
• They shouted “He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord save him” (Matthew 27:41-43)
• They nailed him to a cross piercing his hand and feet (Matthew 27:35)
• They divided his clothes and cast lots for them (Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34)
The accuracy and specific nature of David’s prophecy has caused some skeptics to believe it was written after the crucifixion had already taken place. But the evidence shows this was written about 1000 years before. If someone should ever ask you where the Old Testament predicts Jesus birth and death, this Psalm should be included in the conversation. Especially if you are talking about his death.
Another great passage to turn to is Isaiah 53. The whole chapter refers to Christ, but I want to highlight a few verses.
Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:9 “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”
Again, when you read the scriptures, it is amazing how accurate and reliable Bible prophecies are. If you consider the test of the truth of prophecy, mentioned in Deuteronomy, then the Bible passes with flying colors.
DANIEL 9:26 After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end.
EVERY JEWISH SCHOLAR AND SEEKER KNOWS IT WAS 70AD THAT THE SECOND TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED
What Does All This Mean?
As we have looked back to consider Old Testament prophecies, there is one thing I want you to take away from all this. The Bible can be trusted. It is the living active word of God and you can depend on what God has spoken in his word. What has been predicted has either already come to pass or it will. It’s just a matter of time. I want to leave you with two truths about Scripture that Jesus stated about the word of God:
Matthew 5:18 “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
JUST AS JESUS FIRST COMING WAS PREDICTED WITH SUPERNATURAL ACCURACY….SO IS HIS SECOND COMING ALREADY PROPHESIED AND A SURE THING.
Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
Matthew 24:42 Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
1 Corinthians 1:7 So that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:4 …and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.
Luke 21:25 There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13 Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
John 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
Matthew 25:31 But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
HE CAME, HE’S COMING BACK, HE IS HERE