Question?
How do we know that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God?
The following links and prophesies from the Old Testament will offer
compelling evidence that He is the promised Messiah and
Saviour.
http://ia.essortment.com/isaiahprophecy_rlhs.htm
Isaiah is called the Messianic Prophet because so many of his
prophecies referred to a coming Messiah and a new world.
Isaiah is the longest prophetic book of the Jewish Bible. Isaiah, son
of Amoz, was born around 760 BC and lived in Jerusalem. He prophesied
during the reign of king Ahaz, of Judah. Isaiah was martyred during the
reign of Manasseh, apparently sawed in half. The name of Isaiah graces
the entire book, however he could not possibly be the author since
these writings of Isaiah span several centuries.
Modern scholars usually divide the Book of Isaiah into three sections,
representing three historical periods and at least three authors:
First Isaiah
Chapters 1-39 are referred to as First Isaiah. This is the part of the
prophecy that coincides with the lifetime of the historical Isaiah, the
end of the eighth century BC. During Isaiahs life span, Israel was
divided into two kingdoms, north and south. Isaiah lived in the south,
in Jerusalem. Assyria had conquered the north and taken the people back
to Ninevah as slaves. Throughout the life of Isaiah, Assyria was always
a threat to destroy Jerusalem. It never happened.
Second Isaiah
Chapters 40-55 are called Second Isaiah. The Assyrians are no longer
an empire and Babylon now rules the Middle East. The prophecies of
second Isaiah refer to the Jewish captivity in Babylon. The people were
demoralized and crushed.
Third Isaiah
Third Isaiah, chapters 56-66, brings us back to Jerusalem. It
emphasizes the promises of God, justice, and observance of the Law.
Isaiah is called the messianic prophet because he was continually
looking for one. Israel was always dealing with two serious threats:
That of being conquered (by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians,
Greeks, Egyptians, etc.) or of a weakening devotion to YHWH, which
always resulted in retribution form the Lord. The purpose of this
article is to point out Isaiahs specific messianic prophecies.
Prophecies
The first prophecy is one that John the Baptist referred to when he
was preparing the way for the Lord. It comes from Isaiah, chapter 40,
verses 3-5:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the
Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley
shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked
places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth. The glory of
the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for
the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Isaiahs foretelling of the virgin birth is recited every year at
Christmastime: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold,
the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name
Immanuel (God-with-us). (Is. 7: 14) Not only did Isaiah predict the
virgin birth, but also the place of the Messiahs ministry: By way of
the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles. (Is. 9: 1)
The prophet continues in the same chapter to tell of the coming
Saviors deity: For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and
the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of
Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no
end. Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and
establish it with judgment and justice. From that time forward, even
forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Is. 9: 6-7)
The most compelling prophecies are those that deal with the suffering
Savior. The latter part of Isaiah 52 and all of chapter 53 paint such
an accurate picture of the crucifixion that the similarities are
awesome. Here are a few of the verses:
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His
stripes we are healed. (v.5)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his
own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (v.6)
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He
was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers
is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (v.7)
There are many other verses in the chapter that, are hard to ignore if
you are familiar with the gospel accounts of Jesus trial and execution.
Many of Isaiahs other messianic prophecies deal with a time yet to come
and point to Christs second coming and the establishment of Gods
kingdom.
When Christ returns to earth, He will rule it. Behold, the Lord God
shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him. Behold,
His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He will feed the flock
like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them
in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. (Is.40: 10-11)
Justice and kindness will mark his reign. A bruised reed He will not
break, and smoking flax He will not quench; he will bring forth justice
for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established
justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law. To
open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison (Is.42: 3-4,7)
Many other prophecies point to a future kingdom:
A new heaven and new earth: (65:17, 66:22)
The final separation of the good from the wicked: (66:15, 22-24)
The earth will be destroyed: (25:8, 26:19)
A New World without war: (2:4, 65:25)
The Messiahs world influence: (49:7,23)
These are most of Isaiahs prophecies concerning a coming Messiah, and
what He will accomplish. He also made many prophecies concerning
Israel, many of which have been fulfilled. The success of Isaiah adds
evidence to the argument for the divine inspiration of the scriptures.
Matthew makes many references to Isaiahs prophecies concerning Jesus
birth in his gospel. John says: These things Isaiah said when he saw
His glory and spoke of Him. (John 12: 41)
Written by Gerry Berard
Copyright 2002 by PageWise, Inc
http://www.messianic-prophecy.net/
Messianic Prophecy: What Is It?
Messianic prophecy is the collection of over 100 predictions (a
conservative estimate) in the Old Testament about the future Messiah of
the Jewish people. These predictions were written by multiple authors,
in numerous books, over approximately 1,000 years. Messianic Prophecy
is so dramatic today, because with the discovery of the Dead Sea
Scrolls and the reliability of the Septuagint version of the Old
Testament (both of which have been proven to exist prior to the time
Jesus walked on the earth) you can be assured that these prophecies
were not ³conspired² after-the-fact.
Messianic Prophecy: Fulfillment by Jesus Christ
Messianic prophecy was fulfilled by the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Although many Jews did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, many did, and
they became the Jewish sect later known as the Christians.
Christianity, based in dramatic part on the fulfillment of historical
prophecy, spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire of the 1st
Century. Examine the prophecies yourself, and calculate the probability
of one man fulfilling just a handful of the most specific ones, and
you¹ll be amazed.
³Jesus said to them, ŒThis is what I told you while I was still with
you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law
of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.¹² Luke 24:44 (NIV)
The Old Testament verses are the prophecy; the New Testament verses
proclaim the fulfillment. Check them all out for yourself!
€ Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
€ A descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1;
Galatians 3:16)
€ Of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14)
€ Of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
€ Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
€ Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
€ Herod´s killing of the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
€ Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
€ Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isaiah
40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
€ Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
€ Would preach good news (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:14-21)
€ Would minister in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16)
€ Would cleanse the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12-13)
€ Would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree
to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
€ Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9;
Matthew 21:4-9)
€ Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
€ Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) involving:
- rejection (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5,48)
- betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3-4; John 13:18)
- sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
- silence before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
- being mocked (Psalm 22: 7-8; Matthew 27:31)
- beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26)
- spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
- piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31)
- being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
- praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
- piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
- given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke
23:36)
- no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32-36)
- buried in a rich man´s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
- casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)
€ Would rise from the dead!! (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
€ Ascend into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
€ Would sit down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
|
