> 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)
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