17 prophecies of Christ
The life of Jesus Christ fulfilled 60 major Old Testamant prophecies and 270 ramifications. The chances of him fulfilling only 8 prophecies, mathematically, would be 1 chance in 100,000,000,000,000,000. (Equivalent to covering the state of Texas with silver dollars 2 feet deep.)
I will cover 17 prophecies in this study. The chances of Jesus fulfilling these 17 prophecies is 1 chance in 480 billion x 1 billion x 1 trillion. This is Equivalent to filling the entire Milky Way Galaxy with sand. One of those grains of sand is painted red, and a person is blindfolded and given one chance to reach out his hand and pick that red grain of sand the first try. This is the chance that Jesus could have fullfilled these 17 Prophecies listed below. IMPOSSIBLE?! Not if he is God! For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37 (KJV)
(All scripture quoted is King James Version)
1. His birth in Bethlehem from the tribe of Judah.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Approx. date written: Micah 700 B.C. and Genisis 1440 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 1:1-2 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Matt 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2. He would have to go to Egypt and return.
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. Date: 755 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 2:13-15 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
3. He would be proceeded by a messenger.
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Date: 750 B.C.
Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Date: 450 B.C. (Mal. 4:5 -- Matt. 11:12-14, 17:10-13)
FULFILLED
Matt 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4. He would enter Jerusalem on a colt.
Zech 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Date: 520 B.C.
FULFILLED
Luke 19:35-38 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way....Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
5. He would be betrayed by a friend.
Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Written by King David around 1000 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 26:47-48 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
6. His hands and His feet would be pierced. 7. They cast lots for His garments.
Ps 22:16-18 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. Written by King David around 1000 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
8. He would be beaten and scourged (whipped)
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Date: 750 B.C.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Date: 750 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 27:26-31 ....and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe... And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
9. He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. 10. The 30 pieces of silver would buy the potters field.
Zech 11:12-13 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. Date: 520 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Matt 27:3-7 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood... And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
11. He would be silent before His accusers.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Date: 750 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 27:12-14 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
12. He would be crucified with the wicked. 13. He would be buried in a rich man's tomb.
Isa 53:8-9 & 12 He was taken from prison and from judgment:.... And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.... and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 750 BC
FULFILLED
Matt 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
Matt 27:57-60 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
14. None of His bones would be broken. 15. His side would be pierced.
Ps 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. King David 1000 B.C.
Zech 12:10 ... and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 520 B.C.
FULFILLED
John 19:32-34 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
16. His body would not decay.
Ps 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 1000BC
FULFILLED
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
17. Darkness covering the earth.
Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: Date: 750 B.C.
FULFILLED
Matt 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
(From 12:00 Noon until 3:00 PM)
CONCLUSION
Jesus said in John 5:39-40 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Many people search the scriptures, but they will not come to Jesus that they may have life eternal. Yet ALL of the scriptures are pointing to HIM.
In Luke Jesus said:
Luke 24:44-47 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and Pslams are the Old Testament scriptures, written to prepare the way of the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the World. He came to save the Jews and the Gentiles.
Jesus is GOD!
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (See also Daniel 7:9-13 John 1:1-14 & 8:56-58 & 20:28-29 Colossians 1:15-18 & 2:9)
Before He stepped down from his throne in heaven, humbled himself, and became a man, Jesus prepared us and told us about Himself through 40 different authors and over 1,500 years. He chose a man, Abraham, to bring forth a Holy nation, and to prepare the way for his enterance into the world, as Savior of the whole world. His lineage of every human being from Adam to Jesus Christ is listed in Luke 3:23-38 (this lineage is through His mother Mary. The list in Matt. 1:1-16 is His lineage through His father Joseph, which proves that Jesus would have been the rightful heir to the throne of Israel as King of the Jews.)
My prayer is that this study will have helped you to realize the credibility and truth of the Word of God. Many more prophesies have come true, and many more are yet to come to pass, including the physical return of Jesus Christ and God's wrath to come. But the greatest truth is that God loves you, and wants to save you from the wrath which is to come. Everyone has sinned and everyone is condemned to Hell because NO SIN can enter into heaven and infect God's Holy Kingdom. Yet God has given us a cure. The Blood of Jesus paid the price for our sins, and washes us clean of the infection of sin. When a man is born again by faith in Jesus Christ, God gives a gift, His Holy Spirit, whom He gives to everyone who obeys Him, and by His Power, He makes us Holy and pleasing in His sight (Ezek. 36:25-27 & John 7:37-39, Acts 2:38). Please pray with me:
Father God, I know that I am a sinner. I have doubted you and hurt you, and others as well. Please forgive me. I put my trust in Jesus. Jesus, I call on your name. I ask you to wash me of my sins and to come and live in my Heart. Give me your Holy Spirit. Take control of my life and be the Lord and Master of my life. Today, I choose to live for you and to claim you as my Messiah, Savior & God. Help me, Jesus, to understand the Holy Bible. Thank you for saving me from Hell and the wrath which is to come upon the ungodly. I love you! Amen!
Ps 2:1-12
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed (Messiah, Christ), saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
(KJV)
For a more detailed study on the proof of the Bible as authentic and reliable, may I suggest reading:
A Ready Defense and Evidence That Demands a Verdict (2 books) by Josh McDowell published by Here's Life Publisher's, Inc. , P.O. Box 1576, San Bernardino, CA 92402-1576
The Signature of God by Grant R. Jefferey published by Word Publishing, Nashville, TN
Your local Christian bookstore may have these or other books worth reading.
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