PIC from coricks.com (“The best tech news site”) This Olive Tree (Wikipedia) in Ano Vouves, Crete, Greece, may be 4,000 years ancient. Human ancients, the Old Testament prophets, may have been alive when this olive tree sprouted. Wow! 1
Predicting The Messiah
A way l0ng time before His birth, many Old Testament prophecies predicted The Messiah. Jesus was that One they spoke about. And now come the copy-cats, also predicted! The many “antichrists”: 2
1 John 2:18
“Children, it is the last hour [the end of this age]; and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming [the one who will oppose Christ and attempt to replace Him], even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour.”
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“18 And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer….
“20 and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.”
– Verses 18, 20-21 of Acts 3:17-26.
1 Peter 1:10-12 AMP:
“10 Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace [of God] that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired [about this future way of salvation], 11 seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.” 3
It is “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” who says in the New Testament (NT), here in 1 Peter 1:10-12, that many of the Old Testament (OT) prophecies looked forward to the Messiah.
“On the other side of the cross, the apostles looked back on Yeshua as the one who fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of the Tanach. We, too, look forward to the Messiah as fulfilled from the Old Testament prophecies. There is so much to be gained by studying prophecies.”
– Source: This is Why We Must Study Prophecy! – By
“We, too, look forward
to the Messiah
as fulfilled from
the Old Testament prophecies.”
[To clariy, in other words Melnick is saying: “From the Old Testament prophecies, we too look forward to the Messiah as fulfilled prophecies.”]
Also see: Top 40 Most Helpful Messianic Prophecies
| by Rich Robinson | August 04 2020 | Compiled by Jews for Jesus
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Outline of
This is Why We Must Study Prophecy!
– Source: Olivier Melnick at newantisemitism.com
The prophets looked forward to Messiah
We Study Prophecy Because It is part of the Bible
We Study Prophecy Because God worked through His prophets
And He also rejected false prophets
We Study Prophecy Because Paul referred to the prophets
We Study Prophecy Because Yeshua referred to the prophets
We Study Prophecy Because It Validates the Bible
We Study Prophecy Because It Strengthens Our Faith
We Study Prophecy Because it Equips Us to Share with the Lost
– Source: This is Why We Must Study Prophecy!
Key Old Testament Passages
…foretelling the Messiah’s coming
Adapted from: ‘Coming To Life In World Events’: The Record Of Precise Fulfillment Of Prophecies In Scripture Confirms Its Integrity Jonathan Brentner |
Here are just some of the key Old Testament (OT) passages that accurately foretold the details of the Messiah’s first arrival in the world:
(See below. Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14, Jeremiah 31:15, Zechariah 11:12-13, Psalm 22:16, Psalm 22:18, Psalm 16:10)
1. Micah 5:2: Predicted Jesus’ birth would be in Bethlehem. The Jewish chief priests and scribes quoted this verse to Herod the king when he asked them “where the [b]Messiah was to be born”. And yet, even with all these Old Testament passages in their hands… they did not believe. It was about Jesus (see Matthew 2:4-6) but they did not take heed.
[a]But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His times of coming forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
– Micah 5:2 NASB
2. Isaiah 7:14: Predicted Jesus would be born of a virgin
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the [k]virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him [l]Immanuel. See BibleGateway footnotes about “virgin”
3. Jeremiah 31:15: Predicted Herod’s murder of children in Bethlehem in Ramah
4. Zechariah 11:12-13: Predicted Jesus would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver
5. Psalm 22:16: Predicted the piercing of Jesus’ hands and feet
6. Psalm 22:18: Predicted the casting of lots for Jesus’ clothing
7. Psalm 16:10: Predicted Jesus’ resurrection
Quoting the OT in the NT
Jesus Himself often quoted the Old Testament (OT) prophet, for instance in Luke 24:25,
“O foolish men,
and slow of heart
to trust and believe
in everything
that the prophets have spoken!”
Peter, a disciple of Jesus, warned of scoffers who reject what prophets of old predicted:
Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
– 2 Peter 3:3-7
“…All the prophets”
Interesting what the book of Acts says about Old Testament (OT) prophets: “All the prophets….” (Acts 10:43)
“18 And so God has fulfilled
what He foretold
by the mouth of all the prophets,
that His Christ
(Messiah, Anointed)
would suffer.” – Acts 3:18
43 All the prophets testify about Him – Acts 10:43
God anointed certain men and women to be His spokesmen. They all were appointed for His special messages to mankind. And they all “testify about Him“. They all foretell something about Jesus the Messiah who would come later on, after their passing,
“…that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.” – Acts 10:43
Acts 3:17-26 makes an inescapable statement about the Old Testament predicting the coming Messiah. We are now without excuse – because we are no longer ignorant: Acts 3:17-26 – “so that times of refreshing may come“
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance [not fully aware of what you were doing], just as your rulers did also.
18 And so God has fulfilled what He foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ (Messiah, Anointed) would suffer.
19 So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day]; 20 and that He may send [to you] Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must keep until the time for the [complete] restoration of all things about which God promised through the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet [b]like me from your countrymen; you shall listen to Him and obey everything He tells you. 23 And it will be that every person that does not listen to and heed that Prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
A message especially for the Jews:
24 Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also announced these days. 25 You are the sons (descendants) of the prophets and [heirs] of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham,
‘And in your seed (descendant) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.
– Acts 3:17-26.”
and slow of heart
to trust and believe in
everything
that the prophets have spoken!”
“Dismissing Jesus” (said by Pete Garcia)
If you dismiss Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, you are dismissing God Himself. You are basically making God a liar. Similar to what Pete Garcia said, but about “dismissing Jesus”:
“…the attitude the Pharisees and Sadduccees had in Jesus’ day:
“By dismissing Jesus, they were dismissing God Himself.”
– Pete Garcia in his oddly titled IYKYK at rev310.net.
Let’s look at several accounts by OT prophets which refer specifically to the future Messiah. They did this, prompted by God Himself, to “testify about Him”.
Micah
Micah wrote about Jesus – the Messiah, Ruler, Shepherd. Matthew quotes Micah, in Micah 5:2, as being about the Messiah, Jesus.
They said to him,
Malachi
From Pete Garcia: Malachi (the last prophet) had given them their final message in the Tanakh (the Old Testament) concerning “the One” who would come.
“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts. – Malachi 3:1
Isaiah
In Matthew 3 John refers to the prophecy of Isaiah which predicted John the Baptist who would introduce Jesus the Messiah.
John the Baptist
Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’” …Matthew 3:verses 1-3
Moses
As quoted by John in his book, Jesus Himself said Moses wrote about Him, saying “he wrote about Me [personally]”.
44 How can you believe [in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only God? 45 Do not think that I [am the One who] will accuse you before the Father. There [already] is one who accuses you: Moses, [the very one] in whom you have placed your hope [for salvation].
46 For if you believed and relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me [personally]. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” – John 5:44-47
“he wrote about Me [personally]”
Don’t be a scoffing foolish one
Scoffers reject what prophets of old predicted. See: 2 Peter 3:3-7.
3 First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming [what has become of it]? For ever since the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things have continued [exactly] as they did from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they willingly forget [the fact] that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God….” – 2 Peter 3:3-7
The first thing, Peter says here, is they are “following after their own human desires“. Second thing, Peter says, is they belittle the Old Testament, saying things like “Where is the promise.” Third thing, Peter says, is “they willingly forget [the fact] that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God….”
1.) They follow human desires.
2.) They belittle the Bible (giving more weight to their own words).
3.) They wander from God’s words.
Apostate falseness
Leaders in apostate churches of today are saying those same three things, just as Peter stated them (in 2 Peter 3:3-7).
(1) Apostates don’t follow after Jesus – but rather: they follow after the flesh, “their own human desires”. Why else would they leave the established Way?
(2) Apostates are negating the Old Testament whenever it benefits them. To have their little “prophecy”, they have to make a new prophecy that says it’s okay to put aside the Old Testament. Really!? Just walk away from such foolishness.
(3) Apostates make lite of God’s actual Word, the Bible. They make-up new revelations —imagining with bogus dreams, and visions and share bogus “word of the Lord” fabrications in the pew as if God revealed fresh words directly to them (and only to them). Their own newly revealed words are not from God! They speak forth from their own wayward minds.
As Peter puts it, “they willingly forget [the fact] that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God….” Power does not come from the word of man. They keep trying! Puny human words are put forth as “the word of God”.
The Words of God are the powerful words. Their own words are puny. God’s prophecies are true. Apostate words are false.
God is against them because of this deliberate falsenessMirWebster: “not genuine, intentionally untrue, adjusted or made so as to deceive, intended or tending to mislead, not true, based on mistaken ideas, inconsistent with the facts.”
See: “I am against you”, God says
They are false teachers, false prophets, false apostles, apostates in the pew. Believe Jesus – not the NAR apostates.
Long before His birth true prophets spoke the exact words of God – foretelling the future coming of the Messiah. That Godman was Jesus.
His words to us
Prophets were raised up (v22) for us by God, so that God could speak His words to us. No prophets made themselves to be a prophet: God chose them and called them.
The problem of today is that false prophets are rising up all over the place! Don’t heed their words. They are not God’s words.
True prophets of God spoke God’s words exactly. They did not make it up with their own words, words that they “think” God would want to say.
Then the angel said to me,
“Write,
‘Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’”
And he said to me [further],
“These are
the true and exact words of God.”
– Revelation 19:9
– Source: God spoke through prophets and Jesus – the greatest of all
This bears repeating:
“O foolish men,
and slow of heart to trust
and believe
in everything
that the prophets have spoken!
– Luke 24:25
FOR MORE:
Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible | from Reasons to Believe
References to the Old Testament in Revelation – Part 1 | Randy Nettles | at rev310.net
Excerpt: “The Book of Revelation contains approximately 400 – 500 references or allusions to the Old Testament. This last book of the New Testament (and the Bible) contains citations or allusions to 28 of the 39 books of the Old Testament. Revelation contains more references to the Old Testament than any other book in the New Testament.”
‘Coming To Life In World Events’: The Record Of Precise Fulfillment Of Prophecies In Scripture Confirms Its Integrity Jonathan Brentner |
Top 40 Most Helpful Messianic Prophecies…by Rich Robinson | August 04 2020. Compiled by Jews for Jesus
“The Hebrew Scriptures were key to Jesus’ self-understanding.”
The Dangers of Consorting With Error
God spoke through prophets and Jesus – the greatest of all
They in fact have seen nothing
Why might many charismatics not be saved?
About False Teachings of today
About Being Apostate… following “another gospel”
Needing something more than Jesus
The Bethel Johnsons’ unbiblical teachings
Following the Jesus who was not God
A glossary of new apostolic reformation terminology | Posted on April 29, 2020 by Rick Becker at his site, Famine In The Land.
Was Jesus actually God Almighty?
Jesus Predicted His Death and Resurrection… Luke 18:31-34
Footnotes
- Corick articles of note:
A Brazilian Couple Spent 20 Years Replanting A 1,754-Acre Forest Bringing April 30, 2024“I’m sure I’m not the only one who goes crazy from their kids March 10, 2024
Taylor Swift February 25, 2024
Woman Finds Fox Sleeping In Her Cat’s Bed February 24, 2024
“Grizzly Giant” 1900. The tree 🌳 still stands today and is estimated to be around 3,000 years old. February 4, 2024.
- See site search for “antichrist“.
- Recap in the NASB: “10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 [a]seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [b]to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to [c]look.” – 1 Peter 1:10-12 NASB
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