Prophecy and Jesus’ Birth
“J. DWIGHT PENTECOST, long-time Dallas Seminary faculty member, accepted an invitation to speak at a rather small church, They asked him to speak on prophecy. He said he would. But along with five sermons on prophecy, he planned specifically in the middle of the series to give a message which he had entitled ‘The Loveliness of Christ,’ on the historical events that led up to the death of Christ. It was a message not at all on prophecy. The five nights he spoke on prophecy, the place was packed. They even had loud speakers outside, so people could sit in the cool of the evening and at least hear what was said. The night he spoke on ‘The Loveliness of Christ’ the speakers were not needed; the church wasn’t but half full. All the meetings were equally publicized, and the same kind of encouragement to attend was given. There is an incredible, inquisitive nature within us that has an itch to know what tomorrow will bring, but there’s sort of a ho-hum feeling when we look back into history and see what yesterday left.” – Chuck Swindoll’s book, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart – And 1,501 Other Stories…
THE BLOG THIS WEEK IS THE 1ST OF 3 CHRISTMAS MESSAGES for this Christmas Season (I know I’m a little late for some holiday schedules). So, for the rest of the month of December until the last day of the month we will focus on the birth of our Savior, the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. What could be finer?
THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. It is the hinge of history, the incomparable event in which God Almighty came to earth and took on the form of a man and “tented,” “tabernacled” (John 1:18), temporarily dwelt among humanity, the Man Jesus Christ…
NAS John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
JESUS CHRIST IS ALMIGHTY GOD “INFLESHED,” WHILE HE WALKED THE EARTH 2,000 YEARS AGO GOD VISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE. Christmas is, even in this ungodly, paganistic, relativistic environment in which we find ourselves, still unquestionably the most widely celebrated holiday around the world. Christmas commemorates both a supernatural event and a divine person, and in this it is unique in the world. There is nothing like Christmas because there is no one like Jesus.
THIS INCOMPARABLE, UNPRECEDENTED EVENT WAS PROPHESIED OR FORECASTED before it occurred. That alone sets it apart from all other events, from all other days the world recognizes as “holidays.” These supernatural prophecies are found in the Old Testament.
BUT THIS STUDY WILL NOT BE EXCLUSIVELY O.T. It is my intention in my blog this week to fill it with as much Bible as time and space will allow. I really try to do that each week, but maybe especially in this blog. I want us to attentively, meditatively hear the words of Scripture – God’s Words – as we enter into this Christmas season. Along with the prophecies from the O.T. I will be also reading the fulfillments of the prophecies from the N.T.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO BEGIN CHRISTMAS! IN GOD’S HOLY WORD!
THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY IS READILY SEEN by the numerous occurrence of the word “prophet” in the Bible. In the O.T. the word is found over 300 times, and over 100 times in the N.T. In addition, numerous other words are used describing men clearly performing the same function as prophets. Prophecy is found, indeed, throughout the Bible.
PROPHECY IN THE BIBLE IS NOT ALWAYS PREDICTIVE. That fact may surprise many people. Biblical prophecy is as both predictive and non-predictive, having primarily to do with receiving and dispensing information from God. All Scripture is in this sense prophetic. But prophecy in the Bible actually refers more to non-predictive instances rather than predictive occurrences. Sometimes when the word is used, it refers to all Scripture and other times only to predictive passages.
BIBLICAL PROPHECY IS ACTUALLY HISTORY PREWRITTEN!
THE O.T. PROPHET ACTED AS A MOUTHPIECE FOR GOD, receiving a message from Him and proclaiming it in accordance with His commands. Although there is, of course, but one God, and therefore a true prophet must by necessity be a prophet of this God, there were also false prophets, people who claimed to be speaking for God but really weren’t. The ancient world had many more false prophets than true ones…
WE GET A REAL SENSE OF THE WORD “PROPHET” FROM A PASSAGE; IN EXODUS this is a fascinating passage…
NAS Exodus 7:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.
THE BACKGROUND OF EXODUS 7:1 IS FOUND EARLIER IN CHAPTER 4…
NAS Exodus 4:10-16 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” And the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever Thou wilt.” Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. And you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and it shall come about that he shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be as God to him.
AARON WAS TO ACT AS MOSES’ MOUTHPIECE, JUST AS THE PROPHET WAS GOD’S MOUTHPIECE…
GOD USED SEVERAL “MOUTHPIECES” IN THE O.T. TO PROPHESY about the coming of the Messiah. the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE WORD “MESSIAH” IS THE SAME AS THE WORD “CHRIST.” Both words mean “the anointed one.”
THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF O.T. PROPHECIES SUPPORTING BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND COMINGS OF MESSIAH. In our study this week we will look at 15 of the more prominent ones…
- THE O.T. PROPHESIED MESSIAH WOULD BE THE SEED OF A WOMAN…
NKJ Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROPHECY IS FOUND IN…
KJV Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
- THE MESSIAH WOULD COME FROM THE JEWISH PEOPLE…
NKJ Deuteronomy 18:18-19 ‘I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.
ONE OF THE N.T. FULFILLMENTS OF THAT PROPHECY IS…
NKJ Luke 2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM…
NKJ Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE A DESCENDANT OF ISAAC…
NKJ Genesis 17:9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NAS Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE A DESCENDANT OF JACOB…
NKJ Numbers 24:17 “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Matthew 1:2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.…
NKJ Matthew 2:2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
- THE MESSIAH WOULD COME FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH…
NKJ Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Luke 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE AN HEIR TO THE THRONE OF DAVID…
NKJ Isaiah 9:7 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.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Luke 1:32-33 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE DESPISED AND REJECTED AND would be a Man of sorrows…
NKJ Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT OF THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE COULD BE SAID TO BE ALL FOUR GOSPELS. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all clearly write of the rejection of Jesus by the nation of Israel…
NAS Luke 22:63 And the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and beating Him,
NAS Luke 23:1-2 Then the whole body of them (the Great Sanhedrin, the ruling assemble of the Judaism – TAR) arose and brought Him before Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
NAS Matthew 26:67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,
NAS Mark 15:12 And answering again, Pilate was saying to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” And they shouted back, “Crucify Him!”
- THE MESSIAH WOULD SUFFER FOR OTHERS…
NKJ Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT FOR THIS O.T. PROPHECY IS…
NKJ 1 Peter 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed.
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE ANOINTED…
NKJ Psalm 45:6-7 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE ETERNAL…
NKJ Psalm 102:25-27 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Hebrews 1:8, 12 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.… Like a cloak You will fold them up (the earth and the heavens – TAR), And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM…
NKJ Micah 5:2 ” But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Luke 2:4-7 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- THE MESSIAH WOULD BE BORN OF A VIRGIN…
NKJ Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS FOUND IN 2 PASSAGES IN LUKE 1…
NKJ Luke 1:26-27, 30-31 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.… Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
- THE MESSIAH’S BIRTH WOULD TRIGGER A SLAUGHTER OF CHILDREN…
NKJ Jeremiah 31:15 Thus says the LORD: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Matthew 2:16-18 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”
- THE MESSIAH WOULD ALSO COME FROM EGYPT…
NKJ Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
THE N.T. FULFILLMENT IS…
NKJ Matthew 2:14-15 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
15 PROPHECIES REGARDING JESUS’ BIRTH. I hope the weight of all these verses of Scripture we have read this morning will cause you to think, and think seriously about the trustworthiness of our God. What He says will take place, takes place; what He says will happen, happens. These O.T. prophecies were written hundreds of years before the event. Consider that! Consider the reliability of our God! Consider the reliability of God’s Word! God promises and God fulfills. The promises God has promised us in His Word, He will also fulfill. He is faithful; He is trustworthy…
THE LOOM OF TIME… “Man’s life is laid in the loom of time, the pattern he is not permitted to see; While the weavers work the shuttles fly, till the dawn of eternity… Some shuttles are filled with silver threads, and some with threads of gold; While often but the darker hues are all that they may hold… But the weaver watches with skillful eye, each shuttle fly to and fro; And sees the pattern so deftly wrought, as the loom moves sure and slow. God surely planned the pattern: each thread, the dark and the fair, is chosen by His master skill, and placed in the web with care. He alone knows its beauty; He alone guides the shuttles which hold the threads so unattractive (our bad times) as well as the threads of gold (our good times). Not till each loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly, shall God reveal the pattern and explain the reason why. The dark threads (our bad times) were as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand as the threads of gold and silver (our good times) for the pattern which He planned.” – Author Unknown
PROPHECY SHOULD BRING US COMFORT: PROPHECY SHOULD REASSURE US GOD IS IN CONTROL.
PROPHECY SHOULD ALSO CAUSE US TO LIVE MORE CHRISTLIKE TODAY. Focusing on both the past and the future of God’s works should cause us to want to be more obedient today.
- DWIGHT PENTECOST (again) wrote this relevant thought on our reaction to prophecy… “A short time ago, I took occasion to go through the N.T. to mark each reference to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and to observe the use made of that teaching about His coming. I was struck anew with the fact that almost without exception, when the coming of Christ is mentioned in the N.T., it is followed by an exhortation to godliness and holy living. While the study of prophecy will give us proof of the authority of the Word of God, it will also reveal the purpose of God and the power of God, and will give us the peace and assurance of God. We have missed the whole purpose of the study of prophecy if it does not conform us to the likeness of the Lord Jesus in our daily living.” – Church Swindoll…
PROPHECY ALONE SEPARATES THE BIBLE FROM ALL OTHER BOOKS, and Christianity from all other religions. Prophecy is proof that God is sovereign and in control of all things. Only God can predict the future…
THE O.T. SCRIPTURES PROPHESIED THAT ONE DAY GOD WOULD COME TO EARTH, that God’s Messiah would come, that the Savior of the world would come Those prophesies were fulfilled as we have seen in the N.T. and in the reality of Jesus Christ.
BOTH THE O.T. AND THE N.T. SCRIPTURES PROPHESY THAT ONE DAY HE WILL COME AGAIN, A SECOND TIME. If the prophecies of the First Coming were fulfilled, does it not make sense to believe that the prophecies of the Second Coming will be fulfilled also?
KJV John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
THOSE ARE THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF. His words are a prophecy. He predicted He would come again a second time. Jesus Christ is God, and God cannot lie.
LET US CLOSE ON THAT WONDERFUL NOTE…
THE PROPHESIES OF JESUS’ BIRTH HAVE BEEN PROVEN TRUE. The prophecies of His Second Coming will also be proven true because they are of God, whose word is true (John 17:17). Let us comfort ourselves with that thought. Let us comfort ourselves with these verses.
STUDYING THE PROPHECIES REGARDING JESUS’ BIRTH IS A GOOD WAY TO ENTER INTO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
