Prophecy: Proof the Bible is True

 

Welcome to the Holy Land and the biblical site of the city of Jerusalem.  See the Bible come to life as we take a look at some key prophecies in the Bible regarding Christ’s first coming.

 

We see clearly that the Bible is the inspired Word of God as only God can foretell the future and prophecy what is to come.

Heb. 10:19-23: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

 

Prophecies of Christ foretold in the Old Testament that Christ fulfilled in the New Testament.

In the list below, the first verse(s) are the Old Testament prophecy and the second verse(s) are the New Testament fulfillment.

• Christ's pre-existence Mic. 5:2 - John 1:1,14

• All nations blessed by Abraham's seed Genesis 12:3 - Matthew 8:5,10

• From the tribe of Judah Genesis 49:10 - Luke 3:33

• Heir to the throne of David Isaiah 9:7 - Luke 1:32-33

• Called "The mighty God, The everlasting Father" Isaiah 9:6 - Matthew 1:23

• Born in Bethlehem Mic. 5:2 - Matthew 2:1

• Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:18

• His name called Immanuel, "God with us" Isaiah 7:14 - Matthew 1:23

• Declared to be the Son of God Psalm 2:7 - Matthew 3:17

• His messenger before Him in spirit of Elijah Mal 4:5-6 - Luke 1:17

• Preceded by a messenger Mal 3:1 - Matthew 11:7-11

• Messenger crying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" Isaiah 40:3 - Matthew 3:3

• Called out of Egypt Hosea 11:1 - Matthew 2:15

• Slaughter of the children Jer. 31:15 - Matthew 2:18

• Would be a Nazarene Jdg. 13:5; Amo. 2:11 - Matthew 2:23

• Presented with gifts Psalm 72:10 - Matthew 2:1,11

• Rejected by His own Isaiah 53:3 - Mat 21:42; Mark 8:31, 12:10; Luke 9:22, 17:25

• He is the stone which the builders rejected which became the headstone. Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16 - Matthew 21:42; I Peter 2:7

• A stone of stumbling to Israel Isaiah 8:14-15 - I Peter 2:8

• Entered Jerusalem as a king riding on an ass Zec. 9:9 - Matthew 21:5

• Betrayed by a friend Psalms 41:9 - John 13:21

• Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zec. 11:12 - Matthew 26:15; Luke 22:5

• Forsaken by His disciples Zec. 13:7 - Matthew 26:56

• Accused by false witnesses Psalm 35:11- Matthew 26:60

• Silent to accusations Isaiah 53:7 - Matthew 27:14

• Heal blind/deaf/lame/dumb Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6 - Matthew 11:5

• Preached to the poor/brokenhearted/captives Isaiah 61:1 - Matthew 11:5

• Came to bring a sword, not peace Mic. 7:6 - Matthew 10:34-35

• He bore our sickness Isaiah 53:4 - Matthew 8:16-17

• Spat upon, smitten and scourged Isaiah 50:6, 53:5 - Matthew 27:26,30

• Smitten on the cheek Mic. 5:1 - Matthew 27:30

• Hated without a cause Psalm 35:19 - Matthew 27:23

• The sacrificial lamb Isaiah 53:5 - John 1:29

• Given for a covenant Isaiah 42:6; Jer. 31:31-34 - Rom. 11:27; Gal 3:17, 4:24; Heb. 8:6-10, 10:16,29, 12:24, 13:20

• Would not strive or cry Isaiah 42:2-3 - Mark 7:36

• People would hear not and see not Isaiah 6:9-10 - Matthew 13:14-15

• People trust in traditions of men Isaiah 29:13 - Matthew 15:9

• People give God lip service Isaiah 29:13 - Matthew 15:8

• God delights in Him Isaiah 42:1 - Matthew 3:17, 17:5

• Wounded for our sins Isaiah 53:5 - John 6:51

• Messiah not killed for Himself Daniel 9:26 - Matthew 20:28

• Crucified with criminals Isaiah 53:12 - Matthew 27:35

• His body was pierced Zec. 12:10; Psalm 22:16 - John 20:25-27

• Thirsty during execution Psalm 22:16 - John 19:28

• Given vinegar and gall for thirst Psalm 69:21 - Matthew 27:34

• Soldiers gambled for his garment Psalm 22:18 - Matthew 27:35

• People mocked Him on the cross Psalm 22:7-8 - Matthew 27:43

• People sat there looking at Him Psalm 22:17 - Matthew 27:36

• My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? Psalm 22:1 - Matthew 27:46

• Darkness over the land Amos 8:9 - Matthew 27:45

• No bones broken,  Psa. 34:20; Num. 9:12 - John 19:33-36

• Side pierced Zec. 12:10 - John 19:34

• Buried with the rich Isaiah 53:9 - Matthew 27:57,60

• Resurrected from the dead Psalm 16:10-11,49:15 - Mark 16:6

• Priest after the order of Melchizedek Psalm 110:4 - Hebrews 5:5-6, 6:20, 7:15-17

• Ascended to right hand of God Psalm 68:18 - Luke 24:51

• Make enemies His footstool Psalm 110:1 - Mat 22:44; Mark 12:3; Luke 20:43; Acts 2:34-35; Heb. 1:13

• His coming glory Mal 3:2-3 - Luke 3:17

 

Key Points

• In order for just 20 of these prophecies to come to pass by chance would be like filling the state of Texas 3 feet deep in coins, marking one with an “X,” blindfolding a person, and then having that person pick one coin and it being the one with an “X” on it.

• Only God can predict the future.

• Prophecy assures us God wrote the Bible and Christ is the Son of God.

• No other writings of mankind that attempts to prophecy attain to the perfection of the Bible. Some writings have mentioned a few vague prophecies, but they have not come to pass, or were so general that it’s hard to prove that they did.

• Christ and the Apostles all referred to most books of the Old Testament as the inspired word of God.

• Christ said heaven and earth would pass away but the Word of God would abide forever.

 

Application: Do we trust the Bible as God’s word?  

 

2 Tim 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

 

2 Pet. 1:19-21: And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

Heb. 4:12-13: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.