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An Introduction to A
Study of Messianic Prophecy
When we were children in our Bible classes, our teachers
sought to teach us the meaning of some of the words with which we would
become very familiar, if we studied our Bibles as we should have.
We were told that a “Priest” was a man who spoke to God on behalf of man.
Later we learned that a priest did much more than simply speak to God on
behalf of man, but he also, under the law of Moses, offered sacrifices,
and engaged in many rituals, according to the divine commands of God, that
were designed to draw man closer to God. Thus we came to appreciate
the priest in the Old Testament system which, in turn, gave us a greater
understanding of, and appreciation for the priesthood in which we serve
under the New Testament dispensation. We understand that as Christians
each one of us is a priest, and we serve in our priesthood under Jesus
Christ our great High Priest, who is after the order of Melchizedek.
In those same Bible school classes we learned other definitions
of other important words such as the word “Prophet.” We learned that
a prophet was one who spoke to man on behalf of God. In the Bible
classes, in which I studied as a boy, we were taught these simple definitions
that need to be taught again and again with each succeeding generation.
I have learned that many Christians want to define the word “Prophet” to
mean one who predicts, or foretells the future. That is not strictly
true, because the prophets of Israel and Judah often spoke to their people
about the past. But it is true that the prophets spoke to man on
behalf of God. In the opening verses of the first chapter of the
book of Hebrews, the author of that book declared this to be the truth.
He said, Hebrews 1:1-2, (1) “God, who at various times and in different
ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets (2) has in these
last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed
heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds . . .” We
can see from these two verses that it was the prophets through whom God
spoke in times past, that is, during Old Testament history. It is true
then, that a prophet is one who speaks to man on behalf of God, and what
that man speaks is called prophecy, whether it is spoken regarding something
future to the prophet, something in the past before the prophet, or something
that was current in the history of the nation, and in the time of the prophet.
According to Hebrews 1:1-4, our Lord Jesus Christ functions
in three areas with regard to his relationship to his younger brothers
and sisters, known as Christians. He functions as our Prophet, our
Priest, and our King. His functioning as King expresses the idea of his
governing our lives. His functioning as our great High Priest shapes
the idea of our service to God in worship, and his functioning as Prophet
expresses the idea of his teaching being our channel of religious instruction
in all matters. The Author of the book of Hebrews gives us important and
lasting instruction as to the priesthood of Christ. The Gospel(s)
present him as King, Suffering Servant, and Savior. And the prophecy
of Christ is scattered among the epistles, and other writings of the New
Testament, and cover such things as his second coming, the apostasy to
develop in the early church, false teachers who would bring that apostasy,
the fall of the temple in Jerusalem, and many other phases of the Christian
faith.
But in this study we are not going to center our attention
on the prophecies which come from Christ, but the prophecies about Christ.
In order to do this type of study, we must, of necessity, turn to what
is commonly referred to as the Hebrew prophets, although some of the prophecies
we shall study were given by God before the Hebrew people ever came into
existence. As a matter of fact, the first prophecy we shall study
came from God himself! It was not given through any man, but came
directly from Jehovah. But before we get to this study, and the others,
let us turn our attention to the essential principle of prophecy.
“Prophecy as religious instruction claims to come from
God and to possess divine authority. The prophet is an officer of
the Deity, with a commission from the God whom he serves.”1
What we shall call “Hebrew Prophecy” in this study comes to us in a book
called the Bible, and is as different from other forms of prophecy as the
Hebrew religion was different from that of the pagans, and as the Hebrew
God (Jehovah) was different from the deities of the pagans. In the
days of the Old Testament, prophecy was a special function of the religion
of the Hebrews, and it has the essential characteristics of that religion,
which means that the prophecies came from God to the prophets through a
process called “inspiration.” The Old Testament prophets were very
much aware of this process, because literally hundreds of times we have
such expressions as, “The Lord spoke by my mouth saying,” or “The Lord
said to me, son of man, prophesy saying.” These, and other equivalent
expressions, found in the Old Testament demonstrate to the unprejudiced
mind that the prophets were speaking by the inspiration of God, and were
speaking the very words Jehovah desired that they should speak. So
completely did Jehovah control the process of prophecy in the Old Testament,
especially those prophecies concerning the Messiah, that the prophets did
not always understand what they were saying to the people. The great
Apostle Peter said of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,
that the prophets who prophesied of that salvation “searched diligently
. . . of what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in
them was indicating . . .” (See: 1 Peter 1:10-12) In verse
twelve of this reading the apostle pointed out that it was “. . . revealed”
that this salvation was not coming to them, (the prophets) “. . . but to
us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you
through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent
from heaven -- things which angels desire to look into.” Furthermore,
the Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 1:16-21, asserted that the prophets of the
Old Testament spoke by the inspiration of God. The text reads, in
part, (2 Peter 1:19-21), (19) “We also have the prophetic word made more
sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (20) knowing
this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
(21) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Notice three important things
which are emphasized in verses twenty and twenty-one: ( 1) “No prophecy
of Scripture is of any private interpretation . . .” This means that
every prophecy of Scripture is not from the one who did the prophesying.
(The word “interpretation” here comes from a Greek word, which when spelled
in English is: epiluseos, and it means “to loose, to solve, to explain,
to interpret what is enigmatically and obscure. Analytical Greek
Lexicon, p.158.) If the Scripture prophecy was not from the
prophet, one must ask, “From what source did it originate?” Peter answers
that question by saying that “. . . prophecy never came by the will of
man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Hence, what we are studying in the lessons to follow are Spirit inspired,
inerrant teachings of God, both from him personally, and from him as the
prophets were “moved” by the Holy Spirit to speak and write these prophecies
regarding the Messiah, who at the time the prophecies were spoken, was
the coming Messiah. (2) It must be emphasized that these prophecies
never came by the will of man. Then they must have come by the will of
God, or of angels, or of the devil, or demons. What was the source?
Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The prophecies
came by the will of God as he, through the Holy Spirit, moved them to speak.
(3) The Holy Spirit was the medium through which Jehovah delivered his
prophecies from heaven to man. This is in harmony with what the Apostle
Paul taught regarding the nature of inspiration in 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.
Having made these important observations, we must also
notice then, that the prophets of Yahweh (Jehovah) spoke in the name of,
that is, by the authority of Yahweh, just as the prophets of Baal spoke
by the authority of Baal. But those things spoken differed in that
one set of the things spoken came from the true and living God, and the
others came from a dead idol who could not call down fire from heaven to
devour a sacrifice. (See: 1 Kings 18) The only way one can
determine whether a prophecy is true or false, and therefore from the true
God, or a false god is to apply the test of a prophet which is found in
Deuteronomy 18:20-22. This passage declares: (20) “But the prophet
who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him
to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
(21) And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the
Lord has not spoken?’ (22) when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord,
if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the
Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall
not be afraid of him.” The test is very simple, is it not? If a prophet
speaks something in the name of God, and that thing does not come to pass,
then the prophet is not to be recognized as one who speaks for God.
(Incidentally, this same test can be used on modern prophets who prophesy
of wars, the end of time, or that certain nations will do certain things.
These “prophets” often speak things which contradict Scripture, so we do
not want to listen to them at all.) As we study the prophecies concerning
our Messiah, we will also study whether or not these prophecies came to
pass. If they did, that will be one of many demonstrable evidences
that our Messiah is indeed the Anointed One of God. Hence,
a study of messianic prophecy should strengthen the faith of the child
of God, and create faith in the hearts of those who are not yet children
of God.
Another important passage from the Old Testament which
has a great bearing on the matter of the truthfulness of prophets and prophecy
is found in Deuteronomy 13:1-2. Here God said, (1) “If there arises
among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or
a wonder, (2) and the sign or the wonder of which he spoke to you comes
to pass, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods which you have not known,
and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet
or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know
whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul.” We should always be highly suspect of one who tries to lead
us away from the true God, or the religion of the true God. That
person is not a friend to those whom he presumes to teach, and he is not
the friend of the Lord of Hosts. Jehovah said that we are not to
listen to such a person, but remain constant in our allegiance to our loving
God. Down through the centuries, and even to the present time, there
are those who say, “Let us go after other gods which you have not known,
and let us serve them.”
Prophecy Concerning Jesus Christ
But speaking now more particularly of prophecy concerning
Jesus Christ, we need to point out some very important matters. “The
most devastating, tragic, and ruinous event in the history of man -- carrying
in its wake the most far-reaching influence for evil -- occurred in the
Garden of Eden when Eve and Adam ate of the forbidden fruit. However
as soon as the act was committed, God announced a future event that would
entail the unfolding of the most profound plans since the creation of the
universe.”2
This “profound plan” was one that was eternal in its nature. In Ephesians
1:3-14, the venerable Apostle Paul pointed out several important truths
about God’s plan of salvation, and one of those important things was that
this plan was made in the mind of God “. . . before the foundation of the
world.” Consequently, this plan was made in a time in eternity before
the world, and the things therein were ever created, and this would include
the creation of man. This plan included the extension of the grace
of God to mankind that we might be redeemed by the blood of Christ.
This was to be done in the dispensation (administration) of the fullness
of times, or when the time was right in the sight of God. Galatians
4:4 will define the phrase, “. . . the dispensation of the fullness of
times.” This redemption was “. . . according to the eternal purpose
of God,” according to verse eleven. These expressions, “. . . before
the foundation of the world,” “. . . the fullness of times,” and “. . .
according to the eternal purpose,” indicate that before the time of the
creation God had fully planned for the redemption of man from sin.
This plan for the redemption of mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ,
was to be found only in the mind of God, until he began revealing it to
the prophets of the Old Testament. Little by little it was given to man
in prophecy.
The Apostle Peter made virtually the same point in 1 Peter
1:17-21, when he wrote concerning the redemption of the saints through
the blood of Christ. In this passage he says, (17) “And if you call
on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work,
conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear;
(18) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
(19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot. (20) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation
of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (21) who through
Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so
that your faith and hope are in God.” Peter tells us in these verses
that the redemption through Jesus Christ “. . . was foreordained before
the foundation of the world but was manifest (made known Par. Mine DGW)
in these last times for you.” The prophecies concerning Christ were
a part of the plan that Deity made before the creation. When God
accomplished his eternal plan through the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ it demonstrated the wisdom of God, (1 Corinthians 1:20) the power,
the majesty and the glory of God. We need to develop a deep reverence
for the wisdom of man, who to this day has not come to comprehend this
wisdom and act upon it by faith.
In the very opening of Paul’s inspired letter to the church
at Rome, he pointed out that God had a great plan for the salvation of
mankind through our Lord Jesus Christ, and that God had promised this before
through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. The passage reads as
follows: (Romans 1:1-4), (1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to
be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God (2) which He promised before
through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, (3) concerning His Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
(4) and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit
of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead . . .” Here we see
Paul introducing the gospel by saying that it was spoken by the prophets,
and it was recorded in Holy Scripture. Following this introduction, Paul
spoke of a world under sin, one hopelessly lost, separated from God.
Then by way of contrast, he pointed out that there is salvation for the
lost through the grace of God, through the blood of Christ, and through
the faith of man, all of which is revealed in the gospel of which Paul
was not ashamed.
Paul concluded the letter to the Romans pretty much as
he began it. With a beautiful doxology that is as follows: (25)”Now
to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept
secret since the world began (26) but now has been made manifest, and by
the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according
to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith (27)
to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”
(Romans 16:25-27) (The word “establish” in verse twenty-five means
that God is able to establish us as being the saved, or redeemed throughout
the ages. This is done through the medium of the Spirit inspired
gospel, which Paul calls “my gospel,” which was the preaching of Jesus
Christ.) Notice, if you will please, that this “. . . preaching of
Jesus Christ” was done “. . . according to the revelation of the mystery
which was kept secret since the world began . . .” But in the Christian
dispensation, which Paul refers to as “now,” that gospel has been made
known “. . . by the prophetic Scriptures,” and “. . . has been made known
to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God . .
.” It is to the prophetic Scriptures that we will appeal as we study
Messianic prophecy. After all, it is the purpose of the book of Romans
to look at “. . . the Scriptures of the prophets . . .” so that men can
recognize him as being the Redeemer of mankind.
One more point is to be made from the book of Acts before
we pass on to other matters. In Acts 3:14-18, we have part of the
sermon that Peter preached in the porch of Solomon’s Temple. He said
to the Jews, (14) “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked
for a murderer to be granted to you, (15) and killed the Prince of life,
whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. (16) And His
name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see
and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect
soundness in the presence of you all. (17) Yet now, brethren, I know that
you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. (18) But those things
which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would
suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” The great Apostle told them that
they had “. . . denied the Holy and Just One, and asked for a murderer
(Barabbas, Par. Mine DGW) to be given to . . .” them. But he also
pointed out that God had raised Jesus from the dead, and that the apostles
were the witnesses of that resurrection. Peter continued by saying
in verse eighteen that these are the “. . . things which God foretold by
the mouth of all his prophets, that the Christ would suffer . . .”
Then if we skip down to verse twenty-one we find Peter again speaking of
Christ and saying that he was the One “whom heaven must receive until the
times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of
all His holy prophets since the world began.” Notice: God did the
speaking, and he did so by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world
began! Looking further at the passage which follows (Acts 3:22-26),
we find Peter saying that Moses prophesied of the coming of Christ as a
prophet like to himself. Then, in verse twenty-four, Peter said,
“Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as
have spoken, have also foretold these days.” Again, notice that for
centuries the coming of the Messiah for the redemption of mankind had been
foretold by the prophets, including Samuel, and all the rest who had spoken.
Consequently, the Old Testament prophets had spoken voluminously of the
coming of the Messiah, and it is to these prophecies we wish to give careful
consideration.
In considering many of the prophecies concerning Christ
we will begin with a study of the first prophecy to which we earlier made
reference, (Genesis 3:15) and then proceed through the Old Testament noting
those of major importance. This type of study should take a year,
or perhaps longer, according to the time that is allotted us in our Bible
school classes. We cannot cover every prophecy found in the Old Testament,
nor can we cover those things that are thought to be Messianic prophecy
by some readers of the Bible. (Some are controversial among the scholars
of the Bible, so we will study those which are known to be prophecies of
Christ by the context in which they are found.) This first prophecy
did not come through any man, but was spoken by the mouth of Jehovah himself.
We need to approach this prophecy with reverence and awe, even as we approach
“. . . all Scripture . . .” which “. . . is given by the inspiration of
God.” (2 Timothy 3:10-17) And now “. . . to the work, to the work
. . .” as we strive to be servants of God.
One more brief point that we must cover is the fact that
many, if not all, of the prophecies which we will be covering from the
Old Testament will be what is called “predictive prophecy.” “Predictive
prophecy” is that prophecy which was to be fulfilled in a time future to
when the prophet spoke it. The first prophecy we shall study was
spoken about four thousand years before the events to which it made reference
actually came about in the world. However, we wish to emphasize again
that not all prophecy is predictive prophecy, as we would see if we were
to study the whole of Old Testament prophecy.
Endnotes
1Charles A. Briggs, D.D.,
Messianic Prophecy, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1886,
p. 2.
2Homer Hailey, The
Messiah of Prophecy to the Messiah on the Throne, Religious Supply,
Inc., Louisville, 1995, p.1.
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