Forty-One Messianic Prophesies

  1. Old Testament Prophets quoted:
    • Moses (from the book of Genesis, Deuteronomy, circa 1300 BC)
    • David (from the Psalms, circa 1000 BC)
    • Isaiah (circa 700 BC)
    • Micah (circa 700 BC)
    • Jeremiah (from the book of Lamentations, circa 600 BC)
    • Samuel (circa 600 BC)
    • Zechariah (circa 520 BC)
    • Wisdom (circa 100 BC)
  2. First prophesy of the Messiah: His mission
    • “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” (Gen 3:15)
  3. Early general Messianic prophesies
    • “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you: . . . All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” (Gen 12:3. This was before the birth of Isaac, when Abram was 75 years old.)
    • “In your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.” (Gen 22:18, after the “sacrifice” of Isaac, when Abraham was at least 100 years old.)
    • “In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.” (Gen 28:14, after Jacob’s dream.)
  4. Origins of the Messiah
    • “The scepter shall not depart from Judah.” (Gen 49:10, p. 55. At the time of Jacob’s blessing to his sons).
    • “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse (David’s father, thus son of David), and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (Is 10:1)
    • “The Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son. (born of a virgin).” (Is 7:14)
    • “He degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali (He will come from Galilee); but in the end He has glorified (it) . . . For a child is born to us . . . (Is 8:23 – 9:5)
    • “O Bethlehem-Ephrathah . . . from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient times” (Mi 5:1).
  5. Messiah recognized by the Gentiles
    • “The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute (visit of the wise men).” (Ps 72:10)
  6. The Person of the Messiah
    • “The virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son and shall name Him Immanuel (‘which means “God is with us”’, Mt 1:23) (divine nature).” (Is 7:14)
    • “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon His shoulder dominion rests. They name Him Wonder-Counselor (pele: wonder, miracle; the same word that was used to describe the miracles of the Exodus), God-Hero (divine nature), Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:5 )
    • “Let justice (the just one – Vg) descend, O heavens (divine nature), like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation (the savior – Vg) bud forth (human nature).” (Is 45:8)
    • “(He) boasts that God is His father” (Wis 2:16).
    • “Though He was harshly treated, He submitted, and opened not His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth (suffered with heroic patience).” (Is 53:7)
  7. Teaching of the Messiah
    • “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses, lawgiver, whom the Lord knew face to face – Dt 34:10) from among you, from your brethren.” (Dt 18:15).
    • “To us He is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see Him is a hardship for us.” (Wis 2:15)
  8. Opposition to the Messiah’s teaching
    • “He sets Himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” (Wis 2:12)
    • “With revilement and torture let us put Him to the test . . . Let us condemn Him to a shameful death.” (Wis 2:19-20)
  9. Station of the Messiah
    • “Your king shall come to you; a just savior is He, meek, and riding on an ass.” (Zech 9:9)
    • “He boasts that God is His Father.” (Wis 2:16)
    • “O Bethlehem Ephrathah . . . from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel” (Mi 5:1).
    • “My servant shall prosper, He shall be raised high and greatly exalted (no other religious founder is worshipped).” (Is 52:13)
  10. The injustice endured by the Messiah
    • “O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer me!” (Mi 6:3)
  11. The Messiah’s Passion – vicarious suffering
    • “It was our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He endured (vicarious suffering).” (Is 53:4)
    • “He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon Him was he chastisement that makes us whole.”(Is 53:5)
    • “By His stripes we were healed.” (Is 53:5)
    • “Zeal for you house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.” Ps 69:10)
  12. The Messiah’s Passion – scourging
    • “Upon my back the plowers plowed, long did they make their furrows.” (Ps 129:3)
    • “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” (Is 50:6)
  13. The Messiah’s Passion – crucifixion
    • “They have pierced my hands and my feet (crucifixion)” (Ps 22:19).
    • “He was pierced for our offences.” (Is 53:5)
    • ”They put gall in my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (crucifixion).” (Ps 69:22)
    • “They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots (crucifixion).” (Ps 22:17).
    • “They shall look on Him whom they have thrust through, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourns for an only Son.” (Zech 12:10)
  14. The Messiah’s Passion – extent of His suffering
    • “Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like my suffering.” (Lam 1:12)
  15. The Messiah’s Resurrection, Ascension
    • “You will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption (resurrection).” (Ps 16:10)
    • “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand (ascension) till I make your enemies your footstool.’” (Ps 110:1)
  16. The Messiah’s everlasting Kingdom and Priesthood
    • “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever (everlasting kingdom).” (2 Sam 7:16)
    • “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek (everlasting priesthood).” (Ps 110:4).
  17. Prophecy of the Redeemer was brought to a close at the Annunciation
    • “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Lk 1:35)

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