Prophecies Concerning Christ

Christmas Series

Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

We note that there was a particular time for the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Son was not sent at random; He was sent in the time of the completion of God’s purposes.

Mark Eastman, in an article which discusses the time of Messiah’s Coming, notes that the Jews were indeed looking for Messiah’s coming.

“During the first two quarters of the first Cenry, more than at any time in history, Messianic expectations were very high. What was this so? Was this great Messianic expectation at the time of Jesus simply because the Jews were suffering severely under the Romany yoke? Or was it because Bible prophecy pointed to that period of time as the time of Israel’s appointment with Messiah?

Without doubt, the coming of Messiah Jesus WAS the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

His name, Emmanuel- Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23

His birth in Bethlehem- Micah 5:2; John 7:42

the murder of babies at His birth- Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18...

Joseph’s flight to Egypt- Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15...

He was called a Nazarene- Matthew 2:23; Numbers 6:1-8; Isaiah 53:3...

He was the seed of a woman- Genesis 3:15; Gal. 4:4...

He was the seed of Judah- Genesis 49:10; John 17:3...

He would be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- Gen. 12:3; 17:19; Numbers 24:17;

He would be heir to David’s throne- Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:32-33;

He would be preceded by a Messenger- Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 3:3-6;

And this abbreviated list is just a summary of the prophecies completed by the first coming of Jesus to earth. Tim Chaffey calls this “History in Advance.” Both history and prophecy are HIS-story.

The Time of Prophetic Expectation

Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver describes the First Century Messianic Hope: “"Prior to the first century (C.E.) the Messianic interest was not excessive...The First Century, however, especially the generation before the destruction [of the Second Temple] witnessed a remarkable outburst of Messianic emotionalism. This is to be attributed, as we shall see, not to an intensification of Roman persecution, but to the prevalent belief induced by the popular chronology of that day that the age was on the threshold of the Millennium...when Jesus came into Galilee, 'spreading the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying the 'time is fulfilled' and the Kingdom of God is at hand,' he was voicing the opinion universally held that...the age of the kingdom of God-was at hand...it was this chronological fact which inflamed the Messianic hope rather than the Roman persecutions.”

What the rabbi is saying is that the first century was bursting with expectation and anticipation, but the question remains: “Upon what basis was there this massive expectation?”

Acts 5:34-36: “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.”

Acts 5:37-38: “After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:”

These two movements occured in and around the 1st Century. Theudas was around in the days of Christ’s birth, and Judas, as is noted, lived in the days of the taxing. So, you have here two men: Judas and Joseph. Both men were caught up in the taxation of Rome. One was a false Christ who revolted, while the other was a faithful man who aided the coming of Messiah into the world.

It may surprise you, then, to see that the Messianic expectation was more than a hope that a deliverer from Rome would come. Rather, it was a movement that was based upon the coming of Messiah rooted in the Old Testament scriptures. Could it be that the anticipation was less about the newspaper and more about Nehemiah? It was not really Rome and more about the Revelation of God to Jacob? The Jews were looking to the Scriptures.

Who Knew?

Simeon

Anna

the wise men

Note that there was a distinction in the role of Messiah more than the coming of Messiah himself. That He was coming was irrefutable; what He would do and what He came to accomplish was something quite different.

The Prophecy of Haggai

Haggai 2:6-9: “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, And I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: And I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: And in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Who is Haggai?

He is a post-exilic prophet

His ministry is one of encouragement:

KEEP BUILDING!

Ezra 5:1-3: “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?”

Ezra 6:14: “And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.”

HAVE FAITH!

He spoke in the midst of rejoicing and weeping! Haggai heard the old men mourn, while the young men shouted for joy! He saw the foundations of Solomon’s Temple and mourned the size and significance of the 2nd Temple. To these, he encouraged, “Let God finish the work. Brighter days lie ahead!”

What did He prophesy?

God will shake all nations

“The Desire of All Nations” will come

God will fill the house with Glory

All the silver and the gold belong to God

God would give peace

Clearly, there is more being referenced here than the house. How do we know? We know because the latter house had no peace, and the latter house had no glory like the first. The shekinah light did not fall on the second. Where, then, did the glory and Desire reside? MESSIAH!

All Truths Point to Jesus

We know that this prophecy had to have been fulfilled in the 1st Century, because the Romans destroyed the second house in AD 70.

We know that this Temple stood during the days of Jesus Christ, and that

that which was accomplished through Jesus indeed shook the Temple.

Messiah came to this Temple

at age 12

during His earthly ministry

The Holy One often visited this Temple Complex.