The Prophecy
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Isaiah 11:1-5
Isaiah 11:1-5
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
(Briefly go through this as Jesus fulfilling prophecy and living out the things written about Him).
Predictions have been made by men and women, for centuries.
The famous Nostradamus, a 16th century physician, wrote a book of quatrains, four lined poetic utterances that are general in nature. To which people have associated world events to. (His were general/Not specific)
Now, with Social Media, we are exposed to more than ever, some of those videos portraying people who try and predict certain events or coming revelatory events.
A detrimental aspect within Christendom is the constant and unbiblical predictions of when Christ will return. (Called to Mission, Called to Live it Out: Acts 1 and Philippians 1)
Jesus Christ notably said,
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
It is important to note that there are no new prophecies to be revealed. Be wary of those who claim to be prophets revealing new claims and predictions from God.
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
So, what is.....
Prophecy:
Oxford Dictionary: A prediction.
Mirriam-Webster: Utterance of a Prophet, function of a prophet with inspired declaration of divine will and purpose.
Pagan Greek Definition: Speak Forth, Proclaim, Announce
Biblical Greek: speaking, proclaiming, or announcing something under the influence of divine inspiration. (Baker Encyclopedia)
In the OT: Divination can be defined as the art or science of determining the unknown or the future through the careful observation and interpretation of some aspect of nature or human life. (Baker Encyclopedia)
Prophets in the OT were given the honorary distinction and title of “Man of God.” These individuals had an especially close relationship with God.
They were seers who could see, perceive, and understand visions, dreams, share God’s Word of Truth.
Prophet’s were uniquely tasked with delivering messages from God.
Scriptural Prophecy and God’s Prophets always enacted God’s will.
It was not about making a prediction of the future that might happen.
It was not some way to enhance man’s life within the world system: (Much like fortune tellers).
Prophecy is always in accordance with God’s Plan, not mans.
The Figures
The various figures of how many prophecies there, regarding the Messiah, vary.
J. Barton’s Encyclopedia on Biblical Prophecy say there are 1817 total prophecies.
1,817 Total Prophecies in Scripture
574 About the Messiah
Alfred Edersheim noted there were only 456.
300 + Fulfilled in Jesus’ Earthly Ministry
What we can discern is that about 300 were fulfilled in Jesus’ earthly birth and ministry, including His death and resurrection.
The rest deal with His return.
How many are directly tied to His birth?
This question is difficult to answer, there could be as few as 7-8, and as many as dozens. In Gen. 3:15 it refers to a seed. That reference, or similar indications, note a seed or descendant will rise.
As to the location, time, signs, and place, there are at least 7-8.
Peter Stoner, Chairman of Math and Astronomy at Pasadena City College and Chairman of Science at Westmont College (A Notable Christian College)
and...
Robert Newman, Ph.D in Astrophysics, with a Master’s in Sacred Theology
Wrote a book called Science Speaks, in the 1940’s.
In their book, the work out the odds of someone fulfilling prophecy. I am not going to go into all the nuances of the process. However, I want you to hear what they discovered.
Regarding individual prophecies, some of the odds are:
1 in 10,000, 1,000, or 100 (Riding on a donkey). Their numbers are very conservative by the way.
As they began to combine prophecies, the odds began to significantly increase.
The odds on one man in all of history, of the billions there have been, fulfilling 8 prophecies is:
Combined the odds are.
1 in 2.8 x 10 (28) or
1 in 10 (28)
10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
The odds on one man living from the time they were written to the present and fulfilling them.
1 in 10(17),
and this was in the 1940’s. It has increased since then.
This number could represent the State of Texas covered in 2’ of Silver Dollars. Mark one, and then tell a blind man to find it on there first try of touching a silver dollar.
16 Prophecies Fulfilled:
1 in 10 (45)
Silver Dollars would now extend 30 times the distance from the earth to the sun, in all directions.
48 Prophecies
1 in 10(157)
Now, create 500 balls, made up electrons, 6 billion light years in radius, each minute. For 10 (10) for 6 billion years. {How long it would take to use up that many electrons}. Take that many electrons and have the blind man find one marked one.
In there book, they said, let’s be conservative once more. If what was presented is hard to swallow. Take any of the prophecies and bring them down to a 1 in 4 chance. (Examples: Born in Bethlehem, Riding a Donkey, Out of Egypt, Raising from the Death, etc). Multiply those odds by 300. 4 (300). The number is inconceivable.
“Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.” - Peter Stoner & Robert Newman
The Facts
Absolute truth does not change.
Regardless of what you believe to be true or not, the fact remains that God’s Word is eternally true.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.
Jesus Christ is the only person in history, that has fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah.
Many have tried to claim to be the Messiah and many have pointed people to false Messiah’s and prophets.
Jesus is the only one who has remained steadfast through the fallacies of time. He is the indisputable champion of the world, for all time.
The Fulfillment
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”
Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.
“In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’
God made sure that the odds of someone fulfilling His prophecies, except Jesus Christ, would be impossible.
Jesus is the greatest prophet in the NT.
Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King!
God revealed Himself through His power over all creation and all knowledge. Finally, in the Incarnation of Christ.
God’s story is absolutely true and if you open your heart and mind to His truth, you will be amazed at the depths of that truth and knowledge.
Because of God’s immeasurable love for humanity, He wanted mankind to know the depths of His love and to be redeemed from certain and eternal judgment.
This is only through His Son, Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
