Fulfilled Prophecy - Golden/Eastern Gate
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Good afternoon. Today I went to talk about prophecy. For me one of the wonders of the Bible is that about 1/4 of it is prophecy. This raises some interesting questions like: Have any of them come to pass? and Are there still prophecies yet unfulfilled?
Well, the test of the whether there are prophecies to be fulfilled is on how any prophecies have already actually happened. Now, as Christians I know we do not need any proof given us about the reliability of Scripture but perhaps our faith is a little weak right now or perhaps someone has raised this before on how do you know that the Bible is God’s Word.
There are actually over 300 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus alone. The chances of just 48 of them happening in real life is 1 in 10 with another 157 zeros after it. We can imagine a billion - this has nine zeros, a trillion which has twelve zeros, a quadrillion has fifteen, a sextillion has 21 zeros. This has 158 zeros after the 1. It is such an astronomical figure that it is impossible that all these prophecies of the Old Testament could be fulfilled in one person. But they were - not 48 but over 300!
Prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah
He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) 740-680 BC Matt.1:18–25
He would be the Son of God (Psalm 2:7) 1,000 BC Matt. 3:17
He would be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 22:18) 1,400 BC Matt. 1:1
The Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac (Genesis 21:12) 1,400 BC Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:34
The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob (Numbers 24:17) 1,400 BC Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:34
He would be from tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) 1,400 BC Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:33
He would be from the family of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) 740–680 BC Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:32
He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) 740-680 BC Matt.1:18–25
He would be the Son of God (Psalm 2:7) 1,000 BC Matt. 3:17
He would be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 22:18) 1,400 BC Matt. 1:1
The Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac (Genesis 21:12) 1,400 BC Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:34
The Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob (Numbers 24:17) 1,400 BC Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:34
He would be from tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) 1,400 BC Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:33
He would be from the family of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) 740–680 BC Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:32
The Messiah would be from house of David (Jeremiah 23:5) 627–580 BC Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:31
He would be raised up as a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18) 1,400 BC Acts 3:22; 7:37
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) 722 BC Matthew 2:1
After He was born, babies would be killed in Bethlehem (Jeremiah 31:15) 627–580 BC Matthew 2:16–18
He would be called Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14) 740–680 BC Matthew 1:23
He would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1) (Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt with Jesus) 720 BC Matthew 2:15
The Messiah would come from Galilee (Isaiah 9:1–2) 740–680 BC Matthew 4:13–16
The Spirit of the Lord would be upon Him (Isa. 61:1) 740–680 BC Luke 4:16– 21; Matt 12:17–18
He would be preceded by a messenger (Malachi 3:1) 430 BC Matt. 11:10
He would do miracles (Isaiah 35:5–6) 740–680 BC Matt. 11:2–5
Israel’s king would ride into Jerusalem on donkey (Zechariah 9:9) 470 BC Matt. 21:5–9; John 12:14– 15
The Messiah would be welcomed with “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 118:26) 1000 BC John 12:13
He would be hated for no reason (Psalm 35:19; 69:4) 1,000 BC John 15:25
He would be rejected by the religious rulers (Psalm 118:22) 1000 BC Matthew 21:42
He would be rejected by His own brothers (Psalm 69:8) 1,000 BC John 7:5
He would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9) 1,000 BC Matt. 10:4
His betrayer would eat bread with Him (Psalm 41:9) 1,000 BC John 13:18, 26; Mark 14:18
He would be betrayed for money—30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12) 470 BC Matthew 26:15
Predicted exactly 30 pieces (not 29 or 31). The coins would be silver, not gold. 470 BC Matthew 26:15
The money would be returned (Zechariah 11:12–13) 470 BC Matthew 27:3
The money would be thrown in the house of the Lord (Zechariah 11:13) 470 BC Matthew 27:5
The betrayal money would pay for a Potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13) 470 BC Matthew 27:7
He would be forsaken by the disciples (Zechariah 13:7) 470 BC Matthew 26:31, 56
He would be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7) 740–680 BC Matthew 26:62–63
The Messiah would be mocked (Isa. 53:3) 740–680 BC Matt. 27:29
He would be beaten with a rod (Mic. 5:1) 722 BC Mark 15:19
He would be spat upon in the face (Isa. 50:6) 740–680 BC Mark 14:65
The Messiah would be wounded, bruised (Isaiah 53:5) 740–680 BC Matt. 27:30; Luke 22:63
The Messiah would be scourged on His back (Isaiah 50:6, 53:5) 740–680 BC John 19:1
His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16) 1,000 BC John 20:25
His garments would be divided (Psalm 22:18) 1,000 BC John 19:23
They would cast lots for His clothing (Psalm 22:18) 1,000 BC John 19:24
The Messiah would die with criminals (Isaiah 53:12) 740–680 BC Mark 15:28; Luke 22:37
Those watching the crucifixion would wag their heads (Psalm 22:7; 109:25) 1,000 BC Mark 15:29; Matt. 27:39
Those watching the crucifixion would mock Him for not saving Himself (Ps. 22:8) 1,000 BC Matthew 27:41–43
He would pray for those crucifying Him (Isaiah 53:12) 740–680 BC Luke 23:34
He would be given vinegar to drink (Ps. 69:21) 1,000 BC Matt. 27:34
“Why hast thou forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:1) 1,000 BC Matt. 27:46
“Into thine hand I commit my spirit” (Ps. 31:5) 1,000 BC Luke 23:46
His side would be pierced (Zech. 12:10) 470 BC John 19:34, 37
None of the Messiah’s bones would be broken (Psalm 34:20) 1,000 BC John 19:32– 36
He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9) 740–680 BC Matthew 27:57–60
He would be dead for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17) 760 BC Matthew 12:40
He would descend into hell (Psalm 16:10; 49:15) 1,000 BC Acts 2:27, 31; Eph. 4:9
The Messiah would be resurrected from dead (Psalm 16:10; 30:3) 1,000 BC Acts 2:31; 13:33–35
Through His resurrection He would swallow up death in victory (Isaiah 25:8) 740–680 BC 1 Cor. 15:54
He would ascend into heaven (Psalm 68:18) 1,000 BC Acts 1:9; Eph. 4:8–10
He would be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Psalm 110:1) 1,000 BC Acts 2:34–35; Col. 3:1
He would be a priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) 1,000 BC Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20
The Messiah would be a light to the entire world, including non-Jews (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6) 740–680 BC Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47; 26:23
I have a list of over 300 prophesies fulfilled by Jesus -
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But today I am not talking about these particular prophecies but about one of my favourite ones in the Old Testament. It is the Golden Gate prophecy. This has nothing to do with the Golden Bridge San Francisco but all to do with a gate in Jerusalem.
There are eight major gates to the Old City of Jerusalem. The first and most important one is the Golden Gate which is also called the Eastern Gate. It is the only external gate that gives access to the Temple Mount.
God gave Ezekiel a supernatural vision of this gate.
1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3 It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw—like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east.
This is part of the reason why in Jewish tradition the Shekinah glory always appeared through this gate. The Shekinah glory is none other than God’s presence. We read more about this gate in the next chapter:
1 Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. 2 And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut. 3 As for the prince, because he is the prince, he may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way.”
And what do we read in
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Which gate did He go in? We know because of the description of the Mount of Olives. Yes, that’s right the Golden Gate! God’s presence certainly did enter through it. And could the Jews have known that He was on His way? Oh, hang on - this is another fulfilled prophecy by Jesus!
Apart from also fulfilling
9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Daniel also has something to say about this day:
25 “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
Sixty nine weeks is the Jewish way of saying 483 years. Actually in the Hebrew the word transalted a weeks is actually sevens. Seven sevens and sixty-two sevens = 483.
According to this prophecy, a decree would be issued that would allow the Jews to rebuild the wall. Several decrees were issued concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the captivity but only one concerned the wall. This decree was issued by Artaxerxes and is one of the best known dates in history and is found in Nehemiah 2
Sir Robert Anderson and Dr. Harold Hoehne have meticulously worked out this prophecy and both conclude that it was fulfilled on the very day Jesus entered Jerusalem, through the Eastern Gate, in His Triumphal Entry, 483 years, to the day, after the decree was made.
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
If they had only kept up with the days predicted by Daniel they would have known that this was the very day of its fulfilment. It is not like Daniel did not make it clear. He did say: know and understand! It should have been a good indicator but it is the same thing we experience with the Second Coming prophecies. No one believes that they are literal but some things have been made clear – these are not allegories or picture language – prophecy is always fulfilled to the letter literally. This is why Israel is a nation again and why a temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount and why there will be tribulation for 7 years and why Jesus will reign for a thousand years on the earth and so on.
Let’s continue with the Golden Gate prophecies:
Jesus, having entered the city, said that he would not be seen again until Jerusalem acknowledges him:
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
The walls and gates of Jerusalem have been torn down and rebuilt several times. When they were rebuilt, they were rebuilt on the same spots. The Eastern Gate is the oldest of all the gates to the city and was the only one not rebuilt by Suleiman the Magnificent in AD 1539-42. Monolithic stones in the wall just above ground have been identified as 6th Century BC masonry from the time of Nehemiah, (Biblical Archeological Review [BAR], Mar/Apr 1992, p40). But Suleiman was the one to block it up so no one could come or go through it fulfilling prophecy even though he was a Muslim in 1541. Ezekiel prophesied this would happen and it happened 2133 years afterwards.
There have been times when the gate was going to be opened:
In the Six Day War, some members of the Jewish military suggested catching the Jordanian defenders of the city off guard by blowing open the sealed Eastern Gate. But the leader of the group, an Orthodox Jew, had vehemently protested the idea, stating that “the Eastern Gate can be opened only when the Messiah comes.”
In 1917 Muslim leaders in control of Jerusalem tried and failed to break the prophecy and open the gate. On the exact day the workmen were preparing to demolish the ancient stone, the hand of God intervened and the city of Jerusalem passed out of Muslim control into the hands of the British.
Jewish rabbis describe the Messiah as a great military leader who would be sent by God from the east. He would enter the Eastern Gate and liberate the city from foreign control.
To prevent this, the Muslims sealed the gate and put a Muslim cemetery in front of it believing that a rabbi would not defile himself by walking through a Muslim cemetery. Little did they know, they were fulfilling prophecy by doing this!
And there is indeed a future fulfilment to come:
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.
Where is this? None other than the Golden Gate!
3 Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.
So, it appears that the Eastern Gate will remain closed and when the Lord returns this Psalm will be fulfilled:
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Of course this is just one instance of prophecy in the Bible coming to pass – there are so many especially relating to the suffering Messiah. It was missed by the Jews because they did not know the Scripture. They missed His first coming because they had the wrong idea of Messiah. We have to be careful to know Scripture to know the signs of the times for the 2nd coming of Messiah. He will come again through the Golden Gate – it is impossible for it not to come to pass.
It is also in the Bible we read of the men of faith, it is here that we find out about God’s dealings with people, it is here that we read of miracles, of Jesus life, death, resurrection, ascension and coming again. Without the Bible we would be lost and making guesses, mostly wrongly. Without the Bible we do not know about hope or what true love is. Without the Bible we lose our way for it is a lamp to our feet. The Bible gives us an infallible, a perfect revelation of the nature, being and will of God.
God has revealed Himself through Scripture and is the main way He reveals Himself to us. We miss out if we neglect, ignore or forget this precious gift. God has given us the Bible so that we can know Him and know that everything within its pages are God’s truth. And yes, we can prove that the Bible is the Word of God.