Prophecies Fulfilled By The Events Of The Gospel
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; to which you do well to heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19
When the morning star rises the light of day is about to dawn. God planned and ordained all the events of the gospel predicted in the prophetic Scriptures which "must be fulfilled"
After His resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to His disciples:
"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:25-27
The gospel writers stressed the fact that the Scripture must be fulfilled:
- "All this was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Matt 26:56
- "But that the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 14:49
- "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Luke 24:44,45
The apostles preached the Gospel from the prophetic Scriptures:
- "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Cor 15:3,.4
- "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." Isaiah 42:8,9
Fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures confirms the truth of the Gospel, since God alone is able to predict future events with unfailing accuracy.
| Prophecy | OT Ref | Fulfillment |
|---|---|---|
| The Son of God | Psalm 2:7 | Heb 1:5 Heb 5:5 |
| Of the tribe of Judah | Micah 5:2 | Heb 7:14 |
| To be born at the appointed time | Daniel 9:24,25 | Gal 4:4 |
| To be born of a virgin | Isaiah 7:14 (note1) | Matt 1:18 |
| To be born at Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matt 1:22 |
| To be called out of Egypt | Hosea 11:1 | Matt 2:13 |
| Annointing with the Holy Spirit | Isaiah 11:2 Isaiah 61:1 |
Matt 3:16 John 3:34 Acts 10:38 |
| Coming to synagogue at Nazareth | Isaiah 61:1,2 | Luke 4:21 |
| Coming into the temple | Haggai 2:7 Malachi 3:1 |
Luke 3:27-32 |
| Entry to Jerusalem on a donkey | Zechariah 9:9 | Matt 21:12 |
| Casting money changers out of the temple | Jer 7:11 Isaiah 56:7 |
Matt 21:12 Mark 9:12 John 2:13-16 |
| His zeal for the house of God | Psalm 69:9 | John 2:17 |
| Betrayed by a friend | Psalm 41:9 Psalm 55:12-14 |
John 13:18,21 |
| Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver | Zechariah 11:12 | Matt 26:15,16 |
| Hated without a cause | Psalm 69:4 Isaiah 49:7 |
John 15:24,25 |
| Numbered with the transgressors | Isaiah 53:12 | Mark 15:28 |
| Made intercession for His murderers | Isaiah 53:12 | Luke 23:34 |
| None lost but the son of perdition | Psalm 41:9 | John 7:12 |
| Delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, | ||
| spitefully treated, spat upon | Isaiah 50:6 Isaiah 52:4 |
Luke 18:32 |
| His garments divided and lots cast for them | Psalm 22:18 | John 19:24 |
| Given vinegar to drink for His thirst | Psalm 69:21 | Matt 17:34 |
| Not one of His bones broken | Psalm 22:16 Psalm 34:20 Zech 12:10 |
John 19:36,37 |
| Led as a lamb to the slaughter | Isaiah 53:7,8 | Acts 8:2 |
| He made to reply to His accusers | Isaiah 53:7 | 1 Peter 2:23 |
| His disciples left Him and fled | Zech 13:7 | Matt 26:56 |
| Buried with the rich | Isaiah 53:9 | Matt 27:57-60 |
| Made to be sin for us | Isaiah 53:6 | 2 Cor 5:21 |
| He will justify many | Isaiah 53:11 | Rom 5:18 |
| His resurrection | Psalm 16:10 | Luke 24:6 John 20:7 Acts 2:31 |
| His ascension | Psalm 68:18 | Luke 24:51 Acts 1:9 Eph 4:8 |
| The chief cornerstone of God's building | Psalm 118:22-24 Isaiah 28:16 |
Matt 21:42 1 Peter 2:6,7 |
| Judas to be replaced | Psalm 69:25 | Acts 1:16,17 |
| The giving of the Holy Spirit | Joel 2:28,29 | Acts 2:17,18 |
| Justification by faith | Habakkuk 2:4 Isaiah 53:11 |
Rom 5:1 Gal 3:8 |
| The conversion of the Gentiles | Isaiah 11:10,21 | John 10:16 Acts 10:45 Rom 15:9-11 |
| Rebuilding the tabernacle of David | Amos 9:11,12 | Acts 15:14-18 |
| Rejoicing and praising God in the church | Psalm 22:22 Isaiah 8:18 | Heb 2:12,13 |
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, But now is made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Rom 16:25-27
NOTES(click to open)
Note 1: To be born of a virgin
In his book "The New EVIDENCE That Demands A Verdict" Josh McDowell writes...
In Hebrew the word "virgin" is denoted by two words:
1. bethulah: The proper meaning denotes a virgin maiden
2. almeh (veiled): A young woman of marriagable age. This is the word used in Isaiah 7:14.
"Virgin" is denoted in the Greek by the word parthenos; a virgin, marriageable maiden, or young married woman, pure virgin (Matt 1:23)
When the translators of the Septuagint translated Isaiah 7:14 into Greek they used the Greek word parthenos. To them Isaiah 7:14 denoted that the Messiah would be born a virgin.
(Josh uses as his source: Unger,UBD,1159)