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Bible Prophecy 101

Bible Prophecy 101. An Introductory Bible Information Seminar. Week 4. Topic Outline. Recap Week3 * Key Messages (Seed Promises) Framework (Themes) Old Testament Prophecy (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) Linkage to Other Scripture Application & Lessons for Us Question / Answer Session.

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Bible Prophecy 101

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  1. Bible Prophecy 101 An Introductory Bible Information Seminar Week 4

  2. Topic Outline • Recap Week3 • *Key Messages (Seed Promises) • Framework (Themes) • Old Testament Prophecy (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) • Linkage to Other Scripture • Application & Lessons for Us • Question / Answer Session

  3. Recap Week 3 Psalm 22 prophesies about Jesus’ crucifixion experience. a)Proof of this is found in the numerous New Testament cross-references. b) Although it may have appeared that God had forsaken him, Jesus knew from the full passage that God woulddeliver him. Psalm 110 prophesies about the exaltation of David’s Lord . a)David understood from the LORD that one day in the future, his own special offspring -- the Christ -- would rule over David himself. b) Jesus was to be made a king-priest after the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 83 describes enemy Gentiles out to destroy Israel. a)These hostile people find their counterparts in today’s Arabs. b) As in the time of the Judges when God "sold them into the power of of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies", Israel will cry out to God to send them a savior.

  4. Key Point Brought Forward The Psalms are Messianic prophecies which point to Jesus, the Christ of God; he fulfilled the 'suffering' psalms during his First Coming and he will fulfill the 'kingdom' psalms at his Second Coming

  5. Key Messages (Seed Promises) "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and herseed,he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15) Who: God Audience: the serpent Setting: right after the sin of Adam & Eve NT interpretation: Jesus = the seed of the woman (Luke 1:35, Galatians 4:4); slanderers like the Pharisees + Cain the murderer = the seed of the serpent, AKA the devil (John 8:44, 1John 3:10); the final showdown was played out on the cross, when Jesus, "through death might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14, 1John 3:8); in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, Sin had been killed(John 3:14,Hebrews10:12,Romans 6:6-10,8:1-3)

  6. Key Messages (Seed Promises) #1 Seed of Abraham Seed of the woman Seed of David #2 #3 These are "key" messages since = essential teaching of the gospel A throne in a Kingdom forever + the certain hope of resurrection Linkage: Capital city Jerusalem in the land of promise The land forever + an everlasting relationship Fulfillment: still waiting on the Return of Christ Jesus' destruction of Sin + resurrection to eternal life = confirmation of earlier promises Until the 'problem' of sin & death was dealt with, #2 & #3 were in vain

  7. 4000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC 2000 AD 0 Noah David Jesus Adam Moses Abraham Ourselves Seed Promises … fulfilled by Jesus … and more to come! Prophetic Framework - Timeline

  8. 4000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC 2000 AD 0 Noah David Jesus Adam Moses Abraham Ourselves The 3 groupings used by Christ to identify which Scripture spoke about him Moses Psalms Prophetic Framework - Timeline Prophets

  9. 4000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC 2000 AD 0 Noah David Jesus Adam Moses Abraham Ourselves Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel This week Genesis Exodus -Judges Leviticus Deuteron. Samuel- -Malachi Last week Psalms N T This week Prophetic Framework - Timeline

  10. Framework - Key Events / People • David was a man after God’s own heart, and wrote prophetic psalms Last Week Isaiah foretold the Kingdom age and the suffering Messiah • Jeremiah predicted doom/exile for Jerusalem/Judah, and • yet assured there would be a new covenant coming • Ezekiel the prophet (in exile) confronted his listeners, and • was a 'man of sign' to the people This Week • Samuel to Malachi • Samuel the prophet anointed and mentored first two kings • David’s zeal and faithfulness brings Seed promise #3 • Elijah the prophet confronted king Ahab over worship of false gods • Micaiah the prophet predicted the certain death of Ahab in battle • Isaiah the prophet confronted king Ahaz, encouraged king Hezekiah • Jeremiah the prophet confronted king Zedekiah and his false prophets • Ezekiel confirmed Jeremiah’s message, and predicted restoration • Daniel the prophet confronted Babylonian kings and wrong decrees • Daniel saw long term visions of what will befall the people of Israel • Amos the prophet predicted a time when the prophetic message dries up • Zechariah the prophet described the ‘time of the end’ for Jerusalem • Malachi the prophet foretold a messenger to herald the Messiah

  11. Terminology & Definitions Orientation based on the promised land North West East South God owns the land; He gives it to whom He wants based on His oath-promise, the LORD then allowed the people of Israel to go in and possess the land (Deuteronomy 9:4-6) • Land / Earth • the Hebrew word "erets" is translated both "land" and "earth", the land is the territory initially called Canaan which became the 'promised land'; earth = local ("the four corners of the earth"); = global("glory fills the whole earth") God declared that this piece of real estate "is mine" (Leviticus 25:23), and therefore He treats it as his special property (Deuteronomy 11:12, Jeremiah 2:7) which He gave to Abraham;

  12. Terminology & Definitions • Northern / Southern Kingdom • in the reign of king Rehoboam (around 960 BC), the united Kingdom of 12 tribes was split into two parts: Samaria capital Kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) • a northern Kingdom called Israel, made up • of 10 tribes, ruled by king Jeroboam, who • set up idols, and made his capital city • Samaria. Around 720 BC, Israel was • overrun and sent into captivity by Assyria. Kingdom of Judah (2 tribes) • a southern Kingdom called Judah, made • up of 2 tribes, continued to be ruled by • king Rehoboam, who kept Jerusalem as • his capital city. Around 580 BC, Judah was • finally overthrown, and the bulk of its • inhabitants taken into captivity by Babylon. Jerusalem capital

  13. Terminology & Definitions • Nations round about • the people, territory, and countries that surround the land of Israel (e.g. Lev 25:44, Deut 6:14,12:10, Jud 2:14) Ancient name - modern equivalents are listed below: Tyre - S. Lebanon Sidon - S. Lebanon Philistia - Gaza Samaria - West Bank Assyria -Syria/Iraq Gilead -N. Jordan Edom -S. Jordan Teman -S. Jordan Egypt - Egypt Ethiopia - Ethiopia/Sudan Sheba -Saudi Arabia Dedan - Saudi Arabia

  14. Terminology & Definitions (cont'd) • Captivity • refers to when individuals, segments of the society, or an entire people were forcibly removed from the promised land and exiled / taken as slaves to another land (e.g. king Manasseh - 2Chronicles 33:11, royal family & nobles - Daniel 1:3, northern kingdom of the Israelites - 2Kings 17:1-6) Captivity was not accidental -- God made it happen. Why? Because the people deliberately continued to sin against the LORD, and refused to listen to His prophets (e.g., 2Kings 17:7-18, 2Chronicles 36:11-17) The punishment of captivity was designed to bring the exiles to their senses, to repentance, and to a desire to be restored to the land (e.g., Nehemiah 1:5-11).

  15. Terminology & Definitions (cont'd) • Restoration • refers to when those people (or their descendants) sent into captivity by God, are brought back into the promised land because: • they have learned the lesson of disobedience • and repented (e.g., 2 Chronicles 33:12-13) • the prophets predicted such a restoration • (e.g., 2 Chronicles 36:22-23) • God continues to show mercy to Abraham's • descendants (Nehemiah 9:31) For a wonderful example of Captivity /Restoration of an individual, see "The Case of King Manasseh" in the Reference Material for this week

  16. Prophetic Theme - God's Retribution {15} For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head. Payback {16} For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, all the nations round about shall drink… and stagger, and shall be as though they had not been. Payback (God brings evil-doing back on head of the doer) Evil done by Edom Retribution on Edom by God {Obadiah 10} For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever {14} You should not have stood at the parting of the ways to cut off the fugitives; you should not have delivered up his survivors in the day of distress

  17. Prophetic Theme - God's Just Retribution - triple emphasis Jeremiah 30:16 Israel Plunderer "Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who despoil you shall become a spoil, and all who prey on you I will make a prey". Payback How it works out As you have done, it shall be done to you... 1. despoiled 2. despoiled 3. restored "What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon,and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will requite your deed upon you head swiftly and speedily".(Joel 3:4)

  18. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 11:1-12 "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse Who wrote it: Isaiah, as inspired by God When: Around 720 B.C. Audience: King Ahaz, and the people of Judah Setting: The northern kingdom of Israel has been taken into captivity by the Assyrians, who are now making what appears to be a very successful invasion into the southern kingdom of Judah. Understandably, the people fear for their lives (Is 10:24). But the LORD tells them not to be afraid, since He will not only take care of the invader, but set up one of David's descendants to establish a regime free from violence and hurt.

  19. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 11:1-12 (cont’d) Jesse was David's father; Jesus is of David's line = the predicted "branch" (Is 4:2) {1} "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. {2} And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. {3} And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; NT allusions and commentary made this = Jesus (e.g., Matthew 3:16, Hebrews 5:7) Again, surely = Jesus (e.g., John 7:24, 2:25, 8:1-12)

  20. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 11:1-12 (cont’d) {4} but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. {5} Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. {6} The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Tie to Psalm 2:9, cited in 2 Thessalonians 2:8 = Jesus Obviously the characteristics of Jesus + confirmation from Isaiah 59:16-17 Metaphors descriptive of the "new heavens and new earth" (Isaiah 65:17,25) of Christ's Kingdom age

  21. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 11:1-12 (cont’d) {9} They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea {10} In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious. "holy mountain"= house of the LORD "in the latter days" in Jerusalem from which the "word of the LORD" goes forth (Isaiah 2:2-4) Jesus will be the one to implement the ultimate purpose of God (this teaching was first discussed in week 1) cited in Romans 15:12 as referring to Jesus the Christ

  22. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 11:1-12 (cont’d) {11} In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant which is left of his people, from Assyria, ...Egypt, ...Pathros, ...Ethiopia ... Elam,...Shinar, ... Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. {12} He will raise an ensign for the nations, will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. A remnant of those who went into captivity will come back; but notice that this is the "second time" = a latter day fulfillment when Jesus returns Predictive of Jesus, who will represent God's glory in the midst of the land, and who will command the nations to bring the Jews back home (Isaiah 66:18-22)

  23. OT Prophecy -Isaiah 11:1-12 (cont’d) Application / Lesson • This passage of Scripture is clearly a Messianic prophecy, as • demonstrated by the number of relevant and explanatory • cross references found in the New Testament. • Furthermore, there were a number of links within Isaiah itself • that support not only the 'messianic' interpretation, but also • the content itself: latter day setting, Jerusalem location, and • restoration of the Jews in dispersion. • So understanding and interpreting Bible prophecy is largely a • process of reading the text, looking up cross references, • finding common ideas, and putting them together in a way • that makes sense = something most everyone can do, • if they put their mind to it, and count on God to help.

  24. OT Prophecy - Isaiah 52:13-53:12 "Behold, my servant shall prosper… Who wrote it: Isaiah, as inspired by God When: Around 700 B.C. Audience: King Hezekiah, and the people of Judah Setting: Probably written with the experience of the stricken Hezekiah made-well-again in mind (Isaiah 38), which was during the unstoppable campaign of the Assyrian army. The city of Jerusalem was under siege, the people were demoralized, and Sennacherib, king of Assyria, publicly mocked the living God (Isaiah 36-37). This passage is also demonstrably a Messianic prophecy, and Hezekiah serves as a prototype of Jesus.

  25. OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) {13} Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. {14} As many were astonished at him -- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men -- {15} so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand." Hezekiah = would be victorious over Assyria Jesus = lifted up & made victorious (John 3:14, 8:28) Hezekiah = possible way he looked due to sickness Jesus = the exhaustion & beatings & scourging (Mark 15:15-20) Hezekiah = miracle recovery, + amazed Babylonians Jesus = the totally unexpected resurrection, for believers and the Jews (Matthew 28)

  26. OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) {2} For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. {3} He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. {4} Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Builds on Isaiah 11:1,10 and seen to be fulfilled in Jesus (Romans 15:12, Luke 2:40) basis of Jesus' own prediction (Mark 10:33-34) + explicitly fulfilled shortly afterwards (Mark 14:65) Explicitly stated to be fulfilled by Jesus (Matthew 8:17)

  27. OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) {5} But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. . {6} All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. {7} He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. v.5-6 cited by Peter as being fulfilled by Jesus (1Peter2:24-25; see also Romans 4:25, Hebrews 9:28); "bruised" = tie to Gen 3:15 Jesus, the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29) Basis for Jesus allowing himself to be led away + was silent before Herod & Pilate (Luke 22:54, 23:9, Matthew 27:12-14)

  28. OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) {8} By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? {9} And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. {10} Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand; v.7-8 quoted by the Ethiopian eunuch and answered by the evangelist Philip as referring to Jesus (Acts 8:32-35) Burial of Jesus done via rich Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60) and cited by Peter regarding Jesus (1Peter 2:22) Jesus accepted God's will in this matter,became the perfect one-time offering for all, and was raised to eternallife (Luke 22:42, Hebrews 9:12,7:16)

  29. OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) {11} he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities. {12} Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. The risen Jesus saw his disciples and his family fully believe and become the core of the early church (Acts 1:14); they were counted righteous through faith in Jesus, the sin bearer (Romans 5:18-19, 3:21-26, 1:17) God gave His Son everlasting life, ultimate exaltation + "all authority in heaven and earth", because of his "obedience unto death" (Matthew 28:18, Philippians 2:8) Detail of Jesus' crucifixion with two thieves cited in Luke 22:37 as fulfillment of Isaiah

  30. bruised for our iniquities hunted, arrested two thieves on cross offering for sin growing up raised from dead on trial, silence died & buried healing ministry exalted, satisfied mocked, beaten chastisement that made us whole rich man's tomb scourged, crucified the will of the Lord OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) The whole story in 1 chapter The Lamb of God

  31. Rather, this is a most compelling example of fulfilled Bible prophecy*. Believe it! * Proof found in Dead Sea scrolls OT Prophecy -Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (cont’d) Application / Lesson • The detailed fulfillment of this passage by Jesus is so • complete that some think it must have been contrived (e.g., • Jesus deliberately would not speak to Herod to satisfy v. 7). • But did he arrange to be buried by a rich man? or to be • crucified with two thieves? Hardly! • Interestingly enough, Jesus surely was citing Isaiah 53 when • he repeatedly told his apostles about his rejection, mocking • and murder by the Jews (e.g. Luke 9:44-45, 18:31-34) but • they did not understandit, much less the resurrection! Did they think Jesus was speaking in parables? Did they think the Christ could not die? We must be careful and not be blinded to the plain teaching of Christand about his Second Coming!

  32. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Who spoke it: God, to Jeremiah the prophet When:Around580BC Audience: The people of Judah who had been undergoing a "time of distress" and also readers amongst the exiles such as Daniel and Ezekiel. Setting: King Zedekiah had rebelled against Babylon, and both he and the people had suffered dire consequences, as predicted by Jeremiah. But now, instead of gloom and doom, God has Jeremiah write out a message of hope and deliverance (for the survivors and the faithful), with a promise of a "new covenant".

  33. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) {30:1} The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: {2} Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: "Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you {3} For behold, days are coming, says the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it"…{7} Alas! that day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it. Points: v.1-2 Note instructions to the prophet: write it down (so that you will get it exact, and have something concrete to show to the people) v.3 Restoration is foretold: back to the promised land + possess it again v.7 Here, "Jacob" = the nation (for the man was dead), but the verse alludes to his "distress" when he returned to face Esau (Genesis 32:7); yet like then, people of faith will be delivered (Genesis 33:1-16)

  34. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) {8} "And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD of hosts, that I will break the yoke from off their neck, and I will burst their bonds, and strangers shall no more make servants of them. {9} But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. {10} Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for lo, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. Points: v.8"in that day" points to sometime in the future; "yoke" metaphor could be from use on animals or on slaves; either way, freedom is promised v.9 A raised-up David = a prediction of a resurrected David to be king or a prophecy about Jesus the beloved (David) to be sent by God as king v.10 Assurance of return of whole families from captivity = 2nd allusion to Jacob's successful reconciliation with fearsome Esau (Genesis 33)

  35. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) Discussed earlier as a theme of prophecy:the plunderer's evil deeds will come back upon his own head Payback {11} For I am with you to save you, says the LORD; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will chasten you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.. {16} Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who despoil you shall become a spoil, and all who prey on you I will make a prey. A truly momentous prophetic statement: what will surely happen to other nations, but NEVER to Israel (31:35-37) = a test of credible prophecy = can verify whether this is accurate Salvation is certain, but not without going through the necessary punishment

  36. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) God's just retribution Payback Echoes: promise made to Abraham (Genesis 17:7-8) {22} And you shall be my people, and I will be your God." {23} Behold the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. . {24} The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this." Echo: God's word will accomplish what He has purposed (Isaiah 55:11) This is a future happening, but it will be understood then (see Jeremiah 23:20)

  37. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) {31:27} Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israelandthe house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. {28} And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD {31} Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenantwith the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Points to a future event... Both houses indicate a reunited nation = prophesied by Ezekiel 37:15-22 as well To be an item-by-item reversal of the punishments = an undoing of the curses by replacing with blessings An utterly astonishing idea! It would not only be different from the covenant made at Sinai (v.32), but supersede it!

  38. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) {33} But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {34} And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." The new covenant will be implemented by God putting His teaching into receptive minds, and thus the core relationship will be rebuilt (32:38); the same teaching is found in Ezekiel 11:17-21 The covenant will apply to everyone, and will have its basis in God's forgiveness of their sins, "for they shall return to me with their whole heart" (24:7); see 32:38-41 for a comparable message.

  39. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) Application / Lesson • God makes it absolutely clear that He has not abandoned • nor will He ever permanently forsake Israel. They will always • be a people before Him. Therefore, the Jews -- by their very • existence -- continue to be a "witness" (willing or otherwise, • see Isaiah 43:10-12) to the outworking of God's purpose. • God told Joshua that He would "not fail you or forsake you" • and therefore he should "be strong and of good courage; be • not frightened,neither be dismayed;for the LORD your God is • with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:5). That same teaching • carries over to believers today (Hebrews 13:5-6). In a world • of great distress and uncertainty, such Bible teaching is very • reassuring, and the smart choice to place one's trust.

  40. OT Prophecy - Jeremiah 30-31 (cont’d) Application / Lesson • The full significance of the "new covenant" was at last perceived • when Jesus highlighted it at the 'last supper' with his apostles: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom"(Matthew 26:27-29) • As with the 'seed promises', Jesus both fulfills and implements • God's concept of the new covenant: sins forgiven. Therefore, believers ought to remember his sacrifice in the breaking of bread, while in drinking 'the cup', look forward to his Coming and celebration in the Kingdom of God (1Corinthians 11:23-26)

  41. OT Prophecy - Ezekiel Who spoke it: God, to Ezekiel the prophet When:Around580BC Audience: The exiles with Ezekiel in Babylon + his readership back in Judah. Setting: Ezekiel was one of the early waves of Jews sent into exile to Babylon. The LORD has chosen him to serve as an object lesson -- a "man of sign" -- to his listeners, who need to be convinced that (a) Jerusalem will fall (b) they might as well get used to living in Babylon, and (c) God has a message of rebuke and hope for them, even in this foreign land.

  42. OT Prophecy - Ezekiel (Man of Sign) • Struck dumb, to speak only when prophesy (3:26-27) • Set up siege works, iron plate (4:1-3) • Lay on side 390 days & then another 40 days (4:4-8) • Eat rationed food, cooked on cow dung (4:9-17) • Cut off hair, divide into thirds, scatter it, hide a few (5:1-4) • Carry baggage, dig in wall, cover face (12:1-12) • Eat bread with quaking, drink with trembling (12:17-19) • Tell allegory of rusted cooking pot (24:1-14) • Not mourn wife, delight of his life (24:15-24) • Regain speech on day learns Jerusalem falls (24:25-27)

  43. OT Prophecy - Ezekiel (His Message) • Same message as Jeremiah(his mentor?) • punishment & restoration - ch. 14, 20, 37 • prophesy about other nations - ch. 25-32 • new covenant - ch. 11:17-21 • Prophecies Unique to Ezekiel • vision of cherubim (living creatures) - ch. 1,8-11 • diatribe against harlotry (literal, political & spiritual) - ch. 16, 23 • prediction of two-stage destruction of Tyre - ch. 26,29 • Gogian invasion in the last days - ch. 38-39 • vision of temple - ch. 40-48 • Background for the Apocalypse • experiences like John (exile, in Spirit, participate in vision) • living creatures, mark on forehead, 1/3 portions • mother of harlots, Gogian battle, river of water of life

  44. OT Prophecy - Ezekiel (cont’d) Application / Lesson {Ezekiel 2:8-3:3} "But you son of man, be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you1". And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and lo, a written scroll was in it; and he spread it before me; and it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. [so Ezekiel would be very reluctant to digest such bad news] And he said to me, "Son of man,eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll2, and go, speak to the house of Israel". So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. And he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll3 and fill your stomach with it". [twice more he is urged to take into his life what God had written -- he just had to swallow it] Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. [once he ate what God had already put in his mouth, it tasted great after all!] Distasteful as God's Word may seem at first, eat it! It is life! (John 6:53)

  45. Key Point To Take-away The messages of the 'Major Prophets' align with and build on the earlier Bible prophecies and continue to use the nation of Israel and the Messiah as their focus.

  46. Review Isaiah 52-53 is a ____________ prophecy a)The subject is about a ________ servant of God. b) This prophecy is cited in many New Testament passages in reference to the _______ and ________ and _______ of Jesus. Jeremiah 30-31 discusses the ______ of the people of Judah. a)First there was going to be a terrible time of _________ b) However, afterwards, for those who survived and turned back to God, there would be ___________ and a new _________ Ezekiel was commissioned to speak to the ______ in Babylon. a)Ezekielwas a "man of ____", that is, he did and said unusual things so when asked to explain, he would give them God's message. b) Ezekiel initially was reluctant to prophesy on behalf of God, so God made Ezekiel unable to ______, unless it was a word of prophecy; this was both a proof to the people, and a lesson for ________.

  47. OT Prophecies to be discussed next week (you can read in advance) • Daniel 2, 7 - visions of long-term prophecy, of which the text provides its own interpretation • Zechariah 14 - predicted capture of Jerusalem by her enemies, who plunder and ravish and enslave; then as in the past, God comes to the rescue & restores all things, this time by Christ • Malachi 4 - foretells the work of a 'last-days' Elijah,come to prepare the people for Messiah

  48. Question / Answer Session + To be continued...

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