Fulfilled Prophecies in the Bible

1. Fulfilled Prophecies in the Bible Justin W. Bass, Ph.D.

2. “So before He had died, risen again, and converted the nations, everything had not been accomplished, and so the miracles were necessary during the whole of this time. Now there is no more need of them against the Jews and unbelievers, for the prophecies which have been fulfilled are a constant miracle.” Blaise Pascal, Pensées no. 211

3. The Jews “This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name: ‘Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,’ declares the Lord, ‘will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me” (Jeremiah 31:35-36)

4. Alexander the Great “For Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance, in white garments, while the priests stood clothed with fine linen, and the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with his mitre on his head having the golden plate on which the name of God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high priest.…And when the book of Daniel was showed him, wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended; and as he was then glad, he dismissed the multitude for the present.” Josephus Ant.. 11.331, 337

5. Cyrus “This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said that God had spoken thus to him in a secret vision: ‘My will is, that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, send back my people to their own land, and build my temple.’ (Isa 45:1). This was foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years before the temple was demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read this, and admired the divine power, an earnest desire and ambition seized upon him to fulfill what was so written; so he called for the most eminent Jews that were in Babylon, and said to them, that he gave them leave to go back to their own country, and to rebuild their city Jerusalem, and the temple of God.” Josephus Ant. 11.1.2

6. Wherever the Gospel is Preached… • “Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matt 26:10-13 • Also in Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-38; John 12:1-3

7. Gamaliel’s Test “But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:34-39

8. Micah 5:2 • “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6) • Jewish Targums interprets the ruler of Micah 5:2 as the Messiah • The Jerusalem Talmud claimed that Menahem who started the Jewish revolt in AD 66 was born in Bethlehem. • Justin Martyr: “Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, thirty-five stadia from Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in Judaea.” (First Apology 34)

9. Suffering Messiah • “Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet” Psalm 22:16 • “For when they crucified Him, driving in the nails, they pierced His hands and feet; and those who crucified Him parted His garments among themselves, each casting lots for what he chose to have, and receiving according to the decision of the lot. And this very Psalm you maintain does not refer to Christ; for you are in all respects blind, and do not understand that no one in your nation who has been called King or Christ has ever had his hands or feet pierced while alive, or has died in this mysterious fashion—to wit, by the cross—save this Jesus alone.” Justin Martyr Dialogue with Trypho 97

10. Suffering Messiah • “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. Zechariah 12:10 • “And if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who gave birth to him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, for you have spoken falsely in the name of the Lord’; and his father and mother who gave birth to him will pierce him through when he prophesies” Zechariah 13:3 • “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” John 19:36

11. Suffering Messiah • “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 • Isaiah scroll found among the Dead Sea Scrolls dates to 150 BC • “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45

12. The Bible is Supernatural: Daniel 9:24-27 • 483 broken up into 49 years (7 * 7) and 434 years (62 * 7) • After the 62 “sevens” or 483 years the Messiah will be “cut off” (suffering servant is “cut off”) • Ezra’s decree (Ezra 7:11-26) 457 BC Or • Nehemiah’s decree (Neh 2:5-8) 445 BC

13. The Bible is Supernatural: Daniel 9:24-27 Ezra’s decree (Ezra 7:11-26) 457 BC-483 years = AD 26 Nehemiah’s decree (Neh 2:5-8) 445 BC-483 years = AD 38 Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed in AD 70

14. The Bible is Supernatural: Daniel 9:24-27 “In the very same manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and that our country should be made desolate by them. All these things did this man leave in writing, as God had showed them to him, insomuch, that such as read his prophecies, and see how they have been fulfilled, would wonder at the honor wherewith God honored Daniel” Josephus, Antiquities 10.11.7 (AD 90)

15. Justin W. Bass, Ph.D. Thank you. 1042 Lead Pastor 214-460-5872 justin@1042church.com