My Book Messianic Prophecies

My Book Messianic Prophecies

by Jeffrey L Girling

This is a book I wrote about Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ. Anyone may read and copy this book free. Please ignore any clerical errors because this book hasn't been proof read yet.

God Bless You

Introduction

This book is written in hopes of encouraging the faith of the reader in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures of the Bible, and also in hopes that it will encourage the reader’s faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

It will be the purpose of this book to reason with the reader, and to demonstrate throughout scriptures the evidence for the inspiration of the scriptures. It also has the potential to increase the knowledge of some, who have little knowledge of scriptures, and help ground them with the Word of God.

This book is not intended to be scholarly, but it is intended to be persuasive by demonstrating infallible evidence that the Old Testament of the Bible prophesies about Jesus Christ hundreds and thousands of years before he was born

I once asked the Lord a very sincere question. The question I asked was "Lord, How can I know the Bible is your inspired Word?". The Lord’s answer to me is found in John 5:39. Jesus said in John 5:39 "Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me".

Jesus said in John 5:39 that the scriptures testify of him. We know he was referring to the Old Testament, because the New Testament was not written yet when he made that statement. He said the Old Testament testifies about him, or shall we say the Old Testament speaks or prophesies about him. Yes! The Old Testament speaks and prophesies about him hundreds and thousands of years before he was born.

Psalms 40:7 "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book. It is written of me". The Hebrew translation of "volume of the book" would be "roll of the scroll", because the Bible was first written to us on scrolls. This scripture is quoted in Hebrews 10:7 as pertaining to Jesus Christ.

It should be understood by the reader that all of the prophecies in this book were written about Jesus hundreds of years before he was born, therefore proving the inspiration of the Old Testament, because it would have been impossible for the Old Testament writers to write about Jesus hundreds of years before he was born, unless they were inspired by the Lord our God, who knows the future.

The Lord speaks in Isaiah 42:9, and says "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them." The Lord declared things unto us before they came to pass, so we would know it was him who inspired the scriptures.

Psalm 102:18 says "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord". The church which is futuristic of Psalm 102:18 is made up of all the Lord’s people, whom the Lord created to praise him.

Romans 15:4 says "For whatsoever things were written beforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of scriptures might have hope." It is my sincere hope and desire that the scriptures revealed in this book will produce hope and faith in the heart of the reader.

The following pages will reveal Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ, which were prophesied hundreds and thousands of years before Jesus was born. We should not discount many other prophecies which have come to pass, but this book will be specifically dealing with prophecies about Jesus Christ.

Chapter One

Jesus Christ Our Creator

The reader should understand that Jesus Christ was our Creator, and he pre-existed throughout Old Testament times. He made numerous appearances throughout the Old Testament. There were times he would appear as The Angel of the Lord, and there were times he would appear in the form of a man.

John 1:1-3 says "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made".

The Word of God is another name for Jesus Christ we read about in Revelation 19:13. Jesus Christ is the Word who was in the beginning with God, and was God, and he is also our Creator who made all things.

John 1:14 says "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us". The Word became Jesus Christ and dwelt among us. John 1:10 says "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." John 1:12 says "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

Colossians 1:16 says "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible." Hebrews 1:1,2 say "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." The word "worlds" is plural in this verse, so this would include the whole universe.

Philippians 2:5 and 6 say "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God"

Jesus Christ was the Word who was with God in the beginning, and who was God, and our Creator who made all things. Jesus was praying to the Father in John 17:5, and this is what he prayed "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." Jesus Christ was with the Father before the world was according to his words in this prayer.

Jesus said in John 8:58 that "Before Abraham was, I am." Abraham lived about two thousand years before Jesus was born. Jesus was implying here that he pre-existed before Abraham was born.

Jesus Christ has been defined as being all God and all man in one person. The man we call Jesus was born when the Virgin Mary conceived and gave birth to him two thousand years ago, but that man we call Jesus was filled with the Spirit of our Creator. He was also the biological Son of God, because he had no earthly father. Our Father in Heaven planted his own seed in Mary, so our Heavenly Father is the biological Father of the man we call Jesus.

Jesus said in John 17:14 and 16 that he is not of this world. John 3:17, 10:36, and 17:18 say he was sent into the world by his Father in Heaven. This means he was not in this world in the beginning. He was the Word who was with God, and was God, who was our Creator. It was our Father and Creator who spoke through the mouth of Jesus. Jesus was the walking Word of God on earth. He was the Word made flesh.

Read John 6:37-40 when Jesus said "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." Jesus said in John 11:25 and 26 "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life, and he has the power to give us eternal life if we believe in him. There is eternal life after the life we live now, if we believeth in Jesus Christ who is our Creator, and has the power to raise us up at the last day.

Jesus Christ pre-existed before his life and ministry on this earth. He was active all the way through the Old Testament hundreds and thousands of years before Jesus was born. Micah 5:2 prophesies beforehand about his birth in Bethlehem, and also reveals his pre-existence in days of old, by saying "whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; ...whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." Notice that in the first part of this verse it speaks about Bethlehem, where the future ruler of Israel shall spring forth from. Jesus Christ will be the future King of Israel or ruler forever in the end. Matthew 2:6 quotes this verse as pertaining to Jesus at the time of his birth in Bethlehem.

Notice also that the last phrase speaks about his goings forth from old, from everlasting. This refers to his pre-existence when he appeared unto the earlier fathers such as Abraham, Moses, etc., so it prophesies about his birth in Bethlehem over seven hundred years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but also speaks about his goings forth thousands of years before this prophecy was given, and both statements referring to one person the Lord Jesus Christ, who always has existed since before the world was.

God also said in that prophecy that the future ruler of Israel would come unto him. That’s just what Jesus did. He ascended into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Jesus said in Revelation 22:13 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."

I urge the reader to look at Psalm 45:6 and 7 below, and compare it to Hebrews 1:8 and 9 also given. The writer of Hebrews is actually referring to Psalm 45:6 and 7, and quoting it as a prophecy of Jesus Christ. Notice also in Psalm 45:7 that God anoints God with the oil of gladness above his fellows. God actually anointed his Son Jesus Christ with the oil of gladness, who is also God.

Psalm 45:6 and 7 "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."

Hebrews 1:8 and 9 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." We can clearly see Hebrews 1:8, and 9 is quoting from Psalm 45:6, and 7, and starts out by saying these words were spoken to the Son referring to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is our creator, who created a body for himself, by putting his seed in the Virgin Mary. The body and blood of Jesus was made to be an offering for sin, so our sins can be forgiven, and we can live an eternal life if we ask the Lord for forgiveness of our sins, and ask him to be our Lord and Savior. Hebrews 10:5 says "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrafice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:" The body of Jesus was prepared for our salvation. We will be looking at Old Testament prophecies of Jesus in the next chapter that will reveal him as our Savior. It was his plan from the beginning as our Creator to prepare a body for himself, so he could reveal his love for his creation, by giving his own body and blood as atonement for our sins. The only thing he asks or expects from us is that we believe in him, and that we live our lives for him. He demonstrated his love for us by going to the cross, and enduring much suffering and humiliation through mocking and beatings he suffered, while being falsely accused by false witnesses, until he hung naked on the cross for our sins and transgressions. He died on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins, so we could have eternal life and spend eternity with him. He now waits patiently for us to return our love back to him, and we do that by receiving him as our Lord and Savior, and dedicating our lives to him.

Jesus said in John 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, because he had no earthly father. Our Father in Heaven put his own seed in the Virgin Mary, so Jesus was his biological Son. Remember that John 1:12 says "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." So we can be sons and daughters of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

This is what our Father in Heaven wants. He wants us to repent of our sins, so the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins, so we can appear spotless before him, and have an eternal relationship with him. Acts 3:19 says "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." Jesus said in Luke 13:3, 5 "Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." He also said in Matthew 18:3, 4 "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus Christ humbled himself when he left his heavenly domain, and then suffered humiliation throughout his crucifixion for us. Now he wants us to humble ourselves and make him Lord of our lives.

Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Salvation is not something we can earn through our own works. It’s a free gift from God to all who will receive it, by receiving Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Galatians 3:22 says "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." This means that he stands at the door of our hearts, and if we open our hearts to him, then he will come into our hearts, and will have fellowship with us.

The Lord says in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson; they shall be as wool." The Lord wants to forgive us our sins, but he wants us to come to him. Remember what Jesus said in John 5:39 and 40. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me, and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."

Chapter Two

Jesus Christ Our Salvation

In this chapter we will be looking at Old Testament prophecies which will reveal Jesus Christ as our Savior. Some of these prophecies will reflect his suffering on the cross, and we will see through these prophecies the Lord’s salvation plan for us revealed in Old Testament times written hundreds of years before Jesus went to the cross. The Lord prophesied hundreds of years beforehand what his salvation plan for us would be. Peter spoke about this fact in 1 Peter 1:10-12. Peter refers to the Old Testament Prophets in verse ten, and writes how the Old Testament Prophets testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ in verse eleven, and he explains how the Lord’s salvation plan for us was revealed to the Old Testament Prophets in verse twelve. It was revealed to them so they could write about it beforehand, so we would know that the sufferings of Jesus was the Lord’s will, and he suffered for our salvation. Here is 1 Peter 1:10-12 "Of such salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves; but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."

It was the will of God that Jesus suffer on the cross for our salvation, and Jesus went to the cross willingly. Jesus prayed to the Father in Matthew 26:39, and he said Father "not as I will, but as you will." Jesus knew he was about to be crucified, and he knew he would suffer, but he was implying to let it be, because he also knew it was the Father’s will. He also knew that glory would follow his sufferings, because it was in that same garden and same time, while he was praying, when he prayed for the Father to glorify him with the same glory he had with the Father before the world was that we read about in John 17:5. Jesus afterwards was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven as the scriptures reveal, where he sits on right hand of God in all of his glory. Peter wrote about the glory that followed in the scripture above in 1 Peter 1:11.

God prophesied about Jesus in Genesis 3:15 when he was speaking to the serpent that tempted Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel."

The woman in this verse is Eve, because she is called the mother of all living in Genesis 3:20. She is also the woman the serpent tempted and lied to in the Garden of Eden, and she is the woman who had just sinned, and God was dealing with the serpent about it. Seed in this verse means offspring, and the serpent and the woman Eve would have offspring or descendants thereafter. The whole human race is the natural or biological offspring of Eve, but the serpent’s seed would not be of a biological nature. The serpent’s seed would refer to those who would serve Satan the Devil, and do evil after his likeness.

The pronoun "his" in the last phrase of this verse "thou shall bruise his heel" limits this seed to one specific person or individual. The word "it" in the phrase "it shall bruise thy head" is translated "he" in some Bible translations.

This is interpreted by many Christians and Bible Scholars as a prophecy of Jesus, who is the seed (offspring) of Eve, who was born out of the human race, who would bruise the head of the serpent, and be a Savior, who would save his people from their sins.

We might also consider the timing when God gave this prophecy. God had just confronted Adam in the eleventh verse of this chapter regarding his sin. Adam blames the woman Eve in verse twelve. Eve blames the serpent in verse thirteen. God curses the serpent in verse fourteen, but in verse fifteen God had to deal with the sin factor. The first thing God did in verse fifteen when dealing with sin was prophesy about a Savior, who would save his people from sin and the penalty of sin.

We should consider what the Angel of the Lord said to Joseph concerning Mary in Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

God knew that we would need atonement for our sins. Adam and Eve were completely innocent of sin before this time, but now they had sinned, and they were guilty of sin before God. God knew that the seed or offspring of Adam and Eve would inherit their sinful nature, and this includes the whole human race except Jesus. Jesus was innocent without sin. His blood was holy blood, because he was the biological Son of our Father in Heaven. Jesus has the nature of his Father in Heaven.

The rest of the human race inherited the sinful nature of Adam and Eve. David said in Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Paul writes in Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Paul was quoting from Psalm 14:3. Paul understood that all of us were guilty of sin, and that includes every person who has lived on this planet earth since Adam and Eve except Jesus, because we all inherited the nature of Adam and Eve, but Jesus inherited the nature of his Father in Heaven. Paul said in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Hebrews 1:3 says he was the express image of God.

God knew there was no way we ourselves could atone for our sins, or be righteous because of our sinful nature, and there was no way God would allow any sin or person with a sinful nature into Heaven. We would all be doomed to eternity in hell which is the penalty of our sins, so God sent Jesus into the world to shed his Holy Blood as atonement for our sins because God loved us so much. He wants us to be with him for eternity, but our sins have to be washed away by the blood of Jesus first, so we are clean before his eyes. Hebrew 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins. Jesus shed his blood, and paid the penalty for our sins, so our sins are forgiven when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, who saves us from our sins, and the penalty of sin.

I will ask the reader to remember that Jesus Christ pre-existed in Old Testament times, that is why Peter said the Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament Prophets in First Peter 1:11. God is not subject to time, because God created time, and we also learn from scriptures that Jesus Christ is our Creator, so the Spirit of Christ in the Old Testament Prophets was not subject to time. The Spirit of Christ could feel the suffering of Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus was born, because all time is as the same time to the Spirit of Christ. This should be understood by the reader as we look at the next several Old Testament prophecies, which will clearly reveal God’s salvation plan for us. The reader should also understand that it was the Spirit of Christ, who inspired the Old Testament writers as they wrote, and Jesus Christ is called the Word of God, and I believe all scripture was written through him before and after his birth. In the beginning the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

There are several prophecies of Jesus in Isaiah chapter 53, and God’s salvation plan is clearly revealed in Isaiah chapter 53, but we will first look at a prophecy in Isaiah 50:6, and then work our way to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." This prophecy was given several hundred years before Jesus was born, but the Spirit of Christ could feel the humiliation of Jesus hundreds of years beforehand, because the Spirit of Christ is not subject to time. Jesus did suffer much humiliation when he was beaten, mocked, and spit upon. His hair was also plucked off. It was perhaps when they blindfolded him, saying, "Who hit you?" while they were mocking and making fun of him.

Luke 22:63, 64, and 65 say "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and ask him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?"

Matthew 26: 67and 68 "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ. Who is he that smote thee?" Jesus continued to suffer humiliation throughout his crucifixion as he hung naked on the cross in front of his mother and all of his friends.

Proverbs 15:33 says "before honor is humility." Jesus understood that he would have to suffer humility before glory and honor. He afterwards was resurrected from death to Glory and Honor, and ascended into Heaven sitting on the right hand of God.

The next prophecy of Jesus is written in Isaiah 52:13, 14, and 15. This prophecy was spoken by God (Spirit of Christ). I will comment on it afterwards. Isaiah 52:13, 14, 15 says "Behold my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouth at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."

The scripture above says my servant (Jesus) shall deal prudently (wisely). Jesus through wisdom suffered humility, and then was exalted to Glory, and sits on the right hand of God. Proverbs 15.33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility." It also says his visage (appearance) was so marred (disfigured) more than any man. Jesus was beaten so severely at the hands of Pilate’s soldiers his appearance was perhaps disfigured beyond recognition. The word sprinkle would signify a spiritual purification of the nations. I like to think of water baptism and the baptism of his Holy Spirit, but I also think of how blood was sprinkled for the atonement of sin in the Old Testament. The Epistle First John 5:8 says "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." Jesus will purify all the nations on earth when he returns, but we are purified through water and spiritual baptism, and his blood is what washes our sins away.

Paul quotes in Romans 15:21 the last words of Isaiah chapter 52 above "for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall theyconsider." Romans 15:21 "but as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand." Notice that Paul uses the words "whom he was not spoken of" instead of "for that which had been told them." Paul is indicating that it was Jesus, or the Gospel of Jesus which had not been preached yet, but then they shall see and understand when the Gospel is presented to them.

This prophecy continues into and throughout chapter 53. We will look at several prophecies of Jesus that point to the cross, and God’s salvation plan is clearly revealed.

Isaiah 53:1"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" Isaiah 53:1 is quoted as being fulfilled at the time of the ministry of Jesus in John 12:37, 38 "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the sayings of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (See also Romans 10:16)

Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Jesus has been rejected my most of the human race for two thousand years. There are many in the world today, who are ashamed or embarrassed to even mention the name of Jesus, and he is rejected without cause. We should consider what Jesus said in Matthew 10: 32and 33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Jesus doesn’t want us to deny or reject him. He wants us to love him as he loves us with open arms ready to receive us. Yet! There are still many in the world today, who continue to mock his name, and mock those who preach his name. John 1:10 and 11 say "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Remember what John 1:12 says "But as many as received, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." This prophecy is quoted as pertaining to Jesus Christ in Matthew 8:16and 17 "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."

Our "griefs" in the phrase "borne our griefs" in Isaiah 53:4 above are translated "infirmities" in the New International Version of the Bible. The New International Version also translates the word "sicknesses" in Matthew 8:16 and 17 above as "diseases." The sicknesses in Matthew 8:16 above were demonic in nature caused by demons. Demons are evil in nature; they are servants of Satan the Devil. The works of Satan is to destroy God’s creation on earth, but Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Peter quotes this verse in the First Epistle of Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed."

The prophecy above says he was wounded (pierced) for our transgressions. It relates best to when he had his hands and feet pierced, or when they pierced his side with a spear. He was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities. It says "with his stripes we are healed." Stripes would mean the lashes he took when he was whipped. The whip that he was whipped with had a steal ball at the end of it, and the ball had spikes sticking out of it. Those spikes would rip deep into his body tearing it to threads. His body was torn to threads, so we could receive healing in our bodies. Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15 and John 19:1 says that he was scourged, which means he was whipped or flogged harshly. Jesus paid the price for our physical healing as well as our salvation. He was wounded and bruised for our iniquities, but he was also whipped harshly for our healing. Jesus wants us to be healed. He healed many people during his ministry, but Jesus said in John 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." This means he still works through his people today. He’s still healing people today!

Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." God’s salvation plan for us is being revealed in the words "and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Jesus died on the cross for our sins and iniquities, so our sins and iniquities can be forgiven, and are relationship with God can be restored, because sin is what keeps us separate from God. Our sins were laid on Jesus at the cross, so we would not have to suffer the penalty of sin, but only if we receive him. Those who reject him are rejecting his salvation, and they will suffer the penalty of their sin. God’s salvation plan will be clearer further into this chapter, so keep reading! Don’t close this book now! Remember! This is being prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born. God prophesied it beforehand, so we know it was his salvation plan and will.

Two Prophecies of Jesus were written in Isaiah 53:7. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." The first prophecy says "he opened not his mouth". Jesus did not open his mouth when he was brought before Pilate, and was being accused by the chief priest and elders in Matthew 27:12, 13, and 14. "And when he was accused of the chief priest and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly." See also Matthew 26:62,63, Mark 15:5, Luke 23:9, John 19:9, Psalm 38:13, Psalm 39:2,9, First Peter 2:23.

The second prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 says "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter." Acts 8:32 quotes this prophecy. Acts 8:32 "The place of scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so he opens not his mouth:"

Jesus was the lamb brought to slaughter prophesied in Isaiah 53:7. John the Baptist said "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world" when he saw Jesus in John 1:29. The blood of lambs was shed throughout the Old Testament times for the atonement of sins, because lambs were figurative or were a for shadow of Jesus who would come as a lamb later to shed his blood for the atonement of sin.

Revelation 13:8 refers to Jesus as the Lamb who was slain from the foundations of the earth. This means that Jesus was already God’s chosen Lamb to be sacrificed for the atonement of sin way back when the earth was created, because God is not subject to time, and God could see beforehand that sin would come into the world, and he chose Jesus Christ who was with him in the beginning to be his Lamb, who would redeem us back to himself, by shedding his blood on the cross as a lamb led to slaughter.

Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve, who made sin offerings to the Lord, but the Lord rejected Cain’s offering and approved Abel’s offering. He approved of Abel’s offering because Abel was a tender of sheep. Abel’s offering was a blood offering which for shadowed Jesus on the cross four thousand years later. Cain was a tiller of the ground. He specialized in plants and vegetation. His offering was most likely a plant of some sort. Genesis 4:3 says Cain’s offering was of the fruit of the ground. God rejected Cain’s offering because it was not a blood offering. Remember that Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins.

Lambs became a for shadow or figurative of Jesus on the cross from the creation of the world, and we see it beginning with Abel, and continuing throughout the Levitical Priesthood, which God set up through Moses and Aaron .

The ram (male lamb) which was provided by God for Abraham to sacrifice in place of Isaac in Genesis Chapter 22 was figurative of Jesus on the cross. God said to Abraham that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed, because Abraham did not withhold his only son. Paul says in Galatians 3:16 that Jesus was the seed of Abraham. All nations are blessed through Jesus who was the seed of Abraham. It was almost like God was thinking that Abraham didn’t withhold his only son, so God spared Isaac, and provided the ram for Abraham to sacrifice in Isaac’s place, because the ram was figurative of Jesus who is God’s only begotten Son, so God did not withhold his Son like Abraham didn’t withhold his.

Jesus was the Lamb slain in Revelation 5:6, who is worthy to open the book of seven seals. He is the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne in Revelation 7:17, and the Lamb of the twelve apostles in Revelation 21:14. Revelation 12:11 says we can overcome the serpent who is called the Devil and Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 7:14 speaks about them who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 19:6-9 speaks about the marriage supper of the Lamb when Jesus and his bride (The Church) are together. He is the Lamb who shall be the light of the new city of Jerusalem which shall descend down from heaven in Revelation 21:23.

Glory and Honor and Praise to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, for he is the Lamb of God who was crucified on the cross for the sins of his people, who have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in Revelation 20:12 and 21:27.

Isaiah 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." When we read the words "for he was cut out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken" We can clearly see that Jesus died for the transgressions of God’s people. These are people who have truly repented of their sins, and turned away from their transgressions. I will continue making the point that this was prophesied by God himself hundreds of years before Jesus was crucified. God revealed his salvation plan for us beforehand, and it was the Spirit of Christ who was in these Old Testament Prophets, who wrote these prophecies according to Peter in 1 Peter 1:11, because Jesus Christ is the Word, who was with God, and was God in the beginning.

Isaiah 53:9 "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." The phrase "he made his grave with the wicked" in this prophecy is most likely referring to the two thieves who were crucified along with Jesus, because verse 12 of this chapter says "he was numbered with the transgressors." I believe this means he was crucified as a transgressor, even thou he was sinless and innocent without sin. Our sins were laid upon him, so he was crucified as a transgressor because of our sins and transgressions, because he was actually paying the penalty of our sins. Reference is made about this in Mark 15:27, 28 "And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which, saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors."

Isaiah 53:9 above also says he made his grave with the rich. Jesus did make his grave with the rich. There was a rich man of Arimathaea named Joseph, who went to Pilot after Jesus had died, and begged Pilot for the body of Jesus. This rich man named Joseph had the body of Jesus put in a tomb, which was a tomb like rich people would be buried in. Matthew 27:57-60 "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed." Mark, Luke, and John also wrote about Joseph from Arimathaea, so it is recorded in all four Gospels.

Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." God makes it very clear in the words "when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin" what his salvation plan for us is. I don’t believe as a writer that I can write it any clearer. Jesus is the Lamb of God who was offered for our sins. The phrase "he shall see his seed" means that Jesus will see his spiritual offspring. His spiritual seed or offspring is the church, which is made up of all his people, who worship, serve, and praise him. The serpent has spiritual seed or offspring who will serve him, which we read about in Genesis 3:15, but the good news is that Jesus Christ also has spiritual seed and offspring who serve him. The church or seed of Jesus Christ is in the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus. Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that we might be the firstborn among many brethren." The church is made up of spiritual brothers and sisters, who are spiritually born again in the image or likeness of Jesus Christ. The Serpent who is called Satan and the Devil has spiritual offspring in the world who are liken unto his image, who are in continue rebellion against the Lord. Jesus said you can’t serve two masters recorded in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13. We are either serving the Lord Jesus Christ or we are serving Satan the Devil. We should consider what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30 "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad."

The words "he shall prolong his days" refer to the resurrection of Jesus. God prolonged the days of Jesus by raising him from the dead. Jesus is alive today! He sits on the right hand of God Almighty. He makes intercession for transgressors, which is recorded in verse 12 of this chapter. He pleads for sinners to be saved. Consider the last words in Isaiah 53:10 above which say "and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." I believe this is referring to when Jesus ascended into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Jesus is the pleasure of his Father in Heaven. His Father in Heaven delights in him. I believe Jesus ascended into Heaven, and prospered in the right hand of his Father Almighty.

The last two verses in Isaiah 53 will summarize up God’s salvation plan very well, so it should be very clear for the reader after reading the information already given previously throughout this chapter, so I will not comment on the last two verses, but I rather hope the reader will see it for him or herself, so please read carefully the last two verses in this chapter. Isaiah 53:11, 12 "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Chapter Three

Prophecies Of His Life And Ministry

We will be looking at Old Testament prophecies of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in this chapter, but first the definition of the Greek word Christ will be given here, so the reader can see and understand Old Testament Prophecies through the eyes of the Jews who lived during the time Jesus lived on earth. Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and later translated into Greek. Greek was a common language during the life and ministry of Jesus, and the New Testament was written in Greek. Messiah and Christ both mean "Anointed One." Jesus Christ = Jesus the Messiah = Jesus the Anointed One. We get the interpretation that Messiah means Christ from John 1:41 and John 4:25.

John 1:41 "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias (Messiah), being interpreted, the Christ."

John 4:25 "The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias (Messiah) cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things."

Prophecies in the Old Testament were always about a future Messiah, Christ, or Anointed One, who would come in the future. The Spirit of Christ would also mean Spirit of Messiah or Spirit of Anointed One. The Old Testament was written through the Jews or Jewish writers, who were God’s Chosen People in Old Testament times. The Jews were always looking forward to a Jewish Messiah, Christ, or Anointed One, who would come to rule over them, and be their Anointed King, whose kingdom will last for ever. Jesus fulfilled many of these Old Testament Prophecies when he came the first time, but there are many of them which will be fulfilled when he comes back the second time, and set up his eternal kingdom. We will learn more about this in later chapters as we go through some of these prophecies. We will also see Old Testament prophecies which prophesy that he will be a light to the Gentiles later in this chapter. A Gentile was anyone who wasn’t a Jew in Biblical times, so the Bible speaks about Jews and Gentiles making distinction between Jews, and all the rest of the world who are not Jews (Gentiles). Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior to Gentiles as well as the Jews, and Old Testament prophecies reveal that truth very clear.

We read in a previous chapter that Micah 5:2 prophesies that Jesus or the future Ruler of Israel would come forth out of Bethlehem. This prophecy is quoted in Matthew 2:6 as pertaining to the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. The whole chapter of Zechariah 14 prophesies about the coming Messiah, Christ, or Anointed One, who will rule over the whole earth, but he will rule from Jerusalem. Revelation Chapter 20 speaks about him reigning on earth for a thousand years, and John saw a new heaven and new earth after that in chapter 21 of Revelation. Revelation 19:16 refers to him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The fact that the Virgin Mary would conceive and bear a son was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall his name Immanuel." The word "virgin" actually means "young maiden" in the Hebrew translation. It means a chaste unmarried woman who most likely would be a virgin. Matthew refers to this prophecy as pertaining to the birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:21-23. "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold , a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

The name Immanuel does not necessarily suggest a proper name like Tom or Mike. It actually is like a title or ranking position like President or Governor. The scripture above (Matthew 1:23) gives the interpretation of it. "Which being interpreted is, God with us" The name Jesus which is the proper name of our Lord means "Savior". Jesus our Savior has been called "God with us" every since. The scripture below will show that Mary was a virgin. Notice the question that Mary asked the Angel in verse 34.

Luke 1:30 31, 34, 35

(30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. (31) And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS..... (34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (35) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall over shadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The next prophecy below is about Rachel weeping for her children. Matthew 2:16, 17, and 18 places the fulfillment of this prophecy at the time King Herod had all the babies in Bethlehem under two years of age put to death after Jesus was born, because Herod was told by the chief priest and scribes that the Christ (Messiah) would be born in Bethlehem in Matthew 2:6, and it is also in Matthew 2:6 where we see the reference made to Micah 5:2 that prophesies the messiah will be born or come out of Bethlehem. Herod was angry when he thought the wise men were mocking him, and he perhaps thought this new baby Jesus would be a threat to his throne, because Micah 5:2 does prophesy that the messiah would rule over Israel, and Herod was the reining king of the Jews at that time. All the babies slaughtered in Bethlehem at that time were all descendants of Rachel.

Jeremiah 31:15 "Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah; lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel (Rachel) weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not."

Matthew 2:16,17,18 "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy (Jeremiah) the prophet, saying In Ramah was there a voice heard. Lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The next prophecy in Hosea 11:1 has a two fold meaning. It refers to the nation Israel in the first place, because the Lord did deliver Israel out of Egypt in the time of Moses, but Matthew 2:15 quotes Hosea 11:1 as a prophecy of Jesus, because Joseph was warned by an angel to take Jesus and flee to Egypt, because Herod would try to kill him. They remained in Egypt until Herod died, and then moved to Nazareth where Jesus grew up as a child.

Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."

Matthew 2:12-15 "And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." See Numbers 24:8

The next three prophecies will prophesy that Jesus would have a forerunner. John the Baptist came right before Jesus started his ministry saying "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The first sermon Jesus gave was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." We read about the first sermon of Jesus in Matthew 4:17. John the Baptist was a forerunner of Jesus, and he prepared the way for Jesus. It was John the Baptist who said in Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire:" This statement by John the Baptist is recorded in all four Gospels, and even Paul referred to John the Baptist saying this in Acts 13:25. John the Baptist is also the one who said in John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God" when he saw Jesus.

Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts." There are two messengers prophesied about in this prophecy. John the Baptist is the messenger who prepared the way for Jesus, and Jesus is the messenger of the covenant. Mark 1:2 and 3 quote this prophecy as pertaining to John the Baptist, and also quotes Isaiah 40:3 below.

Mark 1:2, 3 "As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Isaiah 40:3 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Matthew 3:1,2, 3 and Luke 3:4, 5 also quote Isaiah 40:3 as pertaining to John the Baptist, who prepared the way of the Lord Jesus.

The disciples of Jesus asked him about Malachi 4:5,6 below. I would like the reader to notice how Jesus answered his disciples in Matthew 17:10-13, which is also given below.

Malachi 4:5, 6 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

Matthew 17:10-13 "And his disciples asked him, saying, why then say the scribes that Elias (Elijah) must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them? Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." See also Matthew 11:13, 14.

The next four prophecies told beforehand that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. In biblical times the Jews referred to all other nations and people as Gentiles. Gentiles were considered to be anyone who wasn’t a Jew. The Jews referred to Gentiles as heathens in the Old Testament. They were called heathen, because they did not worship or believe in the God of Israel. The Jews did not believe that Gentiles could be saved or be of God. .The Gentiles didn’t actually become believers in the God of Israel, or worship the God of the Bible until after Jesus had already ascended into heaven. The interesting thing about this is that before Jesus came the Gentiles didn’t believe in the God of the Bible, but Gentiles did believe in the God of the Bible after Jesus came. We should consider how many Gentile churches there are in the world today. God prophesied Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles, and that his salvation would reach out to the Gentiles several hundred years before Jesus was born. Here is the first account of Gentiles being saved in Acts 10:44-46 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision (Jews) which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. This scripture is interesting, because it proves that Gentiles did not worship God until then, because the Jews would not have been astonished or surprised if the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles, if they thought Gentiles believed in God before then. This is historical evidence of an Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled. Jesus is the light of the world in John 9:5. Luke 2:30-32 "For my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." See also John 1:5,9

Isaiah 9:1,2 "Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." The people who walked in darkness in this prophecy were the Gentiles, who did not believe in God at that time. Jesus was the light they seen in this scripture, and he was the light that shined on them. It also prophesied precisely where Jesus would start his ministry. Jesus started his ministry in Galilee, and Galilee was the land of Zebulun and Naphtali in Isaiah’s time. We should notice the words "in Galilee of the nations," because this would mean Galilee of the Gentiles, because "nations" would mean people other than Jews. The reader should notice Matthew 4:13-16 below where Matthew uses the word Gentiles instead of nations when quoting this prophecy as pertaining to Jesus, when he started his ministry in Galilee.

Galilee was a land which had a huge population of Gentiles. It was the northern region of Palestine which separated the Gentile world from the Judean world. It had a mixed population of Gentiles and Judeans. It was filled with spiritual darkness because of the Gentile population, therefore it was prophesied that Jesus would be a light to the Gentile population which walked in darkness. There is one more thing that really excites and draws my interest in this, and that is the fact that I am a Gentile who believes in Jesus Christ. Here is Matthew 4:13-16 where this prophecy is quoted. Three more prophecies that tell beforehand that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles will follow.

Matthew 4:13-16 "And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up."

Isaiah 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." Jesus was the root of Jesse, because he was a descendant of Jesse, and he shall stand as an ensign (banner) of the people, to it (him) shall the Gentiles seek. Paul quotes this prophecy as pertaining to Jesus and Gentiles in Romans 15:11, 12 "And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias (Isaiah) saith, there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust."

Isaiah 42:6 "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." See Luke 2:30-32

Isaiah 49:6 "And he said, It is a light thing that thou should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou may be my salvation unto the end of the earth." See Acts 13:47, 48.

The next two prophecies foretell that Jesus would speak in parables, and Jesus also explained why he did speak in parables, but notice the Spirit of Christ speaking beforehand, what he would do through the mouth of Jesus in Psalms 78:2 "I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:" This prophecy was quoted as being fulfilled at a time when Jesus was speaking in parables in Matthew 13:34.35 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

Mark 4:33, 34 "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

This next prophecy reveals why Jesus spoke in parables, and Jesus himself quoted this prophecy in Matthew 13:13, 14, 15 given below, while he was explaining why he spoke in parables, then he said this prophecy was fulfilled in the people he was speaking to, when he quoted this prophecy, which we find in Isaiah 6:9,10 "And he said, go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and covert, and be healed."

Matthew 13:13, 14, 15 "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is the fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias (Isaiah), which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." See Mark 4:12 and Luke 8:10 as sequels to this.

The Lord is actually speaking to Isaiah in Isaiah 6:9 above, and he tells Isaiah to tell the people these things. This prophecy should be looked at in a collective sense. It prophesies about the people in Isaiah’s time who would not hear the words of the prophets, but it should be understood collectively as starting with the people in Isaiah’s time, and continuing unto the time of Jesus, so it also was being fulfilled by people in the days of Jesus. It also continues to be fulfilled today.

The whole meaning of Isaiah 6:9, 10 is if we close our ears and blind our eyes from God’s spiritual truths, then God will hide his truths from us, but if we open our hearts to see and hear God’s spiritual truths, then God will reveal his truths to us.

The reason Jesus spoke in parables which the people didn’t understand is because he knew their hearts were closed to what he had to say, so he spoke in parables, so God’s spiritual truths would be hidden from them. Look at what he said in Matthew 13:10, 11, and 12, when his disciples asked him why he spoke in parables. These are the three verses preceding Matthew 13:13, 14, and 15 given above, so he is speaking in the same context, or at the same time he quoted the prophecy above. Matthew 13:10, 11, 12 "And the disciples came, and asked him, Why speak thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."

Jesus was speaking about those who have spiritual truth, when he said "For those who hath, to him shall be given." People will have spiritual truth when they open their hearts to it, and then he’ll give them more, but he was referring to people who do not have spiritual truth, when he said "but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." These are people who have closed their hearts to spiritual truths, and that is why they don’t have any spiritual truths. He told his disciples it was given to them to know the mysteries of heaven, because their hearts were open to spiritual truth, but the mysteries of heaven would be hidden from the others, because their hearts were closed and blinded to the truth.

I have a confession to make to the reader. There is part of me that wants to jump right into the next chapter right now, because I am concerned the reader might close this book, before we can view the prophecies of his crucifixion. The sufferings he endured throughout his trial and crucifixion were endured for our benefit, and it was his blood that paid for the penalty of our sins. His sufferings and crucifixion are really a love story about our Creator’s love for his creation, and reveals the depth of his love for us. Our Creator could have destroyed all of us with one word out of his mouth, but he chose to suffer the humiliation and agony of the cross, so our eternal relationship with him could be restored. It would be a shame to skip by his crucifixion, and miss the greatest love story ever told. This is a story about our Creator Jesus Christ, who shed his holy blood on the cross to purchase a most precious gift for his bride, who is the church. The gift he purchased with his holy blood was eternal life, which will be presented to her at the marriage feast of the Lamb recorded in Revelation 19:5-8. This will be a day of rejoicing and jubilee, when the saints will be resurrected, and live eternally with Jesus Christ.

It is easier for me to articulate the prophecies of his life and ministry in chronological order, so I’ll continue to write them in that order without jumping into the next chapter, but not all the prophecies of Jesus will be given here, because some reflect the three offices he held, which are King, Priest, and Prophet. I will be giving those prophecies in later chapters in this book. Also! Some prophecies reflect things he endured and suffered throughout his ministry such as how people rejected him, and made false accusations about him in evil and blasphemous ways. These were people who did not understand the prophecies from the Old Testament, which I’m sharing with you today. They didn’t understand it was their Creator who was speaking to them. He came to offer them eternal life, but they refused to open their hearts to him. I will take a short break here before continuing with prophecies, so I can write the following words to the reader, which will reveal another one of my motives for writing this book.

I’m bound by duty and the conviction of my heart to present the Gospel of the cross to the reader throughout this book, so that any reader who has not understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ, neither understood God’s love and salvation plan for him or herself might gain such understanding, and hopefully move some into a closer and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, and learn to understand and appreciate the love our Creator has for us all. It is for that purpose that I have and will continue to share scriptures throughout this book, which will help achieve that goal. It should be understood by the reader that all prophecies and scripture are an act of God’s love for his creation. Scriptures reveal his love and salvation plan to redeem us back to our Creator, and point to Jesus Christ, and the blood he shed on the cross.

The suffering Jesus endured was not just an unfortunate time in history, but a demonstration of his love for his creation, and the price he paid to free us from the penalty of sin, by cleansing and purifying us, through the shedding of his blood for the remission or forgiveness of our sins. I feel led to take an intermission break from prophecies to share a few scriptures speaking about these matters, and my hope is that you will plant them in your heart, as you read through the prophecies of the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus, when you do read through the following chapter, which will give those prophecies pertaining to his sufferings and crucifixion.

Romans 5:6-9 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

Colossians 1:14-20 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and in visible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

Ephesians 1:5,6,7 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

Matthew 26:26-28 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins."

I will now continue with more prophecies of Jesus Christ, but I will ask the reader to remember the prophecies in Isaiah chapter 53, which were already given in the previous chapter. Some of the prophecies from Isaiah 53 will work together with some of the prophecies to follow. I will be giving them again to fit together with some of the following prophecies, so I can build line upon line and precept upon precept as stated in Isaiah 28:9, 10 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."

These next two prophecies actually prophesy the same thing, and that is that Jesus would be hated without a cause. There were many who have hated Jesus without a cause, because there is no reason why anyone should hate him. Jesus came to offer all of us life, and died so our sins can be forgiven. Who can rightfully hate him for that?

Psalm 69:4 "They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not."

Psalm 35:19 "Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause..."

Jesus himself referred to these scriptures in John 15:24, 25 "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause."

The prophecies above can be applied to David in the first place, because David wrote these Psalms, and David had many enemies, who hated him without cause, but they were also fulfilled at the time of Jesus, and Jesus himself testified to that fact in the scripture given above. It was the Spirit of Christ speaking through the heart of David, whereas expressing the heart of Jesus at the same time David was expressing his own heart. David was a man after God’s own heart, and I believe that is why the Spirit of Christ revealed his own heart through the heart of David. It should also be pointed out that David and Jesus lived a thousand years apart, but the Spirit of Christ is not subject to time, so he could feel the heart of Jesus at the same time David was feeling his heart.

I will now remind you of Isaiah 53:3, which I already wrote about in the previous chapter, because it’s similar and works in well with these prophecies. Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." We should also remember John 1:10, 11 which say "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not."

Another prophecy in Psalm 69:8 says "I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children." John 7:5, 6, 7 say "For neither did his brethren believe him. Then Jesus said unto them "My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil."

Jesus suffered reproaches from many, who would say many blasphemous things against him. These were them who wanted to degrade him by speaking shameful lies about him. Jesus suffered through persecution, and he said his servants will also suffer persecution in John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said unto you "The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."

Psalm 22:6 "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people."

Psalm 69:9 "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen on me."

Psalm 69:20 "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." See Isaiah 63:5

Jesus made a whip, and chased the money changers out of the temple in John 2:15, 16. The disciples then remembered it was written "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" in John 2:17. See Psalm 69:9 above.

Paul refers to Psalm 69:9 above in Romans 15:3, 4 "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

The next prophecy that will be given here is well known as his "Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem." It was time for Passover week in Jerusalem, so Jesus and his disciples departed to Jerusalem, but Jesus went through Bethany on his way. Bethany was the place where Lazarus was, whom he just raised from the dead. There were many other people, who were on their way to Jerusalem for Passover week, but they had heard about him raising Lazarus from the dead, so many of them drew near to see Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead. This was exciting for them to see a man, whom was raised from the dead, and the crowd was very excited to follow Jesus, who raised him from the dead. There were also many others already at Jerusalem, who heard he was coming to Jerusalem, so they took branches from palm trees, and went out to meet him. They cried out! "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" as he road into Jerusalem on a donkey. This is the day we observe as Palm Sunday all over the world today.

I would like to share a story about the three different types of hearts, which were present that day. It’s a story I believe the Holy Spirit revealed to my heart, when I was meditating about this event in my living room one day. The three different type of hearts present that day were those who believed in him, those who didn’t believe in him, and his own heart, that I refer to as the heart of the Bridegroom. His heart was the heart of the bridegroom, who was going to Jerusalem to purchase a most expensive gift for his bride. It was the gift I wrote about earlier in this chapter. He was going to purchase eternal life for his bride, and the price he would pay for that gift was shedding his holy blood on the cross. This is what the heart of the bridegroom was feeling and thinking. He was crucified in the middle of the week, and was raised from the dead on Sunday, which was one week from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

There was the heart of those who didn’t believe in him like the scribes, chief priests, and Pharisees. There were many saying "Hosanna" unto him when he came into the city, and many were saying "who is this guy?" The multitude was saying "this is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth." They reasoned that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem, but Jesus was from Nazareth. They didn’t realize he was born in Bethlehem. Those who believed in him reasoned that he was their King, who was coming to deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire. They knew the Old Testament prophecies, which say he will do just that, so they had every reason to believe that, but those are prophecies which will be fulfilled at his second coming. They were not aware of the Old Testament prophecies which foretold his death on the cross, which happened during his first coming. Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem that same week, because they didn’t know the time of their visitation. This is recorded in Luke 19:41-44, Matthew 23:37. We can only imagine how disappointed his followers were, when their King and Deliverer hung naked on the cross just a few days later. This was their King who was going to deliver them! This is what the Old Testament prophecies say is going to happen! It just wasn’t fulfilled then, but it will be, when he returns the second time. Israel is still looking forward to the return of their Messiah even to this day, and the church is looking forward to the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I wonder how many of us today are looking forward to the return of our Bridegroom, or are we like his followers back then, who were expecting their King and Deliverer, but completely unaware or out of touch with the heart of their Bridegroom. A Bridegroom is one whom a Bride cherishes above all others, even more than her own family members. We all should look upon our Bridegroom in this manner. We have a love relationship with him. We honor him as Lord, but we love him like a Bride loves her Bridegroom. We honor the President of the United States, but we are in love with our Bridegroom. Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins and the Bridegroom in Matthew chapter 25. He told this Parable two days before he was crucified, so we know it was in his heart and mind.

His triumphal entry into Jerusalem was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9 given below, but Matthew 21:4,5 quotes from both Zechariah 9:9 and Isaiah 62:11 as pertaining to that day, so both scriptures will be given.

Isaiah 62:11 "Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him."

Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

Matthew 21:4, 5 "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." See Mark 11:7-9, Luke 19:35-38, and John 12:14, 15 as sequels to this event.

The next prophecy was fulfilled the same day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Scripture says he went to the temple, and the Scribes and Chief Priests could see all the wonderful things he did there. He was healing people there, but the Scribes and Chief Priests heard the children saying "Hosanna to the son of David." They asked him saying "Hearest thou what these say?" They were actually questioning him in unbelief, because these were those who wanted to destroy him, because they feared all the people would start following him, but Jesus replied to them saying "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" We read about this in Matthew 21:16. The prophecy Jesus was referring to is in Psalm 8:2 "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger."

I wonder if the reader can see the Spirit of Christ echoing one thousand years back in time through the words of David in this prophecy. The Scribes and Chief priests were his enemies, who were out to destroy him, and it was these very ones, who plotted to have him crucified. Jesus suffered much reproach through them as I wrote earlier in this chapter, but he found strength in praises out of the mouth of babes.

The next prophecy speaks about his own friend who would betray him. This prophecy is written in Psalm 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

Jesus spoke in John 13:18, 19 and said these words "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it comes to pass, ye may believe that I am he."

Matthew 26:21-25 "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said "He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.......... Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said."

Luke 22:47, 48 "And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" The kiss Judas gave him was a sign to the authorities that Jesus was the one they were looking for.

It was also prophesied in the Old Testament that he would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver in Zechariah 11:12 "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver."

Matthew 26:14,15 "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." It was also prophesied that the chief priests would take the thirty pieces of silver and buy a potter’s field with it in Zechariah 11:13 "And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them, And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord."

Matthew 27:6, 7 "And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in." Judas repented of betraying the Lord, and went to the Chief Priests and said he had sinned and had betrayed innocent blood, and then he threw down the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests, and that is when the Chief Priests purchased the potter’s field. It is recorded in Matthew 27:3,4, 5.

Some people might be surprised to learn that it was not Romans who wanted to crucify Jesus, because he had not broken any of their laws. It was the Jewish Chief Priest and elders of the temple who conspired to destroy him. They are the ones who pleaded with the Roman authorities to have him put to death. It was all a big conspiracy between them, and so they persuaded the Roman authorities to crucify him. Crucifixion was a Roman method of execution, and it was the Romans who crucified him, but it was the Jewish Chief Priests and elders of the temple who persuaded the Roman authorities to do so.

Psalm 2:1,2 "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves; and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed."

Jesus is the Anointed One, and he is also the Lord whom the rulers of his day did conspire against. Peter and John referred to Psalm 2:1,2 above in Acts 4:25,26,27 "Who by the mouth of David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together."

It was the Chief Priests and elders who sought after false witnesses to testify against Jesus. This was also prophesied beforehand in Psalm 35:11 "False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

Matthew 26:59 ,60 "Now the Chief Priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At last came two false witnesses."

Mark 14:55, 56, 57 "And the Chief Priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him."

This will conclude this chapter, but I urge the reader to continue with the next chapter regarding the sufferings of Jesus Christ. I ask the reader to remember Isaiah chapter 53, where God’s salvation plan was revealed several hundred years before Jesus was crucified for our sins. I also want to remind the reader that Jesus was crucified during Passover week, when he became the Passover Lamb of God whose holy blood was shed for you and me. This was God’s salvation plan for us, and Jesus went to the cross willingly. Peter drew a sword, when they came to take Jesus away, but Jesus told him to put it away. He then said he could have had twelve legions of angels rescue him if he wanted them to. Jesus told Pilate in John 19:11 "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:" It was God’s will, and Jesus was more than willing to please the Father. God revealed this fact in Isaiah chapter 53, so please read Isaiah 53, and remember it while you are reading the next chapter.

Chapter Four

Prophecies Of His Suffering

We will be looking at scriptures in this chapter that speak and foretell the sufferings Jesus endured. His sufferings were prophesied beforehand in the Old Testament, and the New Testament writers made many references to Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus including his sufferings. Jesus himself made references to Old Testament Prophecies of himself, and here are a couple of scriptures from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus comments about Old Testament Prophecies of himself.

Luke 24:25-27 "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 24:44-47 "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto 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. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Peter says in Acts 3:18 "But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled."

Paul reasons from Old Testament scriptures concerning Christ. Acts 17:2,3 "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days, reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." See also Acts 26:22,23.

Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered is prophesied in Zechariah 13:7. Jesus quotes from Zechariah 13:7 in Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27, and John 16:32. Jesus applies this prophecy to his disciples, who cowardly ran and were scattered, when the authorities arrested Jesus, and "smite the shepherd" pertains to Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones." Notice in this prophecy that the Lord refers to his shepherd as "the man that is my fellow" This implies that the shepherd (Jesus) is equal to the Lord of host who is speaking here. He is equal to God, and strongly reveals the deity of Jesus Christ. The Lord of host himself referring to Jesus as the man who is his fellow several hundred years before Jesus was born.

Matthew 26:31 "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." Jesus was abandoned by his disciples when he was arrested, and he was left alone to suffer his humiliation. See John 16:32.

The next prophecy was already given in chapter two, but it fits in with the context of his suffering, and I believe this chapter would be incomplete without it, so I will give it again, so the reader can understand the full impact of his suffering.

Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."

Lamentations 3:30 "He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach."

Micah 5:1 "....they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek." This prophecy in Micah 5:1 is given in the same context as Micah 5:2, which is the verse that follows it, and Micah 5:2 was quoted in Matthew 2:6 as pertaining to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 was also given in earlier chapters. Jesus Christ will be the Judge of Israel in the end, and many believe this to be a prophecy of Jesus.

Matthew 27:29-32 "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him."

Luke 22:63-65 "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him." See also Matthew 26:67 and Mark 14:65

We should also remember Isaiah 52:14, which was already given in chapter two, and prophesies that his visage (appearance) was marred (disfigured) more than any man. Remember that this implies he was beaten beyond recognition at the hands of Pilot’s soldiers, while being whipped harshly with a whip which had a steel ball with spikes on it, which would rip his flesh to threads as he was being whipped.

The Old Testament Prophets for sure wrote beforehand the sufferings of Jesus Christ, but we should remember that it was the Spirit of Christ in these prophets who revealed the future sufferings of Jesus Christ to them. We should consider what David said on his death bed in 2 Samuel 23:2 "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." Many of the Old Testament Prophecies of the sufferings of Jesus Christ were written in the Psalms, and David wrote many of the Psalms. David was very close to the Lord., and he delighted in his word. It is written in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22 that David was a man after God’s own heart.

It was the Spirit of Christ who spoke through David in many of the Psalms. Remember that the Spirit of Christ is not subject to time. The Spirit of Christ could feel the sufferings of David, but also feel the sufferings of Jesus Christ, which did not happen until a thousand years later, because all time is as the same time to the Spirit of Christ. Many of the Psalms David wrote reflect the sufferings of David, but also reflect the sufferings of Jesus a thousand years later. We can see the Spirit of Christ echoing through David the suffering of Jesus a thousand years beforehand. Psalm 22:16 "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet." The phrase "they pierced my hand and feet" could only apply to Jesus on the cross, because nailing the hands and feet to a cross was a form of crucifixion which was not practiced until later on in history during the Roman empire. This kind of crucifixion did not happen in David’s time. It cannot apply to David, because David never had his hands and feet pierced.

Zechariah was another prophet who lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born. We can see the Spirit of Christ referring to himself, saying "and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" in Zechariah 12:10. Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Revelation 1:7 referring to the return of Jesus Christ says "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."

Thomas was one of the disciples of Jesus, and Thomas witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus his Lord, and Thomas witnessed his hands and feet being pierced with nails on the cross, but Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus had revealed himself to them after his resurrection, so Thomas had a hard time believing the other disciples, when they told him they had seen Jesus risen from the dead. Thomas made this statement to the other disciples in John 20:25 "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Jesus appeared to the disciples eight days later, and here are the words Jesus said to Thomas in John 20:27 "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." Thomas then replied "My Lord and my God". Then Jesus said to Thomas "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Thomas now believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, because he put his hands in the wounds in Jesus hands and side. I wonder how many today believe in the resurrection of Jesus.

John 19:34 and then skipping to John 19:37 says this "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there blood and water...... And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced."

We can see the Spirit of Christ echoing the sufferings of Jesus in numerous places in the Psalms. The Psalms which were written a thousand years before Jesus was born, so we see the Spirit of Christ echoing through time the agony and humiliation Jesus suffered on the cross. Psalm 22:7,8 "All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, he trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." This is exactly what happened at the cross of Jesus a thousand years later. Matthew 27:39-43 "And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." The people mocking him at the cross didn’t understand that Jesus went to the cross willingly. Jesus said in Matthew 26:53 he could have had twelve legions of Angels rescue him if he wanted to, but Jesus was there to give himself up as the offering for sin. He was on the cross so the people mocking him could receive salvation from God. These people mocking him wouldn’t have any hope for salvation if he did come down off the cross, and neither would any of us today have hope of salvation if he did. These people should have been praising him, and so should we.

Psalm 69:21 "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." This prophecy was fulfilled at the cross in Matthew 27:34 and Matthew 27:48. Matthew 27:34 "They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Matthew 27:48 "And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink."

Psalm 34:20 "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken." This prophecy was fulfilled in John 19:32,33 and skip to verse 36. "Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him, but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:....For these things were done, that scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken."

The interesting thing about his bones not being broken is that the legs of everyone that was crucified during the Roman empire were always broken. It was a very strange thing that his legs were not broken, so Jesus was an exception to the rule. Jesus was also the Lamb of God, and he was crucified during passover week. Passover week was a time the Jews celebrated once a year to remember the day when the Lord smited the first born of all the families of Egypt, and instructed Moses to have all the Israelites take the blood of a male lamb without blemish, and paint the door post of all their houses with the blood of the lamb. The Lord would then pass over all the houses of Israel when he had smitten all the first born of Egypt. This was the last plague God brought upon Egypt, and the Pharoh of Egypt ordered Moses to take the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. This event is remembered as the passover, when God passed over the houses of the Israelites with their door post painted with lamb’s blood, sparing the first born of Israel, while smiting the first born of Egypt. This was also the event that freed the Israelites from bondage to Egypt after being slaves in Egypt over four hundred years. It’s recorded in Exodus chapters eleven and twelve. God also commanded them not to break the bones of the lamb in Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12. The passover lamb was a for shadow of Jesus, who was the Lamb of God, who was slain on the cross during passover week, so God did not allow his bones to be broken liken the passover lamb in Exodus 12:46. See also Psalm 22:17

Psalm 38:10,11 "My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off."

Matthew 27:55,56 "And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children."

Psalm 22:18 "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." This prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 27:35 "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots." See also Mark 15:24 and Luke 23:34.

Psalm 22:1 "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This is exactly what Jesus cried out at the cross a thousand years later in Matthew 27:46 "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" See also Mark 15:34 This prophecy in Psalm 22:1 is well regarded as the "Cry" or "Echo" of the Messiah (Jesus Christ), as he cries from the cross echoing through time through the voice of David "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?"

Jesus suffered a horrible and cruel crucifixion, but he also suffered through much humiliation as he hung on the cross naked in front of his mother and friends. The most agonizing thing he suffered was feeling forsaken by and separated from his Father in heaven, because our sins were laid upon him, and it was our sins his Father in heaven saw as Jesus hung on the cross. He suffered through these things so we would not have to suffer the penalty of our sins. He suffered and died for you and me, so we could have peace with our Father in heaven. He suffered so we could be reconciled to our Creator, and our eternal relationship with him could be restored. This was God’s salvation plan for us, which was prophesied in Isaiah chapter 53 given in chapter two of this book.

John 19:30 "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." The last words of Jesus before he died was "It is finished." His crucifixion and suffering were finished, but we can also interpret the word finished as complete. His work was finished or his work was complete. He had actually finished or completed his salvation plan for us. Our salvation was completed or completely paid for. His purpose for going to the cross willingly was to die for our sins, so his purpose regarding our salvation was complete. It was a finished deal.

It should be pointed out that his salvation plan is only effective for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He died for all, and his salvation is offered to all, but only those who receive him shall receive it. Those who reject him are actually rejecting the Lord’s salvation plan for them. Therefore they shall not receive salvation, because they have rejected it by rejecting the one who died for their salvation. The Father in heaven loves his Son Jesus very much, and he sent his Son here for this purpose, so those who reject Jesus Christ will reap the judgment of God, and scripture makes this very clear.

John 12:48 "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him the last day."

John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not belived in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

The death of Jesus on the cross was surely prophesied beforehand in Old Testament scriptures, but his resurrection from death was also prophesied in Old Testament scriptures. Remember what is written in Isaiah 53:10, where we read the words "he shall prolong his days." This strongly indicates that God would prolong his days by raising Jesus from the dead. Paul refers to the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 13:34, and he continues in verse 35 to quote Psalm 16:10 as a prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus. Peter also refers to Psalm 16:10 in Acts 2:31 as pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus.

Psalm 16:10 "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." The word hell should be translated grave in this prophecy. The body of Jesus was laid in a tomb, which was his grave. We once again see the Spirit of Christ echoing through time saying "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell(grave)" This can only be applied to Jesus Christ, because he is referred to as God’s Holy one in this prophecy. Jesus is the only Holy One who ever lived among men. Jesus was without sin and blameless. Scripture says that none of us are righteous, and we all have sinned, so Jesus is the only one who qualifies as God’s Holy One, because he was and still is Holy.

Acts 13:34,35 "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, and he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Acts 2:31,32 "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."

Jesus was risen from the dead as Old Testament scriptures prophesied he would be, and Acts 1:3 says he showed himself alive by many infallible proofs for a period of forty days. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that he was seen by over five hundred brethren at once. His resurrection was recorded in all four Gospels, and all of them without contradiction. This was not the over imagination or work of deception by his disciples. He was seen alive by over five hundred brethren at one time. His disciples were also cowards who fled and were scattered when the authorities arrested Jesus. This means they fled with fear at a time they all believed he was their Messiah. These same cowardly disciples became courageous martyrs of Jesus Christ after his resurrection. It would not make sense that these cowardly disciples would become so courageous if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, because their spirits would have been crushed at his crucifixion. They all believed he was the Messiah until his crucifixion, but what would they have believed after his crucifixion if he didn’t raise from the dead? Their faith would have been shattered, and the odds these cowards becoming courageous with their faith shattered would be very unlikely. Something had to happen between the time he was crucified and the time these cowardly disciples became courageous martyrs later on. Something happened that restored their faith in their Messiah. Their faith was restored through the resurrection of their Messiah Jesus, which is recorded throughout the New Testament scriptures. It was the resurrection that changed them from cowards to courageous martyrs.

Acts 1:3 "To also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of them things pertaining to the kingdom of God:"

1 Corinthians 15:3-6 "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 burried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, and then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep."

Jesus Christ was seen resurrected and alive by many people, but it should be pointed out that even some of his disciples didn’t believe he was alive until they actually had seen him alive. Thomas who is referred to as doubting Thomas didn’t believe until he put his hands in the wounds of Jesus. This made a believer out of Thomas. Something happened that changed Thomas from a doubting Thomas to a believing Thomas. He saw his Messiah alive with his own eyes, and touched his wounds with his own hands. This evident of the fact that Thomas had seen Jesus alive after his resurrection, and so did all the other disciples as well as over five hundred brethren at one time. There were enough witnesses to his resurrection to satisfy any court in the world today. It was common knowledge in apostolic times.

The Old Testament also prophesied and foretold that Jesus Christ would ascend into heaven. Paul quotes from Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8, and he applies it to the ascension of Jesus Christ. Paul is actually speaking about the gifts and grace Jesus would give unto men after his ascension. Jesus actually sent the Holy Spirit after he ascended, and I believe the gifts Jesus gave to men is the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 68:18 "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." I believe this prophecy is implying that Jesus received gifts for men when he ascended into heaven, which were gifts that he had just paid for on the cross. The very gift of our salvation comes quickly to my mind, but the anointed gifts of the Holy Spirit also come to my mind. Notice the phrase "that the Lord God might dwell among men" in this prophecy. This would imply the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in men. The gift of salvation is what reconciles with our Father in heaven, because our sins have been paid for at the cross, and they no longer separate us from God. God’s gift of grace is given to the repented sinner, and the forgiven sinner and God are reunited with the indewlling of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:7-10 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things."

I want to share a passage of scripture from the Psalm 24:7-10. I cannot say with all honesty that this is a prophecy referring to Jesus Christ. I have a hard time finding Bible commentaries or Bible Scholars who will say it is a Messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ, but I have known a few who have applied it to his ascension into heaven. I will ask the reader to not quote me as saying it is, because I just simply do not know the truth or facts about this scripture. This scripture is actually a song the ancient Israelites would sing. There is one truth about this scripture I can say in all honesty. It makes me think of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven every time I read it, because it refers to the King of Glory, and Jesus Christ would certainly qualify as the King of Glory, so I will share it with you.

Psalm 24:7-10 "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of host, he is the King of Glory. Selah." I think of Jesus ascending into heaven every time I read this, because I picture the gates of heaven being lifted up as Jesus Christ came through them as the King of Glory! Christ also pre-existed in Old Testament times as the Lord of Host before his incarnation into the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, so perhaps it’s a song of his goings forth in times of old, which the last phrase in Micah 5:2 refers to. I have read this scripture for over thirty years, and I have pictured him ascending into heaven every time. I don’t have enough confidence to say it is a prophecy of his ascension, because I can’t find enough Scholars to say it is, so I urge the reader to check it out in various Bible commentaries for themselves. I will say that I would use words very similar to the words in that scripture, if I should ever write a song about the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. I will also leave the reader and any Bible Scholars who shall read this book with a simple little question, which is asked in the song written in Psalm 24:7-10. Who is the King of Glory, if he is not Jesus Christ?

This will conclude this chapter, but there are still many Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ. We will be looking at prophecies which refer to the offices Jesus held, and he also still holds. These three main offices are King, Priest, and Prophet. Remember that Jesus Christ means Jesus the Anointed One. Jesus was and is an anointed King, Priest, and Prophet. Acts 10:38 says Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost. This means he was anointed with the Spirit op God, so he was anointed with power and authority by God himself.

Acts 10:38 "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." We will be looking at a few Old Testament prophesies of the Spirit of God upon him regarding his anointing in the next chapter. We will also be looking a t a few other prophecies which will refer to him as being the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah in chapter six, then prophecies of him being the seed of David in chapter seven. Chapter six will set the stage for his office as King, then we will look deeper into his office as King and the seed of David through prophecies in chapter seven. Remember that each of these offices require the anointing of God, and so we will first begin with those prophecies. The reader should understand that his authority and power in all these offices comes from the fact that he was anointed with the Spirit of God, and there is no higher authority than God himself. It simply means power and authority was given him by the Spirit of God in him or upon him.

Chapter Five

His Spiritual Anointing

The ancient Israelites in the Old Testament would anoint their Kings, Priest , and Prophets with oil, but Acts 10:38 above says Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power. Oil is symbolic for the Spirit of God. Isaiah 61:1-3 is an Old Testament Prophecy, which prophesies about Jesus being anointed with the Spirit of God, and verse three speaks about the oil of joy. Jesus refers to this prophecy as being fulfilled in him in Luke 4:17-21.

Isaiah 61:1-3 "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he mught be glorified."

Luke 4:17-21 "And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."

Two more prophecies of the Spirit of God upon him are found in Isaiah 11:1-5 and Isaiah 42:1. I urge the reader to read Isaiah 11:1-5 carefully, because it will be a window giving insight into the magnitude of his authority as Judge, which could most likely, reflect one of his functions as King or Lord.

Isaiah 11:1-5. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of council and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove 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 shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." The phrase "a rod out of the stem of Jesse" refers to him as being the seed or offspring of Jesse. Jesus was the seed of David as we will see in later chapters, but Jesse was the father of David, so Jesus was also the seed or descendant of Jesse. Remember that verse ten of this same chapter prophesies that the Gentiles would seek after the root of Jesse, which we already studied in a previous chapter, so this prophecy of Jesus continues throughout this chapter, and doesn’t end with verse five.

Isaiah 42:1 "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." This prophecy is quoted in Matthew 12:17,18 as pertaining to Jesus Christ. Matthew 12:19 quotes the next verse (Isaiah 42:2) as pertaining to Jesus Christ as well. This prophecy does not end with verse one, but continues through verse six which prophesies he will be a light to the Gentiles, which we also studied in a previous chapter.

We should also remember Psalm 45:7 given in a previous chapter in this book, and also Hebrews 1: 9 which is quotes Psalm 45:7 as pertaining to Jesus Christ. Psalm 45 verses 6 and 7 were both given in a previous chapter, and also Hebrews 1 verses 8 and 9 were both also given which quote Psalm 45:6,7. I will only give Psalm 45:7 here, because it prophesies of his anointing, but the reader can look up both these references, and read both verses from both chapters to get the proper context, and refresh his or her memory from the previous chapter concerning this prophecy.

Psalm 45:7 "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." The reader might remember here that God is anointing God, which means God is anointing Jesus Christ his Son, who is also God. Remember also that Hebrews 1:8,9 quotes this as pertaining to Jesus Christ, but read Psalm 45:6.7 together and Hebrews 1:8,9 together.

Psalm 2:2 and Acts 4:27also refer to his anointing, but these were also given previously in chapter three, so I will not give them here. I will give a prophecy referring to his anointing as King from 1 Samuel 2:10, which has not been given yet.

I Samuel 2:10 "The adversies of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed." This prophesies that he will give strength unto his King, and exalt the horn of his anointed. This is the first reference in the Bible which speaks of an anointed King. The Bible did speak about anointed priests before this time. Many believe this to be a messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ, because Israel never had a king before this time, because Saul was their first king who would come soon later. There was no reigning king in existence at the time this prophecy was given. Therefore it is believed to be a prophecy of a future king. Remember that Christ and Messiah both mean Anointed One, so the word anointed would indicate a future Messiah or Christ. Jesus Christ is the eternal Anointed King and Messiah of Israrel, so this prophecy is regarded as a messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ.

The next prophecy of Jesus Christ is found in Daniel 9:24,25. It refers to the Messiah, and is the only place in the Old Testament where the actual word Messiah is used, but we should understand that Messiah means Anointed One, and other Old Testament prophecies do prophesy about God’s Anointing or Spirit upon Jesus Christ as we already have seen. So several Old Testament prophecies of Jesus collectively put together would add up to Jesus Christ or Jesus the Messiah or Jesus the Anointed One. All Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ would not necessary refer to his anointing, but refer to other things fulfilled by Jesus Christ such as the three offices he held, his sufferings, or even his blood line, which means his ancestry or those he was a descendant of. All the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ collectively put together actually would identify him as the one prophesied about throughout Old Testament scriptures, because he is the only one who has fulfilled or will fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the future coming Messiah, who Israel is still looking forward to at this time. Some of these prophecies were fulfilled when he came the first time, and some will be fulfilled at his second coming.

Daniel 9:24,25, and part of verse 6. "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: ..."

There is much that could be said about Daniel 9:24 - 27, because most Bible Scholars who speak about end time prophecies would most likely begin with this passage of scripture. I actually have to hold myself back from writing about end time prophecies with this scripture, because end time prophecies is of great interest to me. It’s just that I would have to write a whole book explaining it, so I will stick to the part that prophesies about he Messiah himself. I would like to say that this is where I would start if I were to write a book on end time prophecies.

Notice in the scripture above that it first speaks about seventy weeks, and later it speaks about seven weeks, and then threescore and two weeks following the seven weeks. It then it speaks about the Messiah being cut off after the threescore and two weeks. The seven weeks and the threescore and two weeks are all part of the seventy weeks. A score is equal to twenty, so threescore would equal sixty. So it is saying seven weeks with sixty and two weeks following the seven weeks. This adds up to seven weeks + sixty weeks + two weeks which add up to sixty nine weeks total. These sixty nine weeks are all part of the same seventy weeks. It also says the Messiah shall be cut off after the threescore and two weeks. Threescore and two weeks add up to sixty two weeks, which actually follow the seven weeks, so it’s actually a total of sixty nine weeks when the Messiah will be cut off, when we add the seven weeks to the sixty two weeks. The idea I’m bringing the reader to is that the Messiah would be cut off after sixty nine prophetic weeks from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem.

It should be understood that sixty nine weeks also equals four hundred and eighty three days. ( Sixty nine weeks times seven days in a week). One day equals one prophetic year in prophetic language. Some have referred to Ezekiel 4:6 as a basis for this. Ezekiel 4:6 "And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty years: I have appointed thee each day for a year." The significant part of this verse is the last statement, which says "I have appointed thee each day for a year." This might not have any thing to do with the prophecy in Daniel chapter 9 in itself, but it’s just an example in scripture where God appointed one day for a year.

Most Bible Scholars will agree that the sixty nine weeks in Daniel equal four hundred and eighty three days, and that the four hundred and eighty three days can be interpreted as four hundred and eighty three years in prophetic language. This becomes very significant when applying this prophecy of the Messiah to Jesus Christ, because the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem was given about 445 B.C. This commandment was given by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in Nehemiah 2:5,6. Others would say that the order was given in 458 B.C, when Artaxerxes gave the decree to the people of Israel to assist Ezra on his return to Jerusalem in Ezra 7:13, and still others would say the degree was given by Cyrus in Ezra 1:1-3., when he made the proclamation to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, which dates back to 538 B. C.. This one is interesting because God called Cyrus by name over one hundred and fifty years before Cyrus gave the order in Isaiah 44.28. God called him by name in the days of Hezekiah, who reigned from 716 B.C to 686 B.C. This means that God prophesied or foretold beforehand Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt in Isaiah 44:28, and called Cyrus his shepherd, who he would use to do it. This is only another example of a prophecy given, that only God himself could have given, which adds support to the inspiration of the scriptures.

The summary of all this is that Bible Scholars will calculate the 483 years from the time the order to rebuild Jerusalem was given, and place the fulfillment or the end of the 483 period to the time of Jesus Christ, when the Messiah would be cut off in Daniel 9:26. Most all Bible Scholars will agree that the Messiah being cut off refers to the death of Jesus on the cross. Some Bible Scholars have calculated that this 483 years ended the same day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, which was just a few days before he was crucified. Others believe it ended at his Baptism etc. Sometimes it’s hard to know who is correct, but I personally believe the 483 years ended somewhere in the life time of Jesus Christ. I also have no doubt he is the Messiah which Daniel 9:25,26 prophesies about.

I want to end this chapter by stating again that much more could be said regarding end time prophecies relating to Daniel Chapter 9, but again a book could be written on it, and I don’t want to get away from the prophecies relating directly to Jesus. It also isn’t necessary that I write about end time prophecies, because numerous books have already been written about end time prophecies, and they are already available on the market to the reader who wants to seek them out. I don’t find as many books written about the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ, so I feel a greater need to write this book. There have been some written on this subject, but I don’t see as many written on this subject as I see written about end time prophecies. This saddens my heart a little, because New Testament writers were always writing about prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ, and it saddens my heart to know that more books are not written on this subject, when Jesus Christ himself should be the center of every Christians’ heart. It also saddened the heart of Jesus, when the people of his time were ignorant of the Old Testament prophecies referring to himself. I believe all scripture points to Jesus Christ, and I believe God planned it that way, so we would know our Messiah and Lord when he came. It was these Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ that gave me confidence and faith in the inspiration of the Old Testament, and I believe that was also part of God’s plan, and that is why he did prophesy about things before they came to pass, so we could know it was him who inspired the scriptures. Remember what Jesus said in John 5:39,40 "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me, and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." I hope the prophecies given in this book will help encourage the faith of the reader in Jesus Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and I also hope this book will give the reader a deeper understanding about who Jesus Christ is, while moving the reader into a deeper and closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6 that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by him. He also said that he came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly in John 10:10. He has the power to grant us eternal life, for he is the resurrection and the life in John 11:25,26 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"

Chapter Six

The Seed

I wrote in chapter two of this book that Genesis 3:15 prophesied about Jesus being the seed or offspring of the woman Eve, who would come out of the human race to be a Savior, who would save his people from their sins. There are still other prophecies, which prophesy about him being the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. We will be looking at them in this chapter, and this chapter will also be setting the stage for prophecies which refer to the office of King, which Jesus Christ holds, and we will get deeper into prophecies of Jesus regarding his office as King in chapter seven which follows.

The first prophecy here will be in regards to Jesus being the seed of Abraham. We find this prophecy in Genesis 22:18. "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." The Lord told Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. There were times when God was referring to the collective seed of Abraham such as the whole nation of Israel, which came through Isaac and Jacob, or even the spiritual seed of Abraham such as the church, whenever God was giving promises unto Abraham. (See Genesis 17:7,8) Abraham’s seed could also be applied to one individual, who would be the seed or offspring of Abraham. Jesus was the seed of Abraham recorded in both genealogies of the ancestry of Jesus in Matthew 1:1 and Luke 3::34. Paul refers to the promises God made to Abraham and his seed, and applied the seed of Abraham directly to Jesus Christ in Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."

Jesus is the seed of Abraham in whom all the nations of the earth are blessed. The earth is also blessed through the collective seed of Abraham which is the church, but Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Paul teaches in Romans chapter four and Galatians chapter three that we receive the promises God made to Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul says in Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ." He says in Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’sseed, and heirs according to the promise." Therefore! It is the spiritual seed of Abraham who will inherit the promises God made unto Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ, and it is the church who is the spiritual seed of Abraham. The whole nation of Israel would be the blood descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, and there were also other blood descendants of Abraham through his other son Ishmael, and also his other grandson Esau who was the brother of Jacob. God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations in Genesis 17:5, so Abraham had many blood descendants creating several nations.

Paul refers to Genesis 17:5, where God said to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations in Romans 4:17. The point Paul teaches is that those who put their faith in Jesus Christ will be the spiritual seed of Abraham, who are those who make up the church, who are of all nations of he earth. Therefore! Abraham became the father of many nations through his spiritual seed the church. All the nations of the earth shall be blessed through the seed of Abraham, who is Jesus Christ, and it is not just the nations who stem from the blood line of Abraham who shall be blessed. See also Genesis 15:5

God said to Abram (Abraham) in Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into the body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

God speaks to Abraham’s son Isaac in Genesis 26:3-5, and passes the promise he made to Abraham unto Isaac. Genesis 26:3,4,5 "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

This next prophecy will be about a Star who shall come out of Jacob, and a Star out of Jacob would indicate an offspring or descendant of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham.

Numbers 24:17 "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth."

The two statements "There shall come a Star out of Jacob" and "A Scepter shall rise out of Israel" should be considered in this prophecy. A Star can figuratively symbolize a Prince or Ruler with power and authority, who shall come out of Jacob. A Scepter is a rod or staff, which symbolized the authority of a ruler such as a king. Also the statements "I shall see him" and "I shall behold him" would indicate a person associated with a Star and a Scepter. This prophecy is not speaking about a star like the three wisemen seen in Matthew chapter two at the birth of Jesus, because Jacob was not capable of producing a star like the three wise men seen. Jacob was capable of producing offspring, so this prophecy is speaking about a Prince or Ruler who shall come out of Jacob. The Scepter is a rod or staff this Prince or Ruler will use to smite the corners of Moab, and destroy the children of Sheth. We might think about the Staff Moses would hold out, when God brought all the plagues unto Egypt. Revelation 19:15 says Jesus will smite the nations, and rule them with a rod of Iron.

Revelation 19:15,16 "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." It should also be pointed out that Jesus is called the Word of God in verse thirteen of this chapter, and Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. Revelation 1:16 says a two edged sword went out of his mouth, and the scripture above says he will smite the nations with a sharp sword from his mouth. Therefore he shall smite the nations with the Word of God, which shall proceed out of his mouth. I believe the Scepter that shall rise out of Israel in Numbers 24:17 above is the Word of God, which God brought forth through the nation of Israel, and this is the Scepter or his Word which he shall smite the nations with.

An angel is speaking to Mary in Luke 1:33, and told her that Jesus shall reign over the house of Jacob. Jesus said in Revelation 22:16 that he is the bright and morning star. Numbers 24:17 above is considered by most Bible Scholars to be a messianic prophecy of a future Messiah, which finds it’s fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Remember that this chapter is setting the stage for the office of King which Jesus holds, so Numbers 24:17 above put together with a couple more prophecies will reveal a Ruler of Israel, whom is prophesied about in these prophecies. The nation of Israel interprets these prophecies as being messianic revealing a future Messiah who shall rule over them in the end. This next prophecy from Genesis 49:10 fits together with Numbers 24:10 above.

Genesis 49:10 "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." The scepter in this prophecy once again means a rod or staff, which rulers would hold between their feet symbolizing their authority. Jacob is prophesying over his son Judah, and Jacob is actually prophesying that the rulership of Israel would not depart from Judah’s descendants until Shiloh comes. David was an example of one of Judah’s descendants who became Ruler or King over Israel later on in history. This simply means that the future Rulers or Kings of Israel would be descendants of Judah.

Jewish Scholars and most Bible Scholars consider the phrase "until Shiloh come" as a prophecy of the future coming Messiah, and interpret this phrase as meaning "until he comes to whom it belongs." The New International Version of the Bible (N.I.V.) translates that phrase as "until he comes to whom it belongs." It has been paraphrased in some Jewish text "until the time when the King Messiah come to whom it belongeth." There is another prophecy in Ezekiel 21:27 which perhaps will shed some light on this.

Ezekiel 21:27 "I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." The phrase "until he come whose right it is" could have been Ezekiel’s interpretation of the phrase "until Shiloh come" in Genesis 49:10, while Ezekiel was making reference to the future Messiah.

I will now remind the reader of Micah 5:2, which was already given in this book as a prophecy of Jesus Christ, but it fits in with these prophecies, because it prophesies about a future Ruler in Israel.

Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." Remember that Matthew 2:6 quotes this as a prophecy of Jesus at the time of his birth in Bethlehem.

All of these prophecies prophesy about a future Messiah who shall rule over Israel, and they all point to Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus as being the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." Hebrews 7:14 says "it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah"

Jesus was also the seed of David, but we will start with him being the seed of David in the next chapter, because there will be over a dozen prophecies connecting Jesus Christ to the throne of David. We will be looking at these as well as many scriptures from the New Testament connecting Jesus Christ to David or the throne of David. David was a king who judged righteously, and Jesus Christ is a King who's liken unto David.

I will conclude this chapter by reminding the reader that Jesus Christ is KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS in Revelation 19:16. He has supreme sovereignty and authority in his office of King and Lord. He is our Creator in John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, and Hebrews 1:2 as we learned in chapter one in this book. His words are empowered with the full authority of the Almighty God, and he himself is called the Word of God in John 1:1 and Revelation 19:13. We should receive the words of Jesus in this light as we read through the Gospels. Those who reject him will be judged by his word in John 12:48, but those who receive him will be given power to become the sons and daughters of God in John 1:12. Just a few reminders and words of thought for the reader.

Chapter Seven

The Seed Of David

The next prophecy we will be looking at will prophesy about the seed or offspring of David. We will be looking at the seed of David for a while, because the seed of David will be the longest teaching in this book. The name of David is mentioned more times in the Bible than any other name. It’s mentioned over one thousand times in the Old Testament, and it’s mentioned over fifty times in the New Testament. There will also be over a dozen Old Testament prophecies of Jesus connected with the seed of David.

This next prophecy of Jesus is found in 2 Samuel 7:12-14. God tells Nathan to speak this prophecy to David. The reader should actually start reading 2 Samuel seven starting with verse four to understand the context of this prophecy. David wanted to build a house for the Lord in verses one through three. God tells David in verse thirteen that it will be his seed that would build a house for the Lord. Solomon was also the seed of David, because Solomon was David’s son. Solomon did build a temple unto the Lord later on, so this prophecy will have a double meaning. It will be partially fulfilled in his son Solomon, but it will find it’s final fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

The temple Solomon built was a materialistic temple built with hands, which was not sufficient enough for God, but the house or temple which Jesus is building is a temple which was not made with hands. The temple Jesus is building is a spiritual temple. Jesus is building the church. The church is a temple made up of all Christians in whom the Spirit of God dwells. We will be looking at scriptures teaching about this as we venture through this chapter.

There are four things the reader should notice from this prophecy below. 1. God is speaking about David’s seed, who shall proceed out of the bowels of David, but not until after David sleeps with his fathers. This means after David would die. 2. David’s seed shall build a house for the Lord’s name. 3. God will establish the throne of David’s seed forever. Solomons kingdom didn’t last forever, so this is referring to a future King, whose kingdom will last forever. (Jesus Christ). 4. God says I will be his Father, and he shall be my Son. These four things are all fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

There is one more thing about this prophecy I want the reader to be aware of. Hebrews 1:5 quotes the last statement "I will be his Father, and he shall be my Son." as pertaining to Jesus. Hebrews 1:5 also quotes from another prophecy of Jesus in Psalm chapter two, so I will be giving both prophecies from 2 Samuel 7:12-14 and Psalms Chapter two along with Hebrews 1:5. Here are the prophecies.

2 Samuel 7:12,13,14 "12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14. I will be his father, and he shall be my son...."

Here is Hebrews 1:5, which quotes the last statement of this prophecy, and quotes from Psalm chapter two which will follow, and quotes both as pertaining to Jesus.. Hebrews 1:5 "For until which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?"

Psalm 2:6.7 then skipping to verse 12. "6. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill Zion. 7. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Skipping to verse 12) 12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." This prophecy from Psalm 2 is also quoted in Acts 13:33 "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."

There was a voice which cried out from heaven at the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:17, Mark1:11, and Luke 3:22, and God said "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." This same voice cried out the same words at the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain in Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, and Luke 9:35. See also John 12:28.

Solomon applies the prophecy above, which was given to his father David directly to himself in 1 Kings 8:13-20 and 2 Chronicles 6:2-10. See also 1 Kings 5:3-5. Solomon did build a temple unto God, so the prophecy did have partial fulfillment in Solomon, but we will be looking at scriptures and prophecies in the pages to follow, which will speak about the temple which Jesus is building, and will also speak about Jesus being the seed of David, and will also connect this prophecy to Jesus Christ.

Stephen speaks about the house or temple Solomon built for the Lord in Acts 7:47-50, but he explains that the most High does not dwell in a house made with hands, and he quotes from Isaiah 66:1,2 in the Old Testament to support his point of view.

Acts 7:47-50 "But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?"

Isaiah 66:1,2 "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."

These two scriptures indicate very strongly that the house Solomon built was not sufficient enough for God. Isaiah 66:2 above would also indicate that God looks for a humbled heart for his resting or dwelling place. Solomon also acknowledged that the house he built was not sufficient in 1 Kings 8:27. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"

Peter will also help us apply the prophecy god made to David directly to Jesus in Acts 2:29,30. Peter actually quotes from Psalm 132:11 to help prove his point, but the reader should understand that Psalm 132:11 is actually referring to the promise God gave unto David. Psalm 132:11 used the words "fruit of thy body". The words used in the prophecy God actually gave to David were "proceed out of the bowels of David." Both group of words refer to the seed of David, so Psalm 132:11 is referring to the same prophecy in 2 Samuel 7:12-14, but using different words to describe the prophecy.

Acts 2:29,30 "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarh David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne."

Psalm 132:11 "The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne."

Paul teaches that the church is the temple of God, and each person in the church is like a stone within the temple, and the whole church together builds into the temple, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. We will be seeing prophecies about Jesus being the corner stone later in this book, but here is Paul speaking about these things in Ephesians 2:19-22. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." We should notice the last statement Paul makes, when he said "we all together build a habitation of God through the Spirit." Jesus Christ is building a spiritual temple which is not made with hands. Jesus Christ is building up the church, and he is also building his kingdom, which will last forever as prophesied to David. See also 1 Corinthians 3:16,17 and 2 Corinthians 6:16.

An angel is speaking to Mary in Luke 1:31,32, and the angel tells Mary that God will give Jesus the throne of his father David. David lived a thousand years before Jesus was born, so he is only the father of Jesus as being an ancestor to Jesus. God himself was the actual biological Father of Jesus.

Luke 1:31,32 "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:"

We will be looking at some more Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ and the throne of David, but first here are some more references regarding him as the seed of David. Paul calls Jesus the seed of David in Romans 1:3 and 2 Timothy 2:8. The blind called him the son of David in Matthew 9:27, 12:22,23, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:38,39. A woman of Canaan called him son of David in Matthew 15:22. The crowds called him son of David during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem in Matthew 21:9,15.

The next prophecy we will look at here comes from Isaiah 9:6,7. The two statements in this prophecy "unto us a child is born", and "unto us a son is given" are prophetic of a future Messiah. They find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who was born Son of God and son of man. The statement "unto us a child is born" would refer to his birth as a man, but the statement "unto us a son is given" could refer to Jesus as the Son of God, who God gave to the world to redeem us unto himself. He would grow up to have the government of Israel upon his shoulders. There will be no end to his government, because his kingdom will be eternal, and the throne of David once again refers to him as the seed of David.

Isaiah 9:6,7 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

I will give the next four prophecies of Jesus Christ all together here, but the future Messiah who is Jesus Christ is called David in these prophecies. He was called David in these prophecies, because he is the seed of David. David already died about three hundred or more years before these prophecies were given, so they could not be referring to David himself. They are believed to be direct references to the Messiah himself, who the Jews understood would be the seed of David.

Jeremiah 30:9 "But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them."

Hosea 3:5 "Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days." We should notice that it says latter days here, so these prophecies are referring to the second coming of Jesus Christ, when the Messiah returns to rule over Israel.

Ezekiel 34:23,24 "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it."

Ezekiel 37:24 "And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statues, and do them."

The Messiah is referred to as a shepherd in the two prophecies from Ezekiel above. Jesus said "I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep:" in John 10:11. These prophecies refer to the Messiah, who is the Good Shepherd, and who is also the seed of David. There is another messianic prophecy from Isaiah 40:10,11, which also speaks of this shepherd.

Isaiah 40:10,11 "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bossom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." The statement "his reward is with him" is typical of Jesus Christ in Revelation 22:12, where Jesus said "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Those prophecies of the Good Shepherd, and the fact he is called David reminds me of Psalm 23, which was wriiten by David.

Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou Preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

There are other thoughts I have, when I look at those prophecies, which call the Messiah David. Jesus Christ will be a King liken unto David. He will rule in righteousness liken unto David. David was considered to be a man after God’s own heart. Let’s consider what Jesus said in Revelation 2:26,27 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."

Jesus was saying that anyone who overcomes will rule with him at his return. I have no doubt that David qualified as an overcomer. I believe that David will rule with Jesus Christ in his eternal reign, with Jesus Christ being the supreme authority, but sharing his rule with overcomers. I also have no doubt that Old Testament prophets were looking forward to a Messiah who would rule in righteousness liken unto David, so they would always have David in mind, whenever they prophesied about the future Messiah. It will be very interesting to see David and Jesus Christ together after the resurrection.

The next prophecy connecting Jesus Christ with David comes from Isaiah 55:3,4 "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." The thing to notice about this prophecy is that God says he will make an everlasting covenant. A covenant is like a contract or agreement which God is making here. He also said "come unto me: hear, and your sould shall live." The covenant he is making here is a covenant of mercy. We receive mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is the covenant or agreement God has made to all mankind, but it’s conditional. We must receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. Jesus is the witness, leader , and commander this prophecy is referring to. Jesus is called the faithful witness in Revelation 1:5. Jesus said in John 18:37 "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." We can see some of the key elements of this prophecy in the words of Jesus here. A king is a leader and commander. The prophecy said those who come to him and hear shall live. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, and those of truth shall hear his voice. I believe we can hear the voice of the Spirit of Christ in this prophecy. This was just a reminder to the reader to remember the Spirit of Christ who spoke through the Old Testament prophets.

The next four prophecies will refer to the Messiah Jesus as the righteous Branch, and the righteous Branch shall be of the seed of David. We already have looked at Isaiah 11:1 in a previous chapter in this book, which prophesies that a Branch shall grow out of Jesse. We also learned that Jesse was David’s father. The next two prophecies will connect this righteous Branch to David, and the two prophecies following will continue prophesying about this Branch.

Jeremiah 23:5,6 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

The next prophecy in Jeremiah 33:14-18 below is very similar to Jeremiah 23:5,6 above. The Lord says he will perform this good thing he has promised unto Judah. We should also notice that Jerusalem is referred to as she, and given the same name as the Messiah (The Lord Our Righteousness). I believe this is because Jerusalem will be filled with the righteousness of the Lord, and therefore have the nature of the Lord within her. The words "David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel" can collectively be applied to all the kings who reigned after David, but it will have it’s final fulfillment in the Messiah, who’s kingdom will last forever. David will never want a man to sit upon his throne in the reign of the Messiah, because the Messiah’s kingdom will last forever, whereas the Davidic line of kings ended when Babylon seized Jerusalem. The words "Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings" would refer to the Priesthood office of the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the only King of Israel who also holds the office of a Priest, because all the kings of Israel were descendants of Judah , whereas all the priests of Israel were descendants of Levi, and therefore the priesthood of Israel is referred to as the Levitical Priesthood. A king could not be a priest, because a king was not a descendant of Levi, and a priest could not be a king, because a priest was not a descendant of Judah. Jesus was not a priest of the Levitical Priesthood. He is a Priest of a different nature, but we will learn more about this in a later chapter. It should also be pointed out that most of the kings in the Davidic line were evil or wicked in nature, so this prophecy is about a future Messiah who will rule in righteousness liken unto David.

Jeremiah 33:14-18 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteouness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgement and righteouness in the land. In those dsays shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually."

The following prophecy will also speak about the Branch, but it also reveals both the office of King and the office of Priest the Messiah shall hold in the words "he shall be a priest upon his throne." It also says he shall build a temple of the Lord. We already learned he is building a spiritual temple (the church) earlier in this chapter, but Ezekiel prophesies about another temple, which will exist during the reign of the Messiah, so the reader might want to read Ezekiel chapters 40-48 to learn more about this temple. Some scholars believe the temple in this prophecy is referring to the temple Ezekiel prophesies about.

Zechariah 6:12,13 "And speak unto him saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."

The next prophecy comes from Zechariah 3:8,9, but this prophecy is understood best in the context which surrounds it. The Lord of hosts prophesies to Joshua the high priest in Zechariah chapter 3, but Zerubbabel is prophesied to in Zechariah chapter 4. Zerubbabel was a Judean prince, and Joshua was the high priest who lived in the time of Zechariah. Zerubbabel and Joshua shared authority within the community, and both were involved with the rebuilding of the second temple in Jerusalem. The rebuilding of the temple was highly encouraged by two prophets named Zechariah and Haggai. There will be more comments about this, but first here is the prophecy.

Zechariah 3:8,9 "Hear now , O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: be hold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day."

The Lord of host says "I will bring forth my servant the Branch." This statement is a prophecy of the coming Messiah Jesus, who is also the chief corner stone in other prophecies and scriptures we will be looking at in a later chapter. The seven eyes upon the stone are consistent with Zechariah 4:10 which says "For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, with run to and fro through the whole earth."

There are actually two things two be considered in Zechariah chapters three and four. The prophecies in these chapters are about things which are going to be done in the natural, but these things will also be symbolic or a for shadow of spiritual things to come. Zerubbabel would be the leader in the rebuilding of the second temple, and it would be Zerubbabel who would bring forth the head stone for the temple.

Zechariah 4:7,8,9 "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you."

This says that Zerubbabel would bring forth the headstone, which is also called the corner stone, and this stone was the foundation that the whole temple rested upon. The words "his hands shall also finish it" indicate the temple would be completed by the hands of Zerubbabel. The completion of the second temple is what Zerubbabel did in the natural, but it also symbolizes the completion of the spiritual temple Jesus Christ is building, which is the church. It also should be pointed out that God himself would be involved with both the building of the second temple and the spiritual temple. See Zechariah 4:6 which says "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." It was the Spirit of God who anointed the building of the second temple, and it is also the Spirit of God who anoints the building of the spiritual temple (the church), and Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone or foundation in whom the whole church shall rest upon.

This next prophecy also reveals both the King and Priest offices Jesus Christ holds. It prophesies about a governor, which would indicate a ruler or one of authority like a king would have. The words "I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me" reveals his office as Priest, which would allow him to approach unto God as a Priest. It was Jesus Christ who ascended up to heaven, and sits on the right hand of God as our High Priest making intercession for all his people.

Jeremiah 30:21 "And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord."

The next prophecy we will look at is not actually a messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ. It is actually a prophecy God gave concerning Eliakim. The interesting thing about this prophecy is that it is typical of a few other scriptures which do refer to the Messiah Jesus Christ. Here is the prophecy God gave concerning Eliakim. My comments about this prophecy will follow.

Isaiah 22:20-24 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open , and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. And they shall hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons."

Eliakim was not a king, but he did hold a position of royal authority during the reign of Hezekiah. He was very influential in government matters as a chief advisor to Hezekiah. The words "upon his shoulder" or similar to the words used in Isaiah 9:6, which is a messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ given earlier in this chapter. The words "he shall be like a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" is typical of the words "Everlasting Father" describing the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6. The words "he shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open" are the same words written in Revelation 3:7 about Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:7 "...These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."

The words "I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place" means Eliakim would be a symbol of security to his people. The nail is symbolic of a peg which was fastened to the walls in all houses in those days, and this peg could not be removed. People would hang all their valuables on this peg, because the peg was secure, so they felt secure in doing so. Eliakem would be like this secure peg, who they could hang their trust and hope upon. This is very typical of Jesus Christ, who is also like a nail or peg, who is the security of the church, and the Messiah in whom his people put their hope and trust. There is a messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ, where he is called the corner, nail, and battle bow in Zechariah 10:4. Corner refers to him as being the chief corner stone of the temple. The nail refers to the peg which was just explained. The battle bow refers to the defensive might of the Messiah, which will be well demonstrated at the second coming of Jesus Christ as described in Revelation 19:11-21.

Zechariah 10:4 "Out him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together" The words "out of him" means out of Judah. Hebrews 7:14 says "it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah." Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus as being the "Lion of the tribe of Judah."

Psalm 72 below is a psalm which has been titled "A Psalm For Solomon." It’s actually a prayer for the king. It appears to be a prayer of a loyal subject for the king. It is uncertain as to the actual king the prayer might have been intended for, but Solomon is the most popular candidate for being the subject of this prayer. The interesting thing about this psalm is that it goes beyond the Davidic king who was the original subject, and portrays a picture of the ideal or perfect king, which is a portrait of the perfect Messiah who will rule his kingdom righteously, so it’s messianic in the way it portrays the characteristics of the perfect future Messiah Jesus. It perhaps might be best understood as revealing the heart, faith, and hopes of a loyal subject, who anticipates the coming of a futuristic Messiah promised throughout scripture.

Psalm 72

Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the Sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and the abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

I also want to bring Psalm 89 to the reader’s attention. Psalm 89 is considered to be messianic, because it speaks about things which only the Messiah Jesus can fulfill. I will not give all of Psalm 89 here because of the length of the psalm, but I will give a part of it to show certain highlights which pertain to the Messiah.

Psalm 89: 3,4,18-29 3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 4. Thy seed will I estabish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. (Skipping to verse 18) 18. For the Lord is our defence: and the Holy One of Israel is our king. 19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20. I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21. With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 24. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28. My mercy will I keep foe him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

This psalm could be about both David and Jesus Christ having a duel meaning. We should notice verse 27, which says "I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth." Jesus is called his firstborn in New Testament scriptures.

Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature." Hebrews 1:6 "And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Jesus is the biological Son of God, and also the biological son of Mary. Therefore he is a form of God, and also a form of man in one person. Therefore, he is called Son of God and son of man. We should remember John 1:12 which says "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." All who put their trust and faith in him will become sons and daughters of God. Therefore, all true members of the church are sons and daughters of God, but Jesus is the head of the church, and the firstborn Son of God, and the firstborn of the church.

This will conclude this chapter. The next three chapters will be shorter chapters as we look at Old Testament prophecies and scriptures revealing Jesus the Messiah as the Corner Stone, Priest, and Prophet. We will start with him being the Corner Stone in the next chapter, and then the following two chapters will reveal his offices as Priest and a Prophet.

Chapter Eight

The Corner Stone

This will be a short little chapter revealing a few Old Testament messianic prophecies which portray Jesus Christ as the Corner Stone, and we will also be looking at several cross reference scriptures in the New Testament, which will reveal Jesus Christ as the Messiah, in whom these prophecies were fulfilled. Here are the three prophecies.

Isaiah 28:16 "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

Psalm 118:21,22,23 "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes."

Isaiah 8:13,14,15 "Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."

Peter speaks about the stone in 1 Peter 2:3-8, and he quotes from these prophecies in 1 Peter 2:6-8. We should compare the prophecies above with the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2:3-8. "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built upon a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth in him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."

There are several things we should notice about this stone in the prophecies and scripture above. This stone would be rejected by the builders. The word "builders" refers to Israel or the Jews, who rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and Jesus became a rock of offense to them. There were also some who received him, and he became a precious stone to those who believe in him. Jesus Christ was rejected by the Jews, but he has also been rejected by many other people around the world, and he has also become a rock of offense to all of them. Jesus Christ really is a precious stone to all who believe in him, but a rock of offense to all unbelievers. These prophecies have surely come to pass all over the world even to this day. It should also be pointed out that the disciples were Jews, and the New Testament was written by Jews, so there were Jews who did receive him, and there are still many Jews who receive him today.

Jesus Christ is also building a spiritual temple, and he is the Chief Corner Stone or foundation of the church, which is the temple he is building. The natural or materialistic temple in the Old Testament had a corner stone that was the main foundation or support of the temple, but Jesus Christ is the Corner Stone of the temple he is building. He also will rule over the very ones who rejected him, and therefore the stone the builders rejected has become the Chief Corner Stone. We will now look at a scripture already previously given in another chapter, but it fits in well with this teaching.

Ephesians 2:18-22 "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Jesus himself also referred to these prophecies in Matthew 21:42-46 "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." See also Mark 12:10,11 and Luke 20:17,18 as sequels of this.

Jesus said the kingdom of God will be taken from the natural nation of Israel, and given to another nation which brings forth the fruits thereof. The other nation can only refer to the new spiritual nation of Israel, which is made up of all Jews and Gentiles who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord, Savior, and Messiah. We must remember that we inherit the promises made to Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. The church is the new spiritual Israel, which brings forth the fruits thereof. The church is the spiritual temple of God, which is being built for an habitation of God through the Spirit according to the scripture above. The church is the temple where the Holy Spirit dwells, and therefore brings forth the fruits of the Spirit."

The natural nation of Israel thought they could inherit the promises through the law of righteousness, but no man was able to keep the law without sin except Jesus of course. Therefore Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone Jesus Christ. Our salvation is dependant on faith in Jesus Christ, and is not dependant on our own righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 says "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags......" We do not inherit the kingdom of God through our own righteousness, but we inherit the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and allowing the Holy Spirit to produce righteousness within us.

Paul writes about this while making reference to one of the prophecies above in Romans 9:30-33 "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

It should also be pointed out that the kingdom of God was taken from Israel and given unto the Gentiles to move Israel to jealousy, because Israel had provoked God to jealousy by worshipping false Gods. (See Deuteronomy 32:16) God prophesied he would do this in Deuteronomy 32:21. We should notice in this prophecy that God said he would move Israel to jealousy with a people who were not his people. God also calls this people a foolish nation, but this foolish nation will become the very same nation Jesus spoke about in the scripture above, when he said the kingdom of God would be given to another nation which shall bring forth the fruits of righteousness. The Gentiles are the people who were not the people of God in Old Testament times, because the Gentiles did not believe in the God of Israel. God has moved Israel to jealousy by offering his salvation to the Gentiles.

Deauteronomy 32:21 "They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation."

God also prophesies about this other nation again in Isaiah 65:1, but remember that this other nation is actually the church, which is made up of Jews and Gentiles, and will be the new spiritual Israel when Jesus Christ returns the second time. The church is not considered to be a nation on earth at this time, and therefore is not called a people at this time. The church is actually a mass number of people out of every nation on earth, who will inherit the promises to Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. John 1:12 says "But as many as received, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." I realize I have given this verse several times in this book, but it is one verse I’m trying to drill into the reader’s mind. Those who receive Jesus Christ will be the people of God in the end and for ever. (The New Spiritual Israel)

Isaiah 65:1 "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name."

Paul makes reference to both the prophecies in Deuteronomy and Isaiah above in Romans 10:19-21. Paul is touching on this very subject. Romans 10:19- 21 "But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias (Isaiah) is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."

Paul also says salvation came to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy in Romans 11:11 "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."

I will now let Peter wrap up the teaching of the corner stone from a passage of scripture in Acts 4:10-12 spoken by Peter. Acts 4:10-12 "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Peter made a statement in that scripture which is a truth that will ring throughout eternity. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Jesus Christ is God’s eternal plan for our salvation. Jesus is the stone in Psalm 118:22, who was refused and rejected by many. He was rejected during his crucifixion by the Jews who pleaded with the authorities to have him put to death in the first place, but he is still rejected by many people in the world today, who perhaps lack understanding of who Jesus was. I believe Jesus Christ is rejected through ignorance or lack of knowledge of him or scripture more than any other reason. This is the very reason I have written this book.

I will finish this chapter with the very verse I’m trying to drill into the reader’s head throughout this book, but first it should be pointed out and said that those who reject Jesus Christ are rejecting their only way of salvation, and therefore rejecting their eternal life with Jesus Christ and our Father in heaven. Our Creator has made his salvation plan clear throughout scripture, and he is the one who decides whether we have eternal life or eternal death. This eternal death does not necessary mean eternal non-existence. It actually means eternal separation from our Creator in Heaven. It should be considered an eternal tragedy to be separated from our Creator, who is the only one who has truly loved us. Jesus said in John 14:6 that he is the way, the truth, the life, and no one can go to the Father but by him. To be eternally separated from God and all love is a tragic penalty to pay by rejecting our only way of salvation, so I will finish with the verse repeated several times in this book, and now twice in this chapter in hopes the reader will always remember and consider it within his or her heart. I also want the reader to remember that Jesus Christ is a precious stone to those who believe in him, but he is a rock of offense to all unbelievers. Those who are offended at his name only serve to prove scripture to be true.

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

Chapter Nine

His Priesthood

This chapter will reveal the priesthood of the Messiah Jesus through an Old Testament prophecy of his priesthood, and through corresponding scriptures from the book of Hebrews. We looked at Old Testament prophecies of his office as King in chapter seven which revealed him as the seed of David. There are two prophecies in psalm 110 which reveals the Messiah Jesus as David’s Lord, and also reveal the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Here are those two prophecies.

Psalm 110:1 "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

Psalm 110:4 "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

We will deal with the first prophecy above first, and then look at scriptures revealing him a priest after the order of Melchizedek afterwards in this chapter. Psalm 110 is a psalm written by David, and the two things we should notice in the first prophecy is David said "The Lord said unto my Lord," and he quotes the Lord as saying "Sit thou at my right hand." This prophecy is interpreted my many as the Lord saying to the future Messiah "Sit thou at my right hand." The future Messiah would be a King greater than David, so David would refer to the future Messiah as his Lord. David is actually saying that God is saying to the future Messiah "Sit thou at my right hand." Jesus Christ would also be David’s Lord, because Jesus Christ had Deity, so the Lord God is actually saying to the future Messiah Jesus Christ "Sit thou at my right hand." Jesus Christ is also considered to be a form of God, so David says "The Lord said unto my Lord." The Lord God speaking to the future Messiah, who is also God, so David calls both of them his Lord.

New Testament scriptures make it very clear that that Jesus sat on the right hand of God after he ascended into heaven. We will be looking at a few of these scriptures, but first we will look at a passage of scripture where Jesus himself quotes from the first prophecy above as pertaining to himself. We should remember that Christ means Messiah, and Jesus speaks about the Christ or Messiah in this passage of scripture.

Matthew 22:41-45 "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" See Mark 12:35-37 and Luke 20:41-44 as sequels to this.

The last question Jesus Asked in this scripture is "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" The point Jesus was making is that the Christ or Messiah would be superior to David. It was well known among Jews that the Messiah would be of the seed of David as we have already studied, but Jesus was revealing to them that the Messiah would also be superior to David by David’s own words. The Jews highly esteemed their forefather David, but now Jesus was revealing to them that the Messiah would be greater than David.

Peter also quotes from this prophecy and applies it to Jesus Christ in Acts 2:32-36 "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Hebrews 1:1,2,3 "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Matthew 26:64 "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Acts 7:55,56 "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

The interesting thing about the last scripture is it’s about a vision Stephen saw right before he was stoned to death. I have heard preachers make note of this, because scripture says that Jesus sat on the right hand of God. This means that Jesus stood up and took notice when Stephen was about to be stoned to death while preaching his gospel.

We should also make note that three events are also mentioned in these scriptures. (1) Jesus was crucified! (2) Jesus was resurrected! (3) Jesus ascended into heaven and sat on the right hand of God! I will asked the reader to remember Isaiah chapter 53, where God’s salvation plan was prophesied, and given in chapter two of this book. These same three events are expressed in Isaiah 53:10 which say (1) "thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin." (2) "He shall prolong his days" (3) "The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand"

(1) Jesus was crucified for our sins! (2) God prolonged his days by raising him from the dead. (3) Jesus Christ has been exalted, and his eternal kingdom will prosper as he rules over all things from the right hand of God, so surely the pleasure of the Lord has prospered in his hand. Jesus Christ is also building the church or temple where the Holy Spirit dwells, so he sits on the right hand of God as our High Priest in heaven, where he offers his own holy blood as the atonement for our sins, and making intercession for the sinners, who have put their trust in him. (See Isaiah 53:12)

This brings us to the second prophecy in psalm 110. He shall be a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4 "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

The first thing to notice in this prophecy is that he will be a priest for ever. This can only be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose kingdom will last for ever. There has never been any priest in history, who could be a priest for ever except Jesus Christ. The second thing to note is that he will be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. This can best be understood by knowing who Melchizedek was, and how the priesthood of Melchizedek was liken unto the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Melchizedek was a priest who lived in the time of Abram. Abram’s name was later changed to Abraham, so Melchizedek was a priest we associate with Abraham. Melchizedek was not a priest of the Levitical priesthood, which Moses set up over four hundred years later. The Levitical priesthood Moses set up was made up of priests who were descendants of Levi. Remember that Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, and Levi was the son of Jacob. Moses and Aaron his brother were descendants of Levi, and the Levitical priesthood started with Aaron, so Levi’s descendants made up the Levitical priesthood and servants of the temple.

The reader should also remember that Judah was another son of Jacob, and it was Judah’s descendants who would be the rulers or kings of Israel. This is important, because a priest of the Levitical priesthood could not be a king, because they were descendants of Levi, and only descendants of Judah could be kings. This also worked in reverse. The kings of Israel could not be priests, because they were descendants of Judah, and only descendants of Levi were priest, so no one in Israel could hold both the king and priest offices together. They could be a king or a priest, but they could not be both.

This is what made Melchizedek different from the priest of the Levitical priesthood. Melchizedek was a king and a priest at the same time, and so is Jesus Christ! Remember that Melchizedek lived over four hundred years before the Levitical priesthood was set up, and also before there was a nation of Israel, because it was the descendants of Abraham who became the nation of Israel, and Abraham did not have children yet when we read about Melchizedek. We read about Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18. This scripture reveals him as a king and priest at the same time.

Genesis 14:18 "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God."

Jesus Christ is a Priest liken unto Melchizedek, because Jesus Christ is a King and Priest at the same time, and neither Jesus nor Melchizedek were of the Levitical priesthood, because Jesus was not a Levite. He was a descendant of Judah, but there is still a deeper meaning of all this. The name Melchizedek by interpretation means "king of righteousness.’ The interpretation of Salem means "City of peace." Remember that Jesus Christ is called Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus Christ is also called "The Lord Our Righteousness" in Jeremiah 23:6.

Here are some scriptures from Hebrews which speak about Jesus Christ being a priest after the order of Melchizedek, and quotes from psalm 110:4.

Hebrews 6:20 "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

Hebrews 7:1,2 "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of peace." See also Hebrews 5:5-10. Hebrews 5:6 and Hebrews 7:17 both quote the prophecy in psalm 110:4 as pertaining to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is a Priest after the order of Melchizedek, who sits on the right hand of God making intercession for sinners who believe and trust in him. (Remember Isaiah 53:12)

Romans 8:34 "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Hebrews 9:24 "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

1Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Jesus Christ is a Priest who intercedes for sinners in the presence of God, but he’s also the lamb of God, who was slaughtered and crucified for our sins. It’s his own blood that atones for our sins. He surely is the complete package in whom are total salvation is complete. He is our Lord and Creator, who prepared a body for himself, because he loved us so much he became man, and became our complete salvation. Jesus Christ has been defined as all God and all man in one person. The salvation of our souls was so precious to him, that he placed the responsibility of our salvation on his own shoulders, and paid for our salvation with his own blood. Consider Psalm 49:7,8 below.

Psalm 49:7and 8 "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ramson for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)"

This means that the redemption of a soul was a very serious situation. The death of a soul was for ever. There was no one who was able to redeem another man’s soul, so God prepared a body for himself, and redeemed us himself. The Spirit of God incarnated into the man we know as Jesus. (See Hebrews 10:5,10) We should consider the words of Jesus in John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

Who is Jesus Christ? He was our Creator in the flesh! He was the Great "I AM", who spoke to Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3:1-14. (Especially see verse 14). We will be looking at scriptures pertaining to this in a later chapter.

I say all these things now, because I want the reader to understand, that the Priesthood of Jesus Christ is of a divine nature. Jesus Christ is not a priest of the Levitical Priesthood. He was not a Levite, but he was the Holy biological Son of God with a divine nature. His blood was holy blood. He is a Divine Priest with Deity. He is not just any lamb. He is the Lamb of God. God’s salvation plan for us was of a divine nature, because he could entrust our redemption to none other, because none of us were able or worthy to redeem ourselves, so he sent his only Son into the world to redeem sinners unto himself. The purpose of Jesus Christ was to be a Divine sacrifice for our sins as the Lamb of God on the cross, whose mission was to redeem us unto the Father in Heaven by shedding and offering his own blood for the atonement of our sins. He also sits on the right hand of God making intercession for us unto the Father. These are the things which make him worthy to be called our High Priest in Heaven. I will conclude this chapter with a passage of scripture from Hebrews 4:14-16.

Hebrews 4:14-16 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." See also Hebrews 10:19-22.

The final thought I will leave the reader with in this chapter is that we must repent of our sins, and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior to receive this salvation. Jesus said in Luke 13:3 and 5 that unless we repent we will all perish. God’s salvation plan is offered to us through Jesus Christ, but we must receive it to obtain it. Those who reject his salvation plan will be rejected on judgment day, and they will not receive salvation, but will reap eternal damnation. (See Hebrews 2:3). There are really only two kinds of people in the world. There are those who are saved by believing and receiving Jesus Christ, and those who are not saved, because they have rejected Jesus Christ. (See John 3:16-18) Finally! Jesus Christ makes intercession for the sinner, but Jesus said that he would be ashamed to confess to the Father those who are ashamed to confess him before men in Matthew 10:32:33.

Chapter Ten

A Prophet

This will be a short chapter giving an Old Testament messianic prophecy, which reveals Jesus as a Prophet. This prophecy is found in Deuteronomy 18:15, 18 and 19. This prophecy was given through Moses.

Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, and 19 "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken ...(Skipping to verse 18) ...I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."

Peter quotes from this prophecy, and applies it to Jesus Christ in Acts 3:20-23 "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people."

A prophet is one who is sent by God to deliver the message or words of God. Jesus always said that it was not his words he spoke, but the words of his Father who sent him. God said he would put his words in the mouth of this prophet in the prophecy above. Jesus Christ is actually called the Word of God in Revelation 19:13 and John 1:1.

A prophet is also one who foretells events which will happen in the future. Jesus prophesied beforehand three times in his ministry that he would be crucified. He also prophesied about end times in Matthew chapter 24, Mark chapter 13, and Luke chapter 21, and also a few other places.

A prophet is also one who can be associated with the working of miracles. God turned water into blood through Moses, but Jesus turned water into wine. Elijah prayed for rain, and a cloud came with rain. Jesus commanded the storm to cease, and the weather obeyed him. Elijah also prayed, and a widow’s dead son was brought back to life. Jesus spoke the word, and Lazarus was resurrected from death. There were many more miracles performed through prophets, and Jesus also did many more miracles, but these were just a few examples. Jesus could perform miracles and spoke with authority like Moses. Jesus is also a deliverer, who delivers a sinner from the bondage of sin and the penalty of sin. Jesus came to set the captives free. God delivered the Israelites out of bondage and slavery in Egypt through Moses. The prophecy in Deuteronomy said that the Messiah Jesus would be a Prophet like Moses, and he was, and still is.

Jesus said "A Prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and his own house" in Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:4, Luke 4:24, and John 4:44. He said that after being rejected in his home town of Nazareth, so Jesus considered himself to be a Prophet.

The multitudes called him a Prophet in Matthew 21:11 "And the multitudes said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead in Luke 7:14 and 15, but the next verse in Luke 7:16 reveals the reaction of the people after Jesus did that. Luke 7:16 "And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people." We might consider the words of the people "A great prophet is risen among us" and also "God hath visited his people." Compare those words to the words in Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18 which prophesy that "God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren."

This will conclude this short chapter, but I will finish this chapter by saying that Jesus Christ also came to John showing him revelations, which we read about in the book of Revelation. The whole book of Revelation is about prophecy, so it is evident that Jesus Christ was still prophesying after he had ascended into heaven. Jesus Christ is an anointed King, Priest, and Prophet. He still performs in all of these offices even to this day, and also for ever and forever. He still has all authority over the heavens and the earth. He is still our High Priest in heaven, and he is still performing miracles today. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and he loves all of us very much. He wants us to spend eternity with him, but he wants to clean us from our sins, so we can stand pure before God, because no unclean thing can come into the presence of God. God is Holy! The blood of Jesus is the only thing that can wash us clean from our sins, so we can stand holy in the presence of God. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about! He is our King, Priest, and Prophet, who died on the cross, so we might have eternal life with him, but his blood will only wash away the sins of those who receive him. Those who reject him will die in their sins, and face the judgment of God for their sins. Hebrews 9:27 "And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."

I would like for every reader who reads this book to understand that Jesus Christ knows the pass, present, and future, because he is not subject to time, because all time was created through him. He can look at Adam and Eve, himself on the cross, and see us all with one glimpse. He knows our thoughts and feelings, and he knows our attitudes towards him. He knows the heart and minds of every reader and person on this planet. He will also be the Judge on judgment day! I will end this chapter with some questions for the reader to consider. What will he know and understand about you on judgment day? Have your sins been washed away by his blood, because you have received him? Have you received him?

Don't miss the next chapter about Jesus being the Great I Am who appeared to Moses in the burning Bush in Exodus chapter three. The next chapter will teach about the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Chapter Eleven

The Angel of the Lord – The Great I Am

We will now be looking at scriptures which will illustrate the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will be giving Old Testament scriptures revealing him as the Angel Of The Lord, who appeared to various characters in the Old Testament like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and others. We will be tracing the Angel Of The Lord through Old Testament times and history until we will see him being connected with Jesus Christ himself in Revelation. (Demonstrating that Jesus was the Angel Of The Lord in the Old Testament.

But first I want to give you some New Testament scriptures which I gave in the first chapter of this book regarding Jesus Christ as our Creator, because they reveal his Divinity. Jesus was all man. (Human) Because he was born of a woman. (Mary) But he was also all God in the flesh of a man we call Jesus.

Referring to Jesus John 1:1-3 says: (John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.)

John 1:14 also says: (John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.)

God created everything through His Word, and yet His Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember what John 1:10 says: (John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.)

Also remember the following two scriptures which referring to Jesus say he’s our Creator. (Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.)

(Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son(Jesus), whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.).

Those scriptures above indicate Jesus Christ was our Creator, but they also indicate he pre-existed in Old Testament times, or before Jesus was born. It was the second member of the Trinity who existed at the time of Creation. (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) John 3:17, John 10:36, and John 17:18 all say that the Father sent him into the world, which means he had to be out of the world in the first place.

John 3:13 and John 6:38 both say that he came down from Heaven, which means he was in Heaven in the first place. Perhaps we should consider Proverbs 30:4 which indicates the Son Of God existed in Old Testament times, but also indicates he descends and ascends from and into Heaven. That is exactly what God’s Son did in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was God’s Son in two ways. He was the biological Son of God when Mary conceived. (The man Jesus) But he was also God’s Spiritual Son who always existed through the Old Testament. -à(Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?)

Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:5 and here’s what he prays: (John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.) So Jesus actually indicates here that he had glory with the Father before the world was. Philippians 2:6 referring to Jesus says: (Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.)

In John 17:14, 16 Jesus said: "He’s not of this world" In John 8:58 Jesus said: "Before Abraham was, I Am." So Jesus was indicating he existed before Abraham, and Abraham lived about 2000 years before Jesus was born, so the only way Jesus could have existed before Abraham lived was in the form of the second member of the Trinity. (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Those scriptures clearly teach us that Jesus was more than just a man. He is also the Spiritual Son Of God (Second member of the Trinity) incarnated or manifested into the man we know as Jesus. The man Jesus was born after Mary conceived, but the Spiritual Son Of God always existed.

The Trinity is revealed in Isaiah 48:15, 16. I will put parentheses in this scripture to identify the three members of the trinity. ( Isaiah 48:15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning(Jesus); from the time that it was, there am I(Jesus): and now the Lord GOD(Father), and his Spirit(Holy Spirit), hath sent me(Jesus)). So the Old Testament does mention the Trinity.(Father, Son, Holy Spirit.)

The Trinity is also revealed at the Baptism of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit descending on the Son Jesus in the water, and the Father speaking saying tis is my beloved Son whom I’m well pleased. In Genesis 1:26 God uses the words (us) and(our) when he said let us make man in our image, which would suggest a Trinity.

Also in John 5:17, John 5:30, and John 5:36 we read the Father sending the Son Jesus. In John 15:26 we have the Son Jesus sending the comforter (Holy Spirit) In Acts 13:4,5 we see the Holy Spirit sending Barnabas and Saul. (So we see activity from all three members of the Trinity.)

Here are the scriptures I have been referring to:

(Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.)

(Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.)

(Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.)

(Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.)

The Father Sends The Son (John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.)

(John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.)

(John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.)

The Son Sends The Holy Spirit: John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

The Holy Spirit Sends Barnabas & Saul Acts 13:4 So they,( Barnabas and Saul) being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

So scripture does suggest a Trinity, but now we will be looking at scripture of Christ appearing as the Angel Of The Lord in the Old Testament, and then adventually connecting the Angel Of The Lord to Jesus Christ in Revelation.

Micah 5:2 speaks about the man Jesus who would be born in Bethlehem, but it also speaks about the Spiritual Son Of God whose goings forth have been from Old, which means from old times like in the days of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, etc. It also speaks of them as one person. (Both God and man in one person) This prophecy was given about 725 years before Jesus was born. Matthew 2:6 quotes this prophecy as pertaining to the birth of Jesus.

(Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem(Place Jesus was born) Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;(His pre-existence -à whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.)

The Spiritual Son Of God was active all the way through the Old Testament. First Peter 1:11 says it was the Spirit of Christ who was in the Old Testament Prophets, and prophesied beforehand the sufferings of Christ.

Exodus 3:2-6 and verse 14 speak about "The Angel Of The Lord" and "The Great I AM" In Exodus 3:2-6 below notice that the Angel Of The Lord is God, and he is also the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Notice also that he’s the Great I AM in verse 14. The Angel Of The Lord and the Great I AM are both God, and some Bible Scholars, Bible Commentaries, and Bible Dictionaries speak of The Angel Of The Lord and I AM as being the second member of the Trinity. (Perhaps the form of Christ before His incarnation into the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.) - His name was Yahweh, which was written without vowels (YHWH) in the original Hebrew scriptures. The English or European translation of Yaweh is Jehovah.

The Angel Of The Lord is not just any angel here. He s the Lord himself: (Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.(SKIP TO VERSE 14) 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.)

In Exodus 3:6 above the Angel Of The Lord is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord also appeared to Abraham as The Angel Of The Lord in Genesis Chapter 18, but he took the form of a man Genesis 18:1 says the Lord appeared unto Abraham. Verse 2 says Abraham looked up and saw three men. These three men are the topic of much controversy. These three men are three angels appearing as men.

Some christians believe these three angels are the three members of the Trinity, but most Bible Scholars would say be careful, because John 1:18 says that no man has ever seen God. We have to assume that there’s part of God that man hasn’t seen, and we would have to say that man has seen all of God if these three angels represented the Trinity. Some Bible Scholars prefer to believe that one of these angels was the Lord, and the other two were just two other angels. Hebrew 13:2 speaks about entertaining angels unaware. Perhaps the author of Hebrews had this scripture in mind when he wrote those words. – (Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.)

The reader should remember and have in mind the last phrase in Micah 5:2 which said "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" as we follow The Angel Of The Lord through the Old Testament.

The Angel Of The Lord appeared to Hagar in Genesis 16:7 and 21:17. Hagar called him Lord and referred to him as God in Genesis 16:13. (Genesis 16:7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go?.... (SKIP TO VERSE 13) 13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? - (Genesis 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.)

The Angel Of The Lord called out to Abraham in Genesis 22:15, and said "By myself have I sworn, saith the the Lord." Again! The Angel Of The Lord refers to himself as the Lord. (Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son.)

The Angel Of The Lord appears to Jacob in a dream in Genesis 31:11, and he says in verse 13 "I am the God of Bethel" - ( Genesis 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.)

Jacob wrestles with a man in Genesis 32:24-30. The man he wrestled with was the Angel Of The Lord, because in verse 30 Jacob said he seen the face of God referring to the man he was wrestling with. Hosea 12:4 refers back to when Jacob wrestled with this man, and says it was an angel that he wrestled with. The Angel Of The Lord once again taking the form of man.

( Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved) ---- (Hosea 12:4 Yea, he (Jacob) had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; 5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.)

We now have followed The Angel Of The Lord through the book of Genesis, and this brings us back to Exodus chapter 3 where the Angel Of The Lord appeared to Moses as the Great I AM. But now we'll go beyond Exodus chapter 3. God told Moses he wanted Moses to lead his people (Israel) out of bondage from Egypt. Moses went on to lead Israel out of bondage from Egypt, and God speaks to Moses in Exodus 23:20,21 and says the following: (Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.)

Notice in verse 21 above, where it says ("he will not pardon your transgressions") Only the Lord can forgive sins, so the Angel who led Israel was the Lord himself. Isaiah 63:8 refers back to Exodus, and in verse 9 defines the Angel above as ("The Angel Of His Presence") Notice also that in verse 9 below that it uses the same terminology "days of old", just like Micah 5:2 did, when referring to the Angel Of The Lord.( Isaiah 63:8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.)

Isaiah most likely had Exodus 33:14 in mind when the Lord said: ("My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest") (Exodus 33:14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest) (Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.)

The Angel Of The Lord delt with Balaam starting with Numbers 22:22. The reader can read about God's dealings with Balaam in Numbers chapters 22, 23, 24.(Numbers 22:22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:......The reader can read more about this from the Bible itself. I was just giving this reference as another example of the Angel Of the Lord.)

The Angel Of the Lord appeared to Joshua at Jericho in Joshua 5:13-15, where the Angel Of the Lord appears as a man and says that he's the: ("Captain of the Lord's Host") In Revelation 19:10 John fell to the feet of an angel to worship him, but the angel told John not to worship him, for he was John's fellow servant. John wasn't suppose to worship the angel he saw in Revelation 19:10 because it was just an angel.(Not the Lord himself) But Joshua worshiped this Angel, because this Angel had Deity, because this Angel was the Lord Himself. (Also notice in verse 15 that the Angel Of the Lord told Joshua to ( "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.') That's the same thing the Angel Of The lord said to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:5)

( Joshua 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.)

Other appearances of The Angel Of The Lord

(Judges 2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.)

In Judges 6:11-24 the Angel Of The Lord appeared unto Gideon. Notice in verse 24, that it says:("Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom") -

("Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites)

In Judges 13:3-22 the Angel Of The Lord appeared unto Monoah's wife, and told her that she would conceive and bear a son. Samson was the name of her son. Manoah and his wife were the parents of Samson. In verse 22 Manoah says ("we have seen God")

David writes in: (Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.) - (Psalms 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.) Isaiah writes in: (Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.)

In Daniel 3:23-25 we can read how King Nebuchadnezzar(King of Babylon) made a golden image, and he commanded all people to bow down and worship his image. Whosoever would not bow down and worship the image would be cast into the furnace of fire. There were three Godly men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedego) who wouldn't bow down and worship his image. So King Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to have Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedego cast into the furnace of fire, because they wouldn't bow down to worship his image. He also ordered to have the furnace seven times hotter than it was before.

In Daniel 3: 23-25 King Nebuchadnezzar looks into the furnace of fire and sees four men instead of just the three he had cast in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedego. In verse 25 he said the fourth man was liken unto the Son Of God. But in Daniel 3:28 he said it was The Angel Of The Lord who delivered them. (Daniel 3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God SKIP TO VERSE 28. Notice where he said it was the Angel Of The lord who delivered them 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. (So we can see that the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedego was like the Son of God and the Angel Of The Lord.)

Now we will look at a couple of scriptures that will connect The Angel Of The Lord directly to Jesus Christ, whereas Jesus himself says in Revelation 1:18: (" I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death") Jesus Christ was alive then crucified , and then rose from the dead, and is alive for evermore.

The reader should read Daniel 7:13,14 and Daniel 10:4-6 , and compare them with Revelation 1:12-18. Because Revelation Chapter one is Jesus Christ himself who appeared to John, but has the same identical description as the the person Daniel sees in Daniel 7:13,14 and Daniel 10:4-6. I believe John and Daniel both saw the same person. Jesus Christ as the Angel Of the Lord.

(Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be dest)

(Daniel 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz 6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.) Now Compare To Revelation 1:12-18 Below. Where John Describes What He Seen About Jesus Christ.

(Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.)

In Matthew 17, Mark chapter 9, and Luke chapter 9 Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, where Moses and Elijah appeared with him. I believe Jesus was transfigured into The Angel Of The Lord Whom he really is through Old Testament times.(Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.)

(Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.)

(Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias)

So who is Jesus Christ? He is The Angel Of The Lord (Yahweh Or Jehovah) who appeared throughout the Old Testament, as as the Great I Am in Exodus 3:14.

He is: "I am the Bread of Life in John 6:35"

He is: "I am the Light of the world in John 8:12"

He is: "I am the Door in John 10:9

He is: "I am the Good Shepherd in John 10,11,14'

He is: "I am the Resurrection and the Life in John 11:25"

He is: "I am the Way, the, Truth, and the Life in John 14:6"

He is: "I am the True Vine in John 15:1"

He is: "I am With You Always in Matthew 28:20"

He is: "I am the First and the Last in Revelation 1.17'

He is: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" in Revelation 22:13.

I am! I am! I am! Because he is the Great I AM. Also! In Mark 14:61,62 the high priest asked him if he was the Christ and the Son of the Blessed. Jesus replied in verse 62: ("I am") Jesus said in John 8:58 ("Before Abraham was I am")

We will finish this teaching by planting in the reader's mind the words of Jesus in John 8:24 ("Unless you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins.") Remember also two other scriptures which reflect the words of Jesus and the Angel Of The Lord.

(John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.)

(Psalms 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me)

May God bless the mind and heart of all the readers who read this book. Sincerely & Affectionately! Jeffrey L. Girling