The kingdom of God: 6 | The King Foretold

The Old Testament prophets consistently spoke of the coming of a Messiah & King, and of the future deliverance and Kingdom He would bring. The first prophecy announcing a coming deliverer is found in Genesis 3:15. Hundreds of years later prophecies added details about who He would be, how and where he would be born, that he would suffer, die and be raised again.

More than one hundred prophecies were fulfilled through the birth and life of Jesus (his first advent), while many more await fulfilment at His second coming (the theological word often used for his 2nd coming is ‘Parousia’).

The following is a list of forty-five of the most significant messianic prophecies that were fulfilled during the first advent of Christ [mfn] thanks to Mark Hitchcock for this list from his book, ‘The End’[/mfn]

1. He was born of a woman – Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4
2. He was a descendant of Abraham – Genesis 12:3, 7; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16
3. He was of the tribe of Judah – Genesis 49:10; Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5
4. He was of the house or family of David – 2 Samuel 7:12–13; Luke 1:31–33; Romans 1:3
5. He was born of a virgin – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22–23
6. He was called Immanuel – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
7. He had a forerunner – Isaiah 40:3–5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1–3; Luke 1:76–78
8. He was born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5–6; Luke 2:4–6
9. He was worshiped by wise men and given gifts – Psalm 72:10–11; Isaiah 60:3, 6, 9; Matthew 2:11
10. He was in Egypt for a season – Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15
11. His birthplace was a place where infants were slaughtered – Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16–18
12. He was zealous for the Father – Psalm 69:9; John 2:17; John 6:37–40
13. He was filled with God’s Spirit – Isaiah 11:2; Luke 4:18–19
14. He was a mighty healer – Isaiah 35:5–6; 61:1; Matthew 8:16–17
15. He ministered to the Gentiles – Isaiah 9:1–2; 42:1–3; Matthew 4:13–16; 12:17–21
16. He spoke in parables – Isaiah 6:9–10; Matthew 13:10–15
17. He was rejected by the Jewish people – Psalm 69:8; Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11; 7:5
18. He made a triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey – Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4–5
19. He was praised by little children – Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16
20. He was the rejected cornerstone – Psalm 118:22–23; Matthew 21:42
21. His miracles were not believed – Isaiah 53:1; John 12:37–38
22. He was betrayed by His friend for thirty pieces of silver – Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 11:12–13; Matthew 26:14–16, 21–25
23. He was a Man of Sorrows – Isaiah 53:3; Matthew 26:37–38
24. He was forsaken by His disciples – Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31, 56
25. He was beaten and spit upon – Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67; 27:26
26. His betrayal money was used to purchase a potter’s field – Zechariah 11:12–13; Matthew 27:9–10
27. He was executed by means of piercing His hands and feet – Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34, 37
28. He was crucified between criminals – Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38
29. He was given vinegar to drink – Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34
30. His garments were divided, and soldiers gambled for them – Psalm 22:18; Luke 23:34
31. He was surrounded and ridiculed by enemies – Psalm 22:7–8; Matthew 27:39–44
32. He was thirsty on the cross – Psalm 22:15; John 19:28
33. He commended His spirit to the Father – Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46
34. He uttered a forsaken cry on the cross – Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46
35. He committed Himself to God – Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46
36. He was hated without a cause – Psalm 69:4; John 15:25
37. People shook their heads as they saw Him on the cross – Psalm 109:25; Matthew 27:39
38. He was silent before His accusers – Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12
39. His bones were not broken – Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; John 19:33–36
40. He was stared at in death – Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 27:36; John 19:37
41. He was buried with the rich – Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57–60
42. He was raised from the dead – Psalm 16:10; Matthew 28:2–7
43. He was and is a High Priest greater than Aaron – Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:4–6
44. He ascended to glory – Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:8
45. He was and is seated at the right hand of the Father – Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 10:12–13

The statistical probability of any one person fulfilling every Old Testament prophecy concerning the Christ is virtually impossible, especially when you consider it involves where he was to be born! [mfn]A quick google search can help you with the math if you’re especially interested[/mfn] This is what makes the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus so miraculous! Only God could pull it off!

Through prophets and angels, from the time of Adam up until the day Jesus was born, God was making it known that the King was coming and that he was coming with a mission to suffer and die, and to be raised from the dead for the salvation of those he loved; us.

a prophetic king -dom

If you recall in the first part of this series we explored the origin of the word ‘Kingdom’, how the suffix -dom refers to a ‘decree, law, edict’, and when attached to the word King, shows us we’re referring to the decrees, laws and edicts of the King. So the word ‘Kingdom’ came into use to describe the area, region or territory that was submitted not only to a ruling monarch, but where the words of the King are law; in short, it’s where the words of the King are sovereign.

God’s Kingdom is built through his word just as creation was formed through the words of God[mfn] Just consider how many times in Genesis 1 we’re told, and God said, there there be… and it was so[/mfn]. And the Word of God as we’ve seen above is prophetic, and so is his Kingdom. We must understand that when God speaks, he prophesies, he speaks into existence things that do not exists yet, and he talks about the ‘not-yet’ realities of the future as if they were ‘already'[mfn]Romans 4:17[/mfn]. This is why many of the prophets spoke of Jesus future suffering as though it was a present or even past reality. In God’s mind, it was already done by virtue of him saying it was. His word is Sovereign.

God spoke through the Old Testament about the coming of Jesus, and he has spoken throughout both the Old and New Testaments about Jesus second coming, the Parousia. We, however, live in the most exciting time in human history, we live between the two comings. We live knowing that he came, and yet knowing that he will come. Just as the prophets of old announced the first coming of Jesus, it is now entrusted to us, the Church, to faithfully declare and prophesy that he is indeed coming again. But what are we to do while we eagerly await that day? We are to live as citizens of Heaven[mfn]Philippians 3:20[/mfn], and as Ambassadors of the Kingdom[mfn]2 Corinthians 5:20[/mfn]. Just what that means will be the subject we’ll pick up in the next few posts.