Prophecy Outline 3
Fulfilled Prophecy
Introduction
- Before considering the Bible's prophecies about events yet future, let us consider some of it's past prophecies
- This is necessary for two reasons:
- To determine if its prophecies about events yet future are trustworthy
- To determine how to interpret its prophecies about events yet future
- Please note that the vast majority of Biblical prophecy concerns either the First Coming of Christ (and His subsequent ministry, death, resurrection and ascension) or the Second Coming of Christ (and His subsequent reign on the earth). As always, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10)
World Events
- Israel - Gen 12:1-3
- The Babylonian Captivity - Jer 25:11f
- Tyre - Ezk 26:3-5
- Jerusalem - Mt 24:2; Lk 21:24
- World empires - Dan 2,7-8
Christ
- First coming - Gen 3:15; 12:3; Num 24:17; Gen 49:10; 1 Chr 17:11ff; Jer 22:28-30; Isa 7:14; Mic 5:2
- Early life - Hos 11:1; Jer 31:15 (cf. Mt 2:15-18)
- Ministry - Isa 40:3; 9:1f; 61:1f; 35:4-6; Ps 118:22f; Jer 7:11; Isa 53:3
- Triumphal entry - Zec 9:9
- Betrayal - Ps 41:9; Zec 11:12f
- Crucifixion - Ps 22; Isa 52:14; 53; Ps 34:20; Zec 12:10
- Resurrection - Ps 16:10
- Ascension - Ps 110:1; Ps 68:18
- Present Ministry - Zec 6:9-13; Ps 110
The Importance of Fulfilled Prophecy
- Proves that Christ is who He claims to be
- Shows that prophecy is centred on Christ
- Proves that the Bible is the word of God
- Proves that the Bible's prophecies about events yet future are trustworthy
- Proves that we are to interpret biblical prophecy literally
- If the prophecies concerning His First Coming were all fulfilled literally, surely we must accept that the prophecies concerning His Second Coming will also be fulfilled literally - especially since the prophecies frequently occur together (e.g. Isa 9:6-7; Zec 9:9-10; Mic 5:1-5)