The Way

Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus

Draft, under review

Christians across the centuries have confessed together that Jesus will return in the same way He was seen going into heaven (Acts 1:11): bodily, visibly and in glory, to raise the dead, judge the world and make all things new. Faithful, Bible-believing Christians differ on the details of the millennium, the timing of the rapture and how to read Revelation. Here each main view is presented in its strongest form, with its own key texts. These are secondary matters. Hold them with conviction and charity, and do not break fellowship over them.

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  1. Which Old Testament prophecies did Jesus fulfill?

    • Luke 24:25–27

      25Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

    • Luke 24:44–47

      44Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” 45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, Keep reading

    • Acts 3:18

      18But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.

  2. What does Isa 53 describe?

    • Isa 52:13–53:12

      13Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness— 15so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.

    • Acts 8:30–35

      30So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. Keep reading

    • 1 Pet 2:22–25

      22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” 23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. 24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” Keep reading

  3. Was Jesus' birth foretold?

    The Hebrew word in Isa 7:14, almah, means a young woman of marriageable age (compare Gen 24:43; Exod 2:8). It is not the narrower technical word betulah, but it is never used in the Old Testament of a married woman. The Septuagint, translated before Christ, rendered it parthenos (virgin). Matthew, writing under the Spirit's inspiration, quotes that wording and tells us authoritatively what the prophecy meant (Matt 1:22-23). Many faithful interpreters see a near sign given to Ahaz (Isa 7:15-16) and a full fulfillment in Christ. Others read the verse as directly and only about Christ (cf. Isa 9:6-7). Either way the virgin birth stands firm (Luke 1:34-35). It is a doctrine of historic Christian orthodoxy, not a secondary matter.

    • Mic 5:2

      2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

    • Isa 7:14

      14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

    • Matt 1:22–23

      22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

    • Matt 2:4–6

      4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

    • Luke 1:26–35

      26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Keep reading

    • Isa 9:6–7

      6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.