Sunday, January 25, 2009

Evidence 3: The Probability of Fulfilled Prophecy


Evidence 3
FUFILLED PROPHECY

  • An astonishing 668 prophecies have been fulfilled and none have ever been proven false . An honest study of biblical prophecy will compellingly show the divine authorship of the Bible.

  • Jesus fulfilled over 300 messianic prophecies written in the Old Testament scriptures.


  • There are 2,000 prophecies that discuss past events which have come to pass (proven correct), future prophecies and 300 prophecies (ALL proven correct and detailed) on the implications about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.


There has been no prophetic failures in the Bible

  • While there are both obvious and subtle prophecies, most are very detailed and specific.

  • No other religion has specific, repeated, and unfailing fulfillment of predictions many years in advance of contingent events over which the predictor had no control.

  • Studies of psychics show only around 8% of their predictions come true and virtually all of these can be attributed to chance and a general knowledge of circumstances.

  • Mathematicians have calculated the odds of Jesus fulfilling only 8 of the Messianic prophecies as 1 out of 1017 (a 1 followed by 17 zeros). This is equivalent to covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars 2 feet deep, marking one of them, mixing them all up and having a blind-folded person select the marked one at random the first time.




CALCULATED STATISTICS

Fulfilled prophecy is powerful evidence that the Bible is divine rather than human in origin.
The Messiah would have had 456 identifying characteristics. These are told to us through the Prophecies of the Old Testemant. In Fact, Jesus fulfilled them all.


I. Prophecy Odds 10 to 5th Power (1 Chance in 100,000) Jesus would be born in Bethlehem

II. Prophecy Odds- 10 To the 2nd Power (1 in 10,000) Jesus would be a Descendant of David

III. Prophecy Odds 10 to the 5th Power (1 Chance in 100,000) Jesus would be a miracle Worker

IV. Prophecy Odds 10 to the 6th Power (1 Chance in 1,000,000) Jesus would present himself as a King riding on a donkey

V. Prophecy Odds 10 to the 6th Power (1 Chance in 1,000,000) Jesus would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver

VI. Prophecy Odds 10 to the 6th Power (1 Chance in 1,000,000) Jesus would be Crucified

VII. Prophecy Odds 10 to the 6th Power (1 Chance in 1,000,000) Jesus would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree of Artazerxes to rebuild Jerusalem

- Total Probability without GOD 10 to the 38 Power - (1 Chance in 100 BILLION, BILLION, BILLION, BILLION)-(4 Billions)

-Professor Emeritus of Science at Westmont College, Peter Stoner, has calculated the probability of one man fulfilling the major prophecies made concerning the Messiah. Twelve different classes representing some 600-university students worked out the estimates. 1 in (10 157POWER) that one man could fulfill even 48 (F O U R T Y - e i g h t ) of these Old Testament prophecies.
The chances of one person fulfilling 48 of the over 300 prophecies is one chance in a (trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion,trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion.)Yet Jesus Christ fulfilled over 300 (O v e r T h r e e H U N D R E D !)

Finally, he submitted his figures for review to a committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. Upon examination,
they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented (Peter Stoner, Science Speaks, Chicago: Moody Press, 1969, 4).




Evidence 3. PROPHECY OUT Of JESUS'S CONTROL

  • Jesus DID NOT manipulate events to fulfill prophecy.
  • Many prophecies were out of his control (ancestry, place of birth, time of death).
  • His miracles confirmed Jesus to be the Messiah.
  • There is no evidence that Jesus was a deceiver.
  • In order to manipulate all the people (including his enemies) and even his disciples to make it appear that he was the Messiah, Jesus would have needed supernatural powers. If he had such powers, he must have been the Messiah he claimed to be.
(a) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance - The Place of the Messiah’s birth (Micah 5:2).

(b) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance –The Date of the Messiah’s birth (Daniel 9:25).

(c) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance - Manner of birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14).

(d) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance - The Manner of death of the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22:16 prophesied before the invention of crucifixion).

(e) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance -Piercing in side of that Messiah After He was Dead(Zechariah 12:10).
(f) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance – The Details of the Burial of the Messiah(Isaiah 53:9).

(g) Jesus Christ Could NOT Control In Advance - Executers dividing up Jesus’s clothes after he died on the cross

Evidence 3: Fulfilled Prophecy NON Messianic Prophecies

The Succession of Great World Kingdoms (Daniel 2:37-42) Even negative critics agree that Daniel foretold the governments in order of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome TODAY. In Daniel 2:1-3 His dream gives us a “disclosure of God’s plan for the ages till the final triumph of Christ” and “presents the foreordained succession of world powers that are to dominate the Near East till the final victory of the Messiah in the last days” (Expositor’s Bible, pp. 39, 46).


Daniels 69 Weeks The accuracy of Daniel's prophecies of remotely distant events is spectacular. The "70 weeks" prophecy recorded in Daniel 9: 24- 27 "Daniel predicts the precise year of Christ's appearance and the beginning of his ministry in A.D 27" (The Expositor's Bible commentary, pg 9)

Cyrus King of Persia (Isaiah 44:28-45:1). Since Isaiah lived between about 740 and 690 BC and Cyrus did not make his proclamation for Israel to return from exile until about 536 (Ezra 1), there would have been no human way for him to know what Cyrus would be named or what Cyrus would do.

Israel to Be Returned to Its Land A Second Time (Isaiah 11:11-12). The first time God reclaimed a people was from Egypt through the Exodus; the second time is from the Babylonian Exile (Isaiah 51:9-11)


The Closing of the Golden Gate (Ezekiel 44:2-3). The Golden Gate is the eastern gate of Jerusalem, through which Christ made his triumphal entry on Palm Sunday before the crucifixion (Matthew 21). Ezekiel predicted its closing and in 1543 Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent closed the gate and walled it up, not knowing he was fulfilling prophecy. It remains sealed to this day exactly as the Bible predicted.


The Destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26:3-14). The prophecy was partly fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and left it in ruins. Alexander the Great later attacked the seemingly impregnable Island of Tyre by taking the stones, dust, and timber from the ruined mainland city to build a causeway to the Island. This prophecy is comparable to saying that Chicago will be destroyed and never rebuilt.

The Doom of Edom (Petra) (Jeremiah 49:15-17). Given the virtually impregnable nature of the ancient city carved out of rock and protected by a narrow passageway, this was an incredible prediction. Yet, in 636 AD it was conquered by Muslims and today stands deserted but for tourists.


Flourishing of the Desert in Palestine (Ezekiel 36:33-35). Since before the turn of the twentieth century, Israel has been renovated and Israel's agriculture is flourishing.


Destruction of Jerusalem (Mark 13:1-2). Fulfilled literally when the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem and the temple buildings. According to historian and eyewitness Josephus, some of the stones were 37 feet long, 12 feet high and 18 feet wide. Stones were even pried apart to collect the gold leaf that melted from the roof when the temple was set on fire.
Evidence 2:The Testimony of Fulfilled Prophecy IN OUR TIME! The Bible is talking about OUR DAY!



PROPHECY of coming events in our day:


(Reference: Ray Comfort)

i. The rebirth of Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple.Did you know that no nation that has ceased to exist has EVER come back into being after 2000 years of not being a nation? The Bible says that Israel would come back in the end times and that the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. See Ezekiel 37, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 11 For information on the rebuilding of the temple, go here and click on "Preparations for the Rebuilding of the Temple":[link to
http://www.christian.tv/]

ii. The rebirth of the Roman Empire.-See Daniel 2, Daniel 7 - THIS is HAPPENING

iii. The Bible foretold that we would have to have a mark on our right hand or our forehead to buy or sell. - Revelation 13 John describes a one-world government with cashless money system that worked with a mark on each person's hand or forehead. "How did John know?"http://www.greaterthings.com/News/Chip_Implants/index.html


iv. The Bible foretold that there would be an army of 200 million. Before the 20th century the population of the world was such that an army of that magnitude was inconceivable.- Revelation 9:13-19 (18) John describes an army of two hundred million soldiers that will cross the Euphrates river from the east. At that time there weren't even two hundred million people on the earth let alone in one army. Today China boasts of an army of two hundred million soldiers. John describes this army as riding on horses with breastplates and of which out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. They had power in their tails and were used to kill a third of mankind. It sounds like John is describing modern day warfare with tanks. He called them horses because that was the only mode of transportation then.

v. False Bible teachers would be money hungry. They would be smooth talkers, have many followers, and slur the Christian faith (2 Peter 2:1-3) See some at: Fakemessiah.com

vi. Homosexuality would be increasingly evident at the end of the age (2 Timothy 3:3)

vii. Earthquakes would be in diverse places (Matthew 24:7)

viii. Stress would be part of living (2 Timothy 3:1)

ix. Many wars would erupt (Matthew 24:6)

x. People would forsake the Ten Commandments as a moral code, committing adultery, stealing, lying, and killing (Matthew 24:12)

xi. There would be a cold religious system, in denying God's power (2 Timothy 3:5)

xii. Men would substitute fantasy in place of Christian truth (2 Timothy 4:4). This is so evident at Christmas when the birth of the Savior is lost behind the myth of Santa Claus.

xiii. Deadly diseases would be prevalent (Matthew 24:7). The worldwide increase in AIDS deaths is almost inestimable. Over 160,000 Americans die of cancer each year.

xiv. The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic flood) would be denied (2 Peter 3:5-6 There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by the scientific world because of its uncanny implication.

xv. The institution of marriage would be forsaken by many (1 Timothy 4:3)

xvi. There would be an increase in famines (Matthew 24:7)

xvii. Increase in vegetarianism would increase (1 Timothy 4:3-4)

xviii. There would be a cry for peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

xix. The possession of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil (Zechariah 12:3)

xx. Knowledge would increase (Daniel 12:4)

xxi. There would be hypocrites within the Church (Matthew 13:25-30)

xxii. There would be an increase of religious cults/false teachers (Matthew 24:11 & 24)

xxiii. The future would seem fearful to many (Luke 21:26)

xxiv. Humanity would become materialistic (2 Timothy 3:4)

xxv. There would be many involved in travel (Daniel 12:4)

xxvi. The Christian Gospel would be preached as a warning to all nations (Matthew 24:14)

xxvii. Jesus said Christians would be hated "for His name's sake" (Matthew 24:9)

xxviii. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26).

xxix. Youth would become rebellious. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy (2 Timothy 3:2)

xxx. Men would mock the warning signs of the end of the age saying, "for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Peter 3:4). The Bible even reveals their motivation, they love lust (verse 3).
They fail to understand that a day to the Lord is as a thousand years to us. God is not subject to the time that He created. He can flick through time as we flick through the pages of a history book. The reason He seems to be silent, is because He is patiently waiting, not willing that any perish, but that all come to repentance.

xxxi. Zechariah 14:12-16 (19) Describes a battle which God will use to judge the nations (compare with Revelation 19:17-21 (20)). He describes the "plague" like this: "Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." This sounds gory but we can't escape the similarities to the destruction of people by nuclear warfare and fallout or biological or chemical warfare. How did Zechariah know? There was nothing comparable to this at all in his day. The most likely explanation is that God, who can see the future, told him, thus verifying the Bible.


Evidence 3
JESUS CHRIST FULLFILLED OVER 300 Prophecies FORTOLD BEFORE HE WAS BORN Found In the Old Testament Scriptures


1. Messiah to be the seed of the Woman Claimed in Genesis 3:15 Fullfilled in Luke 2:5-7 & Galatians 4:4


2. Messiah to be the seed of Abraham Claimed in Genesis 12:2-3, 18:18 Fulfilled in Matthew 1: 1-2, Luke 3:34, Acts 3: 25 Galatians 3:16


3. Messiah to be of the tribe of Judah Found in Genesis 49:10 Fulfilled in Matthew 1:1-2


4. Messiah to be of the seed of David- 2 Samuel 7:16 , Psalm 132:11 , Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15 Fulfilled in Matthew 1:6, 22:42-45 ,Luke 1:31-33 Acts 2:29-30 , Romans 1:3


5. Messiah to be born of a virgin Found in Isaiah 7:14, Fullfulled in Matthew 1:18-25 , Luke 1:26-38


6. Messiah to be born in Bethlehem, Found in Micah 5:2, Fullfilled in Matthew 2:1-6 , Luke 2:4-6


7. Tribute paid to Messiah by great kings Found in Psalm 72:10-11, Fullfilled in Matthew 2:1-11


8. He will be a priest after the order of Melchisedek (Melchisedec) (Psalm 110:4). Fulfilled: Hebrews 5:6


9. He will come while the Temple of Jerusalem is standing ( Malachi 3:1; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 9:26; Zechariah 11:13; Haggai 2:7-9). Fulfilled: Matthew 21:12, etc. (Note: The Temple did not exist at certain periods in Jewish history, and it was finally destroyed in 70 AD.

10. He will perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6).


11. He will open the eyes of the blind (Isa. 29:18). Fulfillment: Matt 9:27-31; 12:22; 20:29; Mark 8:22-26; 10:46; Luke 11:14; 18:35; John 9:1-7.


12. He will speak in parables (Psalm 78:2). Fulfillment: Matthew 13:34, etc.


13. The Gentiles will believe in Him, while His own people (the Jews) will reject him ( Isaiah 8:14; 28:16; 49:6; 50:6; 60:3; Psalms 22:7-8; 118:22). Fulfillment: 1 Peter 2:7, etc.
14. A messenger (a man of the wilderness) will prepare the way for Him (Isa. 40:3; Malachi 3:1). See John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17).


15. He will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey (the colt of an ass) (Zechariah 9:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 21:5; Luke 19:32-37.


16. He will be hated for no reason (Psalm 69:4). Fulfillment: John 15:25.


17. He will be betrayed (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.


18. More specifically, He will be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10; 26:47-48.


19. The price of his betrayal will be thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.


20. The betrayal money will be cast onto the floor (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:5.


21. More specifically, it will be cast onto the floor of the Temple (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:3-10.


22. The betrayal money will be used to buy a potter's field (Zech. 11:13). Fulfillment: Matt. 27:6-10.


23. He will not open his mouth to defend himself (Isaiah 53:7). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:12.


24. He will be beaten and spit upon (Isaiah 50:6). Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67; 27:26-30.


25. He will be "numbered with the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12). Fulfillment: Jesus was crucified as a criminal in between two thieves (Mat 27:38).


26. He will be pierced (Zechariah 12:10). Fulfillment: John 19:34


27. His hands and feet will be pierced (Psalm 22:16; cf. Zechariah 12:10; Galatians 3:13).


28. Crucifixion foretold. Psalm 22 graphically prophecies the Messiah's manner of death. At the time the psalm was written (and long after), the penalty for blasphemy was stoning. However, at the time Jesus was condemned by the Sanhedrin, it no longer had the legal right to put people to death. Thus, the case was taken to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate who crucified him according to Roman custom (see: Crucifixion).


29. His bones will not be broken (Psalm 34:20; Exodus 12 states that the Passover lamb's bones are not to be broken.). Fulfillment: John 19:33.


30. They will divide his clothing and cast lots for them (Psalm 22:18). Fulfillment: John 19:23-24.



31. He will be given vinegar and gall to drink (Psalm 69:21). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34, 48.


32. He will say: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1). Fulfillment: Matthew 27:46.



33. He will be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9). Fulfillment: Matthew 27.


34. He will not decay (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31


35. He will be resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:10). Fulfillment: Acts 2:31, etc. See: "Resurrection of Christ".


36. He will ascend into heaven (Psalm 68:18). Fulfillment: Acts 1:9.


37. He will be seated at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1). Fulfillment: Hebrews 1:3.


38. He will be the Son of God (Psa. 2:7). Fulfilled: Matthew 3:17, etc.


39. Messiah to be heralded by a messenger Isaiah 40:3 Malachi 3:1 Fullfillment : Matthew 3:1-3

40. Messiah to be the Son of God Psalm 2:2,7 Fulfilled Matthew 3:17 Luke 1:32-33


41. Messiah to be anointed by the Holy Spirit Isaiah 11:2 Fullfilled Matthew 3:16-17


42. Galilee to be the first area of Messiah's ministry Isaiah 9:1-7 Fulfilled Matthew 4:12-16


43. Messiah to be meek and mild Isaiah 40:11, 42:2-3, 53:7 Fulfilled Matthew 12:18-20, 26:62-68

44. Messiah to minister to the Gentiles Isaiah 42:1, 49:6-8 Fullfilled Matthew 12:21Luke 2:28-32


45. Messiah will perform miracles Isaiah 35:5-6 Fullfilled Matthew 9:35, 11:3-6, John 9:6-7

46. Messiah to be a prophet like Moses Deuteronomy18:15-19 Fullfilled Matthew 21:11, 24:1-35, John 1:45, 6:14, Acts 3:20-23


47. Messiah to enter the temple with authority Malachi 3:1-2 Fullfilled - Matthew 21:12


48. Messiah will enter Jerusalem on a donkey Zechariah 9:9-10 Fullfilled Matthew 21:1-11

49. Messiah to be betrayed by a friend Psalm 41:9 Fullfilled John 13:18-21


50. Messiah to be forsaken by his disciples Zechariah 13:7 Fullfilled Matthew 26:31, 56



51. Messiah will be smitten (struck) Isaiah 50:6 Fullfilled Matthew 26:67, 27:26,30



52. Messiah to experience crucifixion (long before crucifixion was invented) Psalm 22:15-17 Fullfilled Matthew 27:34-50 John 19:28-30


53. Messiah will be pierced Zechariah 12:10 Fullfilled in John 19:34-37


54. Details of Messiah's suffering and death and resulting salvation (hundreds of years before Christ!)


55. Messiah to die in 33 AD Daniel 9:24-26 33 AD is the widely accepted historical date of the crucifixion


56. Casting of lots for His garments Psalm 22:18 Fullfilled in John 19:23-24


57. Messiah to be raised from the dead Psalm 16:10 Fullfilled Acts 2:25-31, 13:32-37, 17:2-3


58. Messiah's resurrection Job 19:25Psalm 16:10 Fullfilled Acts 2:30-31, 13:32-35, 17:2-3 - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22


59. Messiah to ascend to heaven Psalm 68:18 Fullfilled Luke 24:51 Acts 1:9 Ephesians 4:8-13


60. Messiah to be at the right hand of God Psalm 110:1 Matthew 26:64 Mark 14:62 Romans 8:34 Hebrews 1:3


61. He would be like a lamb going to the slaughter.(Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:26-35)


62. He is King of the Jews (and the world).(Psalm 2:6; John 18:33,37; 19:19-22)


63. He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6; John 7:42) BUT He would be from Nazareth and be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2:23; Luke 1:26-27; John 1:45; Judges 13:5-7,24)


64. The exact time of His crucifixion was known (483 years from the decree to build the temple, which was around 444 B.C.E.). (Daniel 9:25; Nehemiah 2:1-8; 5:14)


65. He would be circumcised the eighth day according to the law of purification. (Luke 2:21-24; Leviticus 12:1-6)


66. He would go to Egypt and return to the land of Israel.(Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:13-15)


67. Young babies would die in an attempt to kill Yeshua at His birth.(Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)


68. The ministry of Yeshua would be in Galilee.(Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:12-16,23)


69. He would not seek publicity.(Isaiah 42:1-2; Matthew 12:15-19; 9:30; 8:4)


70. He can be trusted and would be compassionate.(Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:15,20-21)


71. No evil words would proceed from His mouth. (Isaiah 53:9; Luke 23:41; 1 Peter 2:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21)


72. His disciples would forsake Him.(Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31-35,56)


73. There was nothing physically beautiful in Him to be desired.(Isaiah 53:2; Psalm 22:6; Mark 6:1-3; Philippians 2:7)


74. He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.(Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-16)


75. He would be nailed to a tree.(Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Psalm 22:16; John 19:18; 20:25)


76. He would be mocked.(Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:39-43)


77. He would be spit upon.(Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67, 27:30)


78. Not one bone would be broken. (JESUS Died before they had to break his bones. The guards broke the other two men’s legs on the cross in order for them to die before Passover)(Psalm 34:20; John 19:33,36)


79. He would be pierced.(Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34,37)


80. He would die.(Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:50)


81. Others would rise from the dead with Him. (Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:8; Matthew 27:52-53)

82. He would rise the third day from the grave.(Jonah 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:45-46; Matthew 12:40)