God’s Prophecies for the Birth of Christ Part 2

God’s Prophecies for the Birth of Christ Part 2

God promised that there would come One in David’s line–and this prediction was a thousand years before Christ was born. 

Num. 24:17 , (1450-1410 B.C.) A Star out of Jacob (Israel). A scepter (kingdom) shall rise out of Israel. This is how the wise men knew connected the Star with The King.

2 Samuel 7: 14 ,(1000 B.C.) And Ps. 89 Davidic covenant and 1 Chronicles 17: 11, (500 B.C.) And Jer. 23:5, Davidic covenant.

Remember that Jesus had to be out of David’s lineage. No member of the family of David was living in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. David’s people were scattered all over, and one family lived in Nazareth, but that is not Bethlehem. Now both Mary and Joseph happen to be from the lineage of David. They both could trace their lineage back to David, but through different sons of David. Mary through Nathan (Luke 3), and Joseph through Solomon (Matt. 1).

LOCAL PROPHECIES

These are prophecies that happened in the immediate future after the prediction.

1. Announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary, Shepherds, and Wise men.

2. Announcement of John’s birth.

3. Joseph’s dream about Mary’s conception, fleeing to Egypt because of Herod, moving back to land of Israel because Herod was dead.

4. Matt. 1: 18-25, Luke 1:26-33 concerning the announcement of Jesus’ birth.

5. Luke 2:26 Simeon prophecy was to live until he saw Jesus.

6. Is. 40: 3-5, Mal. 3:1, Luke 1:17 tells of the fore-runner John the Baptist.

All of these prophecies were to happen to one individual withing a short period of time. These were predicted as far as 1000 years before Jesus’ birth. How could all of this happen, only if God was in control of it all. And it is very apparent that He was.

J. Vernon McGee says in Thru the Bible, “When Jesus came to the earth more than nineteen hundred years ago, those who had the Old Testament and knew what it said should have been waiting at the inn in Bethlehem or waiting for the news of His birth, because they had all the information they needed. When the wise men appeared, looking for the Lord Jesus, the Israelites at least should have been interested enough to hitch a ride on the back of camels to take a look themselves. Oh, how tremendously important His coming was, and how clearly God had predicted it!”

God marked Him out so clearly that Israel had no excuse for not recognizing Him. What is our excuse for not recognizing the King now. Prophecies are also numerous concerning Christ’s second coming?