In this presentation we are covering the third fuse leading up to our Person of Interest – The Prophetic Fuse. In addition to an abundance of evidence in the manuscript, archeology and science categories we covered in “A Case for the Bible,” there is a multitude of evidence of fulfilled prophecy. The evidence in this category is so overwhelming that even ardent atheists have been swayed. Nothing is more profound than Biblical prophecy and its fulfillment! There are many people over the centuries that have claimed prophetic abilities but they all fall short when it comes to accuracy in their predictions and specific details of the fulfillments—this is not the case with the Bible. The difference we find in the prophecies of the Bible is that they are always 100% accurate and none have ever failed!

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the Presentation

Session Four: The Prophetic Fuse

It begins as far back as Genesis chapter three and the Fall of man, where God immediately promises a plan of salvation that becomes clearer as it unfolds throughout the Covenants in the Old Testament:

Genesis 3:15 – The Original Promise and curse called the Adamic Covenant
Genesis 6:18 – Passed to/through Noah called the Noachian Covenant
Genesis 12:3 – Expanded to Abraham called the Abrahamic Covenant
Exodus through Deuteronomy – Unfolded by Moses through the Law called the Mosaic Covenant
1 Chronicles 17:11-14 – Specified in David’s royal lineage called the Davidic Covenant

These Covenants are then supported by hundreds of prophecies pointing to the promise of a coming Messiah, and Jesus fulfills them all!

Who wrote prophecies concerning the coming of a Messiah, and when were they written?

The Old Testament contains over 300 places where prophecy is given concerning a promised Messiah
In addition to Moses, Joshua, and the other Old Testament historical authors, there are 16 identified as prophets who wrote about the coming Messiah
These prophets wrote to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah from 855-430 BC/BCE
God spoke through these prophets in very different circumstances—some prophesied to kings, some to foreign nations, and others to the people in general
God communicated to these prophets either directly, in dreams and visions, or through angels
Many of the prophecies are two-fold and relate to things the Nation of Israel would face both eminently and futuristically
These Old Testament prophets not only made predictions but they were investigative reporters and preachers that also exposed moral corruption, condemned it, and demanded repentance

Prophets spoke for God in two main ways:

Proclamations: These forthtellings pointed the people back to God and His principles by…

condemning society’s immorality and wickedness
exposing religious hypocrites
calling out people to repent from their wickedness
warning of God’s wrath and judgment
speaking of God’s desire to forgive and restore a relationship
explaining God’s plan to redeem His people

Predictions: These foretellings came directly from God, were never small in nature, and were not generalized (like predicting a sporting event or the stock market).

The predictions were specific, usually concerning the Nation of Israel, in some cases concerning an individual, and in many cases pointing to the promised Messiah. These predictions…

related to spiritual matters
often focused on what would happen if the people did not repent
in some instances, were encouraging or motivating
include hundreds about the coming Messiah that are fulfilled in Jesus
include future events (apocalyptic) yet to be fulfilled, and studying these types of predictions, or end times, is referred to as eschatology

PERSON OF INTEREST
The Prophetic Fuse

Objections:

Why don’t more Jews accept the prophecies of the Old Testament?
How do you know you can trust the prophets who made the prophecies?
How do we know the prophecies were not added years after they came true?

Quick Answers:

1. Jews often limit the verses and prophecies they are willing to include as messianic; they exclude any that describes the Messiah as a person in any detail, and when interpreting the remaining verses, they reject any interpretation that points to a person rather than the nation of Israel or a groups of people within that nation; and they ignore the “clocked” verses (which point to our person of interest in hindsight).

2. Testing informants (prophets of old) is important: 1) Examine their motives and consider the extent to which an informant’s statement may have been influenced by the receipt of, or expectation of, any benefits. 2) Ask the question: Have they been reliable about other things? If so they should be trusted as truthful in new information.

3. History bears out the early dating of the Old Testament books (prior to the time of Jesus) – especially the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Clear vs. Cloaked Evidence

Clear Evidence: Points to the person of interest from the onset. This is evidence like DNA or fingerprints or descriptions that directly identify the person of interest.

Cloaked Evidence: Points to the person of interest in hindsight. This evidence may not directly point to the person of interest right away (like a missing button), and it could point to someone or something else, but it becomes clear evidence in hindsight, after the person of interest has been identified.

Clear evidence example:

Isaiah 2:4 (NASB)

“And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.”

Cloaked evidence example:

Isaiah 50:6-7 (NASB)

“I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.”

Isaiah 53:5-6 (NASB)

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”

Psalm 22:16-18 (NASB)

“For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. they look, they stare at me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Reliable Informants

“But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ You may say in your heart, ‘How will we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:20-22 (NASB)

Isaiah – accurately predicted the destruction of Babylon

Ezekiel – foretold the ruin of Tyre

Jeremiah – correctly predicted the fall of Edom

Daniel – prophecized the rise of the Roman Empire

Isaiah 45:1-4 (NASB)

“Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:“ I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. “I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. “For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.”

Isaiah 14:22-23 (NASB)

““I will rise up against them,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and survivors, offspring and posterity,” declares the Lord. “I will also make it a possession for the hedgehog and swamps of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord of hosts.”

WHAT – WHERE – WHY – HOW – WHEN – WHO

Clear evidence checklist for Jesus:

What

Crushes evil
Makes known the path of life
Conquers death
Restores the land
Set the captives free
Brings good news of salvation
Shepherds the flock
Brings in a new covenant

Where

Born in Bethlehem
Enters Jerusalem on a donkey
Swells in the midst of His people

Why

Redeems
Intercedes for sinners
Makes atonement for sin

How

Performs miracles and heals, but is despised
Considered a criminal, but remains silent
Scoured
Pierced
Executed without breaking a bone
Dies for our sins
Is buried in a wealthy man’s tomb, but doesn’t remain dead
Exalted from humility
Reigns forever

Who

Descendent of Judah
God’s Son
Son of Man

Cloaked evidence checklist for Jesus:

What

Comes to do the will of the Father

Where

Called out of Egypt
Appears in Galilee and is a light to Gentiles

Why

Brings salvation to the earth

How

Conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of a virgin
Called Immanuel
Visited by kings
Teaches in parables
Promises the Spirit
Hated without reason
Betrayed by a friend for thirty pieces of silver (later thrown to the potter)
Abandoned
Killed a part of a plot
Quiet while falsely accused
Mocked and criticized
Beaten and spat on
Bones not broken
Stripped of his clothing
Executors cast lots
Hands and feet are pierced
Thirsty when he dies
Given vinegar to drink
Prays for his enemies
Cries: Into your hands I commit my Spirit
Rises from the grave
Ascends to God’s right hand and reigns forever

When

483 years (173,880 days) after the decree to restore Jerusalem

Who

The Son of God
A shepherd whose sheep are scattered

OUR PERSON OF INTEREST – JESUS – FITS ALL OF THESE!!!

Reflection: Memorization Practice

To practice your memorization skills, and to improve your Biblical knowledge, practice memorizing the following things…

Review the “Big Picture” of the Bible for both the Old and New Testaments (see notes from session two) Practice memorizing the main topic of each of the 12 points in order to tell the “story” in a couple of minutes.
What are the three main fuses we’ve looked at so far, pointing to our Person of Interest? Pick one or two examples you can recall to share from each fuse.

Bible Study

(Review answers will be posted during the week so you can have a “leader’s guide” for your own studies)

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions.

Read Acts chapter 17 then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

Paul at Thessalonica, Berea and Athens; Sermon on Mars Hill

1. Read Chapter 17:1-15 with your table group

In the first part of this chapter, Paul and his companions travel to Thessalonica and Berea, and have two different results:

a. After Paul reasoned (using apologetics) with the people in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths, what happened?

b. Paul and Silas were sent away by night from Thessalonica to Berea. How did the Bereans respond to their teaching? Use verse 17:11 to show how different the people of Berea were compared to those in Thessalonica.

c. What happened that caused Paul to have to flee again?

2. Read Chapter 17:16-34 with your table group

In the second part of this chapter, Paul is waiting for his companions in the city of Athens where he gives us one of the greatest examples of how to use apologetics:

a. What did Paul observe in Athens, and who was he reasoning with in the market place every day?

b. Paul was asked to speak in the Areopagus (where the Athenians and visitors spent their time hearing or telling something new). What did Paul point to when he started his talk, and how did he then describe the God of Scripture as compared to the many gods of Athens? (You can make a list of attributes and accomplishments Paul attributed to the one true God.)

c. What did Paul say at the end of his speech that caused some of them to sneer, and some to want to hear him speak again? What was the result of Paul’s apologetic?

d. Discuss: What are some of the ways Paul modeled apologetics in his speech that we can use when we share our faith with others today?

3. Review and discuss: Write down and share two or three things that you think are important to remember about chapters sixteen (last week) and seventeen.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” and a study in the book of Acts!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15