We have been laying out a “Case for the Old Testament” over the past few months and the evidence collection has been based on a question that many have posed: How do we trust that the Bible is the Word of God? You can be skeptical of the Bible, as I once was, but at some point, in light of the avalanche of evidence, you have to pause and ask yourself: Could it be true? If there is at least a 50/50 chance based on the evidence you’ve seen so far, don’t you owe it to yourself to consider it?
J. Warner Wallace, Cold-Case Homicide Detective and former atheist turned Christian Apologist says: “There is so much evidence for the reliability of the Bible that it is like death by 1000 paper cuts,” and this is exactly the type of evidence that he has successfully used in prosecuting and winning cold-cases in the span of his career.
In addition to an abundance of evidence we have looked at in the “M” for Manuscripts and “A” for Archeology of our MAPS-S acronym, we also have fulfilled prophecy (the “P” in our acronym MAPS-S). 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!
We learned last week that anyone can claim to have prophetic abilities, but those who do 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, none have failed!
Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; “I am” God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all My good pleasure;
-Isaiah 46: 9-10
There are basically three categories of Biblical prophecy: 1) Prophecy that was made and fulfilled within Old Testament times; 2) Messianic Prophecy that was made in Old Testament times and later fulfilled completely by Jesus; 3) Apocalyptic Prophecy that was made in both Old Testament and New Testament times that is specific to future events yet to come.
Here are just a few examples of prophecies fulfilled within the Old Testament times:
| Event | Prophecy given | Fulfillment |
| Sojourners: Abraham’s heirs will be afflicted for 400 years; will return to land in the fourth generation | Genesis 25:7-8; 50:24-25 | Happened: Exodus 7:14-12:29; 12:35-40; Hebrews 11:22 |
| The fall of Israel and punishment of Assyria | Hosea 1:4-6; Isaiah 9:8-10:4; 10:10-19; 37:7; 2 Kings 19:7; Amos 3:11-12; Micah 3-7 | Happened in 734-722 BC 2 Kings 15:29; 17:3-6; 19:35-37; Isaiah 37:36-38 |
| Destruction of Ninevah: Prophesied 100 years before it happened when they were described as a great nation that took the Northern tribe of Israel into captivity
Jonah 3:3; 4:11 |
Nahum 1-3; Ezekiel 32:22-23; Zephaniah 2:13-15; Zechariah 10:11; Isaiah 10:12-19; 14:24-25; 30:1-33 | It happened in 612 BC: smashed and transformed into a pile of sand never to be rebuilt |
| Judah to be exiled to Babylon; The rebuilding of Jerusalem and regathering of Israel as a nation (prophesied before Babylon even came into power) | Deuteronomy 28:64-68; Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10; 30:11; 31:38-40; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Isaiah 11:11-13; 44:24-28; Micah 4:9-10 | Exile happened in 605 BC Then the first return was in 538 BC. Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Secular sources: Josephus and Babylonian Chronicles 2nd return happened 5/14/1948 |
| The name Cyrus specifically prophesied as the one who would allow the exiles of Judah to return and rebuild (150 years before he was born) | Isaiah 44:24-28; 45:1, 13 | Happened 150 years later: Ezra 1:2-2-4 |
| Josiah named 300 years before his reign as the one who would sacrifice bones of pagan priests on the Jeroboam’s pagan alter | 1 Kings 13:1-3 | Happened 300 years later: 2 Kings 23:15-17 |
| Joshua prophesied that the person who rebuilds Jericho would be cursed: 1st son to die at the foundation; youngest at the setting up of the gates | Joshua 6:26 | Happened 700 years later: 1 Kings 16:34 |
| The demise of Edom | Obadiah 2; 8; Jeremiah 49:15-20; Ezekiel 25:12-14 | Disappeared after 70 AD and today is a bleak and desolate part of Jordan |
| Destruction of Tyre Ezekiel predicted (before this island fortress had ever been built) that the walls would be demolished and become a place for fishermen to dry their nets | Ezekiel 26:3-4 | 332 BC Alexander the Great annihilated Tyre and is bare ground today |
| The Daniel Prophecies: Fall of Babylon; Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams; the four empires; 490 years—Messiah’s triumphal entry | 6th century BC book of Daniel; Nehemiah 2:1-8 | Fall of Babylon is confirmed in historical accounts;
triumphal entry Matthew 21; Jesus confirms Daniel in Matthew 24:15 |
Here are some examples of Messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus:
| Event | Prophecy given | Fulfillment |
| The Promise of salvation (Jesus-Satan-Death-Redemption);
The Abrahamic Covenant (A people, land and blessing) A New Covenant |
Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15; 17:7; 21:2;
Deuteronomy 31:7-8; 32:45-52; Josh. 1:1-5, 10-11 Jeremiah 31:27-31 |
Matthew 1:1, 17; Luke 3:34;
Acts 3:25-26; Galatians 3:16; 4:4; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8 Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 8:7-13, 9:15 |
| Seed of a women and virgin birth | Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:1; 18; 24-25; Luke 1:26-35 |
| Seed of Abraham | Genesis 22:18 | Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16 |
| Seed of Isaac | Genesis 21:12 | Luke 3:23, 34 |
| From the family of Jacob/Israel | Genesis 28:4; 13-15; Numbers 24:17 | Luke 3:23, 34 |
| From the tribe of Judah | Genesis 49:10 | Luke 3:23, 33 |
| From the line of Jesse | Isaiah 11:1 | Luke 3:23, 32 |
| Son of David (a royal line) | 2 Samuel 7:8-17; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15 | Luke 3:31 |
| Born in Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 1:18, 24-25; Luke 1:26-35 |
| Preceded and announced by one like Elijah who would live in the wilderness | Malachi 3:1; 4:5 | Matthew 3:3; 11:10; John 1:23; Luke 1:17 |
| Would be presented with gifts | Psalm 72:10 | Matthew 2:1 |
| Children would be killed | Jeremiah 31:15 | Matthew 2:16 |
| Ministry begins in Galilee | Isaiah 9:1 | Matthew 4:12-17 |
| Ministry peaks in Jerusalem; Messiah rides in on a donkey and appears boldly in the Temple | Daniel 9; Zechariah 9:9; Haggai 2:7; Malachi 3:1 | Matthew 21:12; Luke 19:35-37 |
| Will heal the blind, deaf, lame and raise the dead | Isaiah 35:5-6 | All though-out the Gospel records—especially answered in Luke 7:22-23 |
| Will teach the people using parables | Psalm 78:2 | All though-out the Gospel records—John 5:5-9; 9:6-11; 11:43-47 etc. |
| He would have zeal for God’s house, the Temple | Psalm 69:9 | John 2:15-16 |
| A Light to the Gentiles | Isaiah 60:3 | Acts 13:47-48 |
| Rejected by His own people; will be a stumbling block | Psalm 118:22 | Romans 9:32-33; 1 Peter 2:7 |
| He is the Son of God | Psalm 2:7; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 2 Samuel 7:12-16 | Matthew 3:17; 16:16; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; 22:70; Acts 13:30-33; John 1:24, 49 |
| He pre-existed His birth | Micah 5:2; Psalm 102:25; Proverbs 8:22-23; Isaiah 9:6-7; 41:4; 44:6; 48:12 | John 1:1; 17:5, 24; Colossians 1:17; Revelation 1:1-2; 1:17; 2:8; 8:58; 22:13 |
| He would be called Lord | Psalm 110:1; Jeremiah 23:6 | Matthew 22:43-45; Luke 2:11 |
| He would be called Immanuel | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:23 |
| He would be a Prophet | Deuteronomy 18:18 | Matthew 21:11 |
| He would be a Priest | Psalm 110:4 | Hebrews 3:1 |
| He would be a Judge | Isaiah 33:22 | John 5:30 |
| He would be a King | Psalm 2:6 | Matthew 27:37 |
| He would receive a special anointing by the Holy Spirit | Isaiah 11:12 | Matthew 3:16 |
| Betrayed by friend for 30 pieces of silver that is thrown on the Temple floor and used to buy a Potter’s field | Psalm 43:9; 55:12-14; Zechariah 11:12-14 | Matthew 10:4; 27:3-10 |
| Followers struck and scattered; forsaken by His disciples | Isaiah 53; Zechariah 13:7 | Mark 14:50 |
| Oppressed and falsely accused by malicious witnesses, but would not defend Himself | Isaiah 53:7; Psalm 35:11; 38:13 | Matthew 26:59-60 |
| Hated by mankind, mocked, beaten, whipped and crushed for transgressions of mankind—He would bear and make intersession though He had done no wrong | Psalm 22:7-8; Isaiah 53:2-12 | Matthew 26:67; 27: 26-29; John 19:11 |
| Disrobed and had clothes gambled away | Isaiah 53:12 | Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27 |
| Executed with criminals | Isaiah 52:12 | Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27 |
| Hands and feet pierced for our transgression | Isaiah 53:5; Psalm 22:16 | Luke 23:33; John 20:25 |
| Strength drained, extremely thirsty, heart broken with grief | Psalm 22:14-15 | John 19:28 |
| He would be offered gall and vinegar | Psalm 69:21 | Matthew 27:24 |
| Would plead for mercy for His accusers | Isaiah 53:12 | Luke 23:24 |
| Friends would stand from far away | Psalm 38:11 | Luke 23:49 |
| People would stare and shake their heads | Psalm 109:25; Psalm 22:17 | Matthew 27:39; Luke 23:35 |
| Will ask God why He is forsaken | Psalm 22:1 | Matthew 27:46 |
| Will commend Himself to God (give up His spirit) | Psalm 31:5 | Luke 23:46 |
| His bones would not be broken | Psalm 34:20 | John 19:33 |
| His side would be pierced | Zechariah 12:10 | John 19:34 |
| Darkness will fall over the land | Amos 8:9 | Matthew 27:45 |
| Would be with a rich man in His death | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60 |
| Would be resurrected from the dead | Psalm 16:10; 30:3; 41:10; 118:17; Hosea 6:2 | Matthew 28:6; Acts 2:31 |
| He would ascend | Psalm 68:18 | Acts 1:9 |
| He would sit at the right hand of God | Psalm 110:1 | Mark 16:19; Acts 2:34-25; Hebrews 1:3 |
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
–Matthew 5:17-18
Going Deeper
Please watch this presentation by the late Nabeel Qureshi, as he lays out an undeniably strong case for the Bible:
Additional Reference and recommended reading: “Jesus on Trial” by David Limbaugh
“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
-2 Peter 1:19-21
Bible Study: As we take a short break from our regular classes, read a Psalm and a Proverb each day. We will be starting up a new class next week.
Remember: A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t!
Join us next week as we start a new class in our case for the Old Testament series!
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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