Fulfilled Prophecy Proves That the God of the Bible Is God

The God of the Bible is the one and only God. He says so himself.

“But you are my witnesses, O Israel! says the Lord. You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God… (Isaiah 43:10a).

There is no other Lord or Savior. God himself says so.

“…There is no other God—there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes, I am the Lord, and there is no other Savior” (Isaiah 43:10b-11).

The Lord God is from everlasting to everlasting.

“This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: ‘I am the First and the Last; there is no other God’” (Isaiah 44:6).

Yet, God is Three Persons in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (See Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 3:21-22 & Genesis 1:26, among other passages).

Although God revealed himself through Abraham and his descendants, the Jews, he is also the God of all Gentiles who believe and receive his Son, Messiah Jesus, who is God’s redemptive mediator for Jew and Gentile alike.

“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5).

“Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles” (Romans 3:27-30).

God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient. He knew that the man-made gods of pagan nations surrounding Israel in Biblical times, and man-made religions that would come later such as Islam or Hinduism would claim their god or gods to be supreme.

Only the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob can predict the future. He created all things including time itself; thus, he knows the end from the beginning. God challenges false religions, self-proclaimed prophets, and man-made gods to prove him wrong.

“Present the case for your idols, says the Lord. Let them show what they can do, says the King of Israel. Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us. But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves” (Isaiah 41:21-24).

The God of the Bible is incomparable.

“Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God! No! There is no other Rock—not one!” (Isaiah 44:7-8).

If anyone with an open mind and a heart seriously searching for God’s truth would take some time to read or even read about the so-called sacred texts of any world religion or cultic creed (such as Mormonism), they will find irreconcilable differences between the God of the Bible and these man-made systems of belief. Above all they will find two dramatic distinctions:

(1) God’s Salvation as thoroughly explained in Scripture is based on faith alone in God’s grace, which is freely given through the once for all substitutionary sacrifice of God’s Son, Messiah Jesus. All we must do is believe and receive Christ as Savior. Trusting that Messiah has done for us what we could not do for ourselves—a complete pardon for our sins and eternal life in heaven, based on God’s righteousness (right standing with God) imputed to all who accept the fact that we have no inherent righteousness of our own.

“As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous—not even one’” (Romans 3:10).

Contrasted to every other religion or cult which demands that its adherents must follow a complicated, impossible to keep set of rules and regulations in order to even qualify for their version of paradise. Without any of their followers ever assured they have done enough good deeds to cancel out the bad. All of them are based on self-righteousness—meriting favor with their (false) god(s) or attaining some nebulous level of cosmic awareness to get them to whatever afterlife they’ve invented.

(2) Prophecy … Declaring the End from the Beginning: This is the second dramatic difference between the God of the Bible and all other gods or prophets or religious creeds. It is Biblical prophecy that God points to as irrefutable proof that he alone is God, and the Bible alone is his sovereign Word containing absolute truth. Not one or two or ten, but hundreds of prophecies are found in Scripture. Not just vague variable prognostications, but detailed incidents naming people not yet born, nations not yet in existence, and events no one thought possible to even happen, let alone predicted to occur. Prophecies fulfilled that day, or the next day, or days or weeks later, or in a few years, or hundreds of years later.

Case in point: Some 150 years before the Babylonian Empire came into existence and Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple and exiled the Jews, God through Isaiah prophesied that a ruler from another not yet established kingdom (Persia) would issue a command for God’s people to return to Israel and rebuild the Temple. That’s not all: God even named this ruler who had not yet been born.

“When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ he will certainly do as I say. He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’; he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’ This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower … I will go before you, Cyrus … And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God…” (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-5a).

A Fascinating “Hidden Gem” in Scripture & The Laws of Probability

All of Scripture is remarkable in its historical detail and absolute truth, not the least of which is fulfilled prophecy. There is even a passage in which God declares that nothing (meaning of historical consequence as generically applied to his plan for the human race) he will do is done until … well, let’s read it together:

“Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Fulfillment of hundreds of Bible prophecies have been documented both in Scripture—by the authors of certain books of the Bible later in their lifetime or by subsequent prophets long after a previous prophet had declared God’s plans—and by secular history. Other end-times prophecies await completion.

In Chapter 4 of my second book, Out of the Abyss, I discuss the laws of probability in the context of Old Testament Prophecies/New Testament Fulfillments (heading of that chapter) with several specific examples given. One of them is the well-known project initiated by Westmont College Professor Peter Stoner, who with the aid of 600 college students examined eight (of dozens) of prophecies foretold in the Old Testament pertaining to the coming Messiah as historically accomplished by Jesus of Nazareth.

They began with the odds of Jesus birth in Bethlehem where the prophet Micah said Messiah would be born. Result: 1 in 300,000. That was only the beginning.

After they looked at seven other Messianic prophecies that Jesus precisely fulfilled, they calculated (laws of probability) that the chance of one man fulfilling all eight was one in 10 to the 17^th power. That number alone is overwhelming to the point that any statistician or probability expert on the planet would concede to be (nearly) absolute.

To get past the point of nearly absolute (my phrase to emphasize the conclusiveness of the study), Professor Stoner and his students then upped the ante from eight to forty-eight specific Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus in his birth, life, death, and resurrection. The result: One in 10 to the 157^th power. If you care to write this out, it would be one in ten followed by 157 zeros. Good luck! Just counting the zeros is a daunting assignment! Not to mention the impossible task of wrapping your mind around such an astronomical figure.

Those kind of numbers are mind boggling … what any scientist or mathematician would consider to be absolute. Putting it another way by emphasizing the double negative feature of the following statement (with negatives sometimes providing more emphasis than saying something in the positive):

There’s no way that Jesus could not be the prophesied Messiah.

Messianic Prophecies & Their Fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth

When Bible scholars, teachers, pastors, commentators, and students in general categorize the components of Messiah Jesus’s first appearance on earth, they logically break them down to his birth, life, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. Sometimes, but not as often, his ascension to heaven is also added to these features. One reason is because such things as his miraculous Virgin birth (celebrated at Christmas) and his equally miraculous resurrection (memorialized at Easter) are well-known highlights of his amazing time on this earth.

If/when the Ascension is discussed, it’s usually in the comparison context of Jesus’s return to earth on the same Mount of Olives from which he departed.

Each of these momentous bench marks of Messiah’s first advent were predicted in several Old Testament passages pertaining to that specific highlight (such as his birth), with one exception: His Ascension to Heaven. I’m not referring to Jesus’s predictions or statements; he clearly told his disciples that he would return to Heaven after he arose from the dead, as his redemptive work on earth would then be complete.

As Jesus hung on the cross just moments before he died, he said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Which is a phrase that meant, “Paid in full.” Meaning paying for the debt of our sin.

I’m surmising that even an “average” student of the Bible could spontaneously or with a little bit of Scriptural research find Old Testament prophecies and their corresponding New Testament fulfillment for each of the first six categories, but not the seventh and final event—his return to heaven. And that would be understandable: because there is only one definitive passage, which is seldom mentioned in commentaries or sermons or books or articles. Even Bible scholars have failed to match that Old Testament passage with Jesus’s ascension to heaven.

Remember: God never does anything (concerning the historical milestones of divinely orchestrated events) unless he has first revealed it through his prophets. The Ascension of Christ Jesus would certainly qualify as one of these significant events.

Before we take an up close and personal look at that mysterious yet stunning Old Testament passage, let’s do a brief review of fulfilled Messianic prophecy. Although there are more, I’ll cite just one Old Testament reference (a reference could be one or more verses) for each of the first six (of seven) stages of Jesus’s visit to Planet Earth along with its New Testament parallel in which the Messianic prophecy was fulfilled.

While we’re at it, let’s not forget: The Old Testament prophecies speak of a Jewish Messiah who would also be salvation’s light to the Gentiles. He would be a descendant of King David from the tribe of Judah.

Jesus was and still is a Jew! He said: “…for salvation comes through the Jews” (John 4:22).

Once again, here are the seven chronological phases of Jesus’s First Advent: birth, life (his ministry), trial and crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

With the 7^th, his ascension, the main theme of today’s article, to be explored after the first six are examined.

Birth of Messiah

Old Testament Prophecy: Born in Bethlehem Ephrathah (there were two towns in Israel named Bethlehem … that’s how precise the prophecy was). Micah 5:2.

New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1-6.

*Note: Since Messiah’s prophesied place of birth was also mentioned earlier, let’s add another one:

Old Testament Prophecy: Born of a Virgin. Isaiah 7:14.

New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-22.

(Depicts the Angel Gabriel Appearing to Mary … Which Took Place Before an Angel Appeared to Mary’s Husband, Joseph to Assure Joseph that Mary Was Still a Virgin When Her Son Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit)

Life of Messiah Jesus (Son of God and Son of Man)

Old Testament Prophecy: The Divine Messages Messiah Would Disclose and Miracles He Would Do. Isaiah 29:18-19; Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1.

New Testament Fulfillment: Luke 7:20-22.

*Note: All of the eternal absolute truths that Jesus taught and magnificent miracles he performed to prove that he was the Messiah—including the incredible reality that Jesus could forgive sins and would be the once for all substitutionary sacrifice for and penalty of sin—foretold by the prophets are summarized by Jesus himself in the following passage:

“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who will listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son” (John 5:24-26).

Jesus went on to say to the Jewish religious leaders:

“In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true. Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life” (John 5:33-36 & 39-40).

Trial & Crucifixion of Messiah

Old Testament Prophecy: Nailed to a cross (hands and feet pierced). Before crucifixion was even invented and “perfected” by the Romans, it was foretold that Messiah would be killed in that manner. Psalms 22:16; Isaiah 53:5a.

Jesus had been declared innocent by Pontius Pilate, who, nonetheless, ordered him to be whipped just to please the crowd. Micah 5:1; Isaiah 53:5b.

When that wasn’t enough, Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob to crucify Jesus.

New Testament Fulfillment: Mark 15:19 (beaten with rods); John 19:1 (flogged with a lead-tipped whip); Luke 23:32-33 (crucified).

Death of Messiah

Old Testament Prophecy: Not one bone would be broken. Exodus 12:46. Psalm 34:20.

New Testament Fulfillment: Jesus was the Passover Lamb crucified on Passover Eve, but his bones would not be broken—which the Roman soldiers often did (breaking the victim’s legs) to hasten the death of those being crucified. John 19:31-37

Burial of Messiah

Old Testament Prophecy: Even though innocent, Messiah would be unjustly and unlawfully killed as a common criminal. But he would be buried in a rich man’s tomb. Isaiah 53:9.

New Testament Fulfillment: John 19:38-42. (With special emphasis on, “Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth” Verse 40).

*Note: Just as there were many witnesses to all facets of Jesus’s arrival and time on this earth, so were there witnesses to the actual fact that he was buried. And he was buried because he had died—as clearly confirmed by his Roman executioners and as obviously seen by those who wrapped Jesus’s body in burial cloths. This soundly refutes the absurd notion of “critics” who claim that Jesus was not really dead when he was placed in the tomb.

Resurrection of Messiah from the Dead

Old Testament Prophecy: Isaiah 53:10-12. This is probably the most well-known (along with Psalm 22) passage depicting the suffering and sacrificial death of the coming Messiah. Yet Isaiah 53 also clearly shows that Messiah would be raised to life. “…He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands … I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death…” (Verses 10 & 12 … keep in mind the italicized portion of this passage as it applies to the ascension phase of the Life of Christ that we will examine shortly).

New Testament Fulfillment: Dozens of passages affirming that Jesus arose from the dead. Succinctly summarized by the Apostle Paul: “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said” (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

*Note: Jesus, himself, predicted that he would be betrayed (by one of his twelve disciples, Judas); arrested by the Jewish religious leaders who would hand him over to the Romans; denied three times by another disciple (Peter); beaten, crucified, buried for three days/nights, and would then arise from the grave! How could he possibly have known that any, let alone all of these things would actually happen unless he truly was/is the Son of God and God the Son?

Would anyone actually believe that he wanted to suffer and die just to show that he could predict the future? I think not. If anyone has any doubt, then read again the horrible agony he went through in the Garden of Gethsemane when he asked his Father God if he could be spared from the excruciating death on a cross and the terrible judgment God would place on him for your sins and mine. (Mark 14:32-42).

Jesus stayed the course with these poignant words to the Father: “…Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36).

The Seventh & Final Phase … The Ascension of Messiah Jesus

As indicated to begin today’s article, Biblical prophecy and its fulfillment attests to the 100% accuracy and historical reliability of the Scriptures. So when we see Daniel’s prophecy fulfilled that the Messiah would come in the exact amount of time prophesied (483 years or 173,880 days) from the time that the command would be given to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (see Eye of Prophecy article, An Incredible Time-Lapse Prophecy, posted 1-18-14 and Where is Messiah … Is He Already Here? Published 6-25-16), we can also trust the universal absolute truths contained in God’s Word, the Bible.

Such as: For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Old Testament prophecies, both direct and implied, concerning the coming of the (suffering) Messiah are plentiful in Scripture. Followed by Jesus of Nazareth’s amazingly precise fulfillment or accomplishment of all that the prophets foretold concerning his birth, life, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection.

But what about the Ascension return of Jesus to heaven? On a few occasions, Jesus spoke to his disciples of his departure from the earth and return to his home in heaven. Most Christians are quite familiar with at least one or two of these passages, such as John Chapter 14.

Once again, let’s read Amos 3:7: “Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.”

Accordingly, there must be an Old Testament prophetic reference to the seventh and final phase of Messiah Jesus’s First Advent—his return to heaven. Do you know what it is or where it can be found? If you don’t, that’s okay, because it’s one of those “hidden gems” of Scripture that takes a little more digging to find and recognize. Whereas other golden nuggets (like the birth and resurrection of Messiah) are sitting on top of the gold mine in plain sight, ready to be grasped and deposited securely in the treasure trove of fulfilled prophecy.

Before we go to the Old Testament passage in question, let’s review Jesus’s last moments on the earth … commonly called the Ascension.

“After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him” (Acts 1:9).

What Jesus had said (“after saying this”) was a direct answer to his disciples question just before he left the earth so dramatically, “…Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1:6).

(“As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!'” Acts 1:10-11)

It’s evident that the disciples had no warning that Jesus would suddenly leave them. I’m convinced they thought he would remain on the earth for quite some time after his resurrection, at least the time needed to, “free Israel and restore our kingdom.”

They weren’t thinking in terms of the spiritual Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus would first establish in the hearts and minds of those who believed and received him as Personal Savior. Which is why the last words Jesus spoke before he ascended to heaven were: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

They were focused on the physical Kingdom of God on the earth, with Messiah Jesus sitting on the eternal throne of the Davidic dynasty of kings. Though they were by now and even more so later on—as they grew in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18)—much more familiar with and knowledgeable about Jesus’s fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies concerning the first six phases of his first coming to earth, they probably didn’t know or didn’t match the Old Testament passage regarding Jesus’s departure from the earth and his return (entrance) to heaven.

Without keeping you in suspense any longer, read with me the passage that I believe (with evidence presented) is the one definitive Old Testament prophecy foreseeing Messiah’s triumphant entrance into heaven … a return to his original glory, but this time also as the Son of Man in his resurrected, glorified body.

*Note: I have quoted this passage in a couple of prior Eye of Prophecy articles including a brief commentary on its meaning; but only in passing—not as the main theme of that article.

A Little Known or Understood Prophecy Concerning Messiah

“As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Among other astounding visions of the future, Daniel was given the awesome privilege of watching the greatest coronation of a king (King of all kings) in all of history … some 550 years before it took place. Then under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he recorded it for us!

The scene you just read in the above verse is none other than Messiah Jesus’s triumphant entrance into heaven after he ascended from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

You may have already thought of the question; if you hadn’t, I’ll ask it for you:

Is he sure that Daniel’s prophetic vision refers to Christ Jesus and his ascension, then his homecoming entrance into heaven?

My answer: Absolutely, no doubt whatsoever. Here’s why it is and why it couldn’t be anything else but that.

Obviously, Daniel’s 6^th century B.C. vision was prophetical (as were all his visions … future tense), thus it couldn’t apply to Messiah as God the Son (Second Person of the Trinity) before Daniel’s time. Meaning the ancient eternal past of Jesus as found, for example, in Micah 5:2 and especially in John’s Gospel that begins by identifying Jesus as the everlasting living Word of God.

Nor could it be a depiction of Messiah’s glorious return from heaven at the end of the Great Tribulation; even though some of Daniels’ prophetic visions relate to the tribulation period, especially concerning the little horn (Antichrist) and his end-times exploits. Why? Because Daniel sees Messiah entering (being led) into the presence of The Ancient One (God the Father).

When Jesus raptures his church (true born-again believers), he will: “…come down from heaven” and catch us, “…up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” I Thessalonians 4:16).

By the distinctive language and descriptive imagery of Daniel 7 and I Thessalonians 4, there’s no way these two events are one and the same. Likewise, with Messiah’s return to the earth at the end of the Tribulation. “…And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). Once again, Jesus is coming from heaven, not going to heaven, as is clearly portrayed in Daniel 7.

By default then, this amazing royal coronation scene that Daniel is witnessing first hand took place when Jesus left the earth and returned to his heavenly home. What or when else could it be?

Daniel’s term Son of Man is another overwhelming clue that the scene Daniel is witnessing could have been none other than Jesus’s ascension/entrance into heaven as precisely described in Acts Chapter 1.

Before Jesus was born on earth as the pre-ordained and anointed Messiah, he was referred to as the Son of God and the Son of David (see Psalm 2 and Psalm 110). But not the Son of Man. Jesus, himself, was the first to use that appellation or title or description of himself.

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Daniel refers to the person he saw being escorted to the presence of God (the Father) as “a Son of Man.” Except, he employs the adjective form, “like” a Son of Man. Meaning that Daniel didn’t know (nor was he expected to know) that this person was in fact the Messiah, the one and only Son of Man and the Son of God. He simply recorded what he saw. Other prophets before and after Daniel would be given more revelations concerning the coming Messiah, i.e. his divine nature, his eternal existence, his miraculous Virgin birth, and so forth.

More could be said, but you decide if the commentary evidence and most of all the passage itself indisputably portrays exactly what took place after Jesus ascended to heaven. It was then that God the Father gave his Son absolute authority over all nations, with a rule and reign that will last forever. The victory has already been won … the end-time battles yet to be fought and final judgment of God waiting to be dispensed.

If you hadn’t thought about or wondered if there was an Old Testament prophecy relating directly to the final phase of Jesus’s time on earth (Ascension) but didn’t know where to look, there you have it.

Daniel 7:13-14 is a powerful prophetic portrayal of what took place as soon as Jesus left the earth as seen and shared by Daniel hundreds of years before it happened.

(*Note: Psalm 68:18 which is partially quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:8 is related to the heavenly ministry of Christ after he returned to heaven. However, the context of Psalm 68 pertains to gifts given to and by Messiah to his people. Psalm 68 isn’t referring to what happened in heaven immediately after Jesus ascended from earth, i.e. the crowning coronation that bequeathed our Lord with ultimate power and authority to rule the nations. As such, Psalm 68 is not a prophetic preview of the real time/space physical Ascension of Christ or of his entrance to the throne of God his Father.)

We also have another sighting of the Son of Man … several years after the Ascension. This time by John, author of Revelation, who uses the same descriptive term as did Daniel. Although John didn’t immediately know who was standing in front of him, he soon would fully understand that it was none other than his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—Son of God, Son of David, and Son of Man.

Wrote John: “When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man…” (Revelation 1:12-13).

John then describes the glorious appearance of the Son of Man, concluding with, “…And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance” (Revelation 1:16).

Jesus erased all doubts as to whom John was looking at. Said Jesus to John: “…Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:17-18).

Things to Ponder

As has been said, History is “His Story.”

Messiah Jesus is the heart and soul of man’s history (as God views and directs history) and prophetic destiny.

“…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b).

Then, four more magnificent passages about Messiah Jesus … who he is, what he has done (for you and for me), and what he will do upon his glorious return to the earth.

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord … He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment” (Isaiah 11:1-2 & 5).

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth … He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together … For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” (Colossians 1:15-20).

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Make that five passages by quoting again the prophecy that fits perfectly with the verses just quoted:

“…He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Long live the King!