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Chapter Seven

FULFILLED PROPHECY

There are hundreds of prophecies in scripture that have already been fulfilled. Scholars have calculated that more than three hundred prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus during his life, death and resurrection. All of these were made five hundred or more years prior to Jesus birth. Nearly fifty of these give very specific details regarding His birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection. Author Grant Jeffrey lists just seventeen well known prophecies, assigning extremely conservative odds to each. When the odds are calculated that all seventeen of these prophecies would be fulfilled by a single individual the odds against this occurring are 1 chance in 480 billion X 1 billion X 1 trillion. The Signature of God Grant Jeffrey, World Publishing, 1998, p.225.

PROPHECY

Over 300 prophecies in the Bible speak of Jesus Christ. Specific details given by these prophecies include His tribe (Gen 49:10), His birthplace (Mic 5:2), dates of His birth and death (Dan 9:25-26), His forerunner John the Baptist (Mal 3:1; 4:5; Matt 11:10), His career and ministry (Isa 52:13-53:12), His crucifixion (Ps 22:1-18), His resurrection (Ps 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28), His ascension (Ps 2; Acts 13:33), and His exaltation as a priest-king (Ps 110; Acts 2:34). The kingly magnificence of His second coming is also graphically portrayed. Ps 2;4,5, and 110 picture His conquest and dominion over the nations. His kingdom is characterized in Ps 72. Events leading up to and including the first and second advents of Christ are described in the two burdens of the prophet Zechariah (Zech 9-11; 12:1-14:21).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Some Bible critics have suggested that Jesus of Nazareth, as a rabbi, knew about these predictions and simply arranged the events of His life to fulfill them. However, consider the impossibility of any normal human arranging the fulfillment of these specific predictions. How would you arrange to be born in Bethlehem and manage to be born from the tribe of Judah? How would you arrange the price of your betrayal to be precisely thirty pieces of silver? How would you arrange to be crucified with thieves and then to be buried in a rich man's grave? Obviously, only God could either foresee these events in advance or fulfill these precise predictions in the life of Jesus Christ. The Signature of God Grant Jeffrey, World Publishing, 1998, p.226.

The odds against the fulfillment of a third that many in the life of any individual would be staggering. There are also many other prophecies that have been fulfilled, especially regarding Israel and the nations around her. Consider the following prophecies:

Thus I will make Mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it the one who leaves and the one who returns. 8 And I will fill its mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those who are slain by the sword shall fall. 9 I will make you perpetually desolate, and your cities shall be uninhabited; then you shall know that I am the LORD.

"Because you have said, 'These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them,' although the LORD was there, 11 therefore, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will do according to your anger and according to the envy which you showed in your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you. Ezek. 35:6-11; NKJV. ( Emphasis mine).

Ezek 35:1

Another feature of Israel's prosperity; those who exulted over Israel's humiliation shall themselves be a "prey." Already stated in Ezek 25:12-14; properly repeated here in full detail as a commentary on Ezekiel 34:28, "They shall no more be a prey to the pagan ... and none shall make them afraid." The Israelites "shall be no more a prey;" but Edom, the type of their most bitter foes, shall be destroyed irrecoverably.

EDOM

2. The land inhabited by the descendants of Edom, or Esau (Gen 32:3; 36:8). Ancient Edom included the region beginning in the north at the River Zered, a natural boundary also for southern Moab, and extending southward to the Gulf of Aqabah. At times it included mountain ranges and fertile plateaus on the east and west of the Arabah, the Jordan River valley south of the Dead Sea.

The most significant area of ancient Edom was the mountain-encircled plain on the east of the Arabah. Mt. Seir, the highest of this range, rises to an elevation of nearly 1,200 meters (3,500 feet) above the Arabah. Edom's capital during the days of Israel's monarchy was Sela, situated at the southern end of a secluded valley that became the location of the city of PETRA in later times. Other important Edomite cities were Bozrah and Teman (Isa 34:6; Amos 1:12).
( from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers) ( Emphasis mine).

Petra and the Mt. Seir area was a flourishing area of trade during the period that it was occupied by the Edomites (descendants of Esau) and after they were displaced by Babylon it was occupied by the Nabateans then when the Romans came into power they turned Petra into a major trade center. It was later deserted and remains deserted to this day except for the tourists who visit it.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. 8 But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, My people Israel; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their inheritance; no more shall you bereave them of children." Ezek. 36:7-12; NKJV. ( Emphasis mine).

For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this," says the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!" Ezek. 36:24-32; NKJV ( italics mine).

Ezekiel 37

1 The Dry Bones Live

The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."
4 Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."'"
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:"Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say,'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'" Ezek. 37:1-14; NKJV (italics mine).

The fulfillment of these prophecies has already begun. Total fulfillment will come at the appointed time. Second only to the fulfillment of the prophecies of the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ, the re-birth of Israel stands as one of the greatest fulfilled prophecies of all time. The prophecies above are just some of those that promise the return of Jews to their Promised Land. Israel was re-established as a Jewish nation against all odds in 1948, and the migration of Jews began prior to that time and continues even today. Israel, considered dead for nearly two thousand years, now lives. No other nation so utterly destroyed has been revived and re-established in its own land. Nearly everyone thought it impossible.

Nineteen hundred years of abuse left the entire land devastated after invasions and occupations by the Roman armies, Crusaders, Turkish Muslims, and the British. Roman armies destroyed the buildings, and plowed Jerusalem under. Later the Crusaders entered battling against Jews and Muslims. Then the Turkish Muslims drove out the Crusaders and occupied Israel until they allied themselves with Germany and were overpowered by the British during WWII. Many of the cities and buildings were in ruins. The land was stripped bare. Farm lands had been deliberately covered with rocks and debris. Virtually all the trees had been cut down - entire forests had been destroyed.

When the Jews returned they started taking donations in their synagogues to replant the trees. Some Christian churches did likewise. They now have more trees, and more varieties of trees, than ever. Farm land has been cleared, and farming has been established in areas never farmed before. The residents of Israel not only provide all of their own food products but export throughout Europe.

Their cities have been reclaimed and rebuilt and expanded far beyond their former boundaries. Israel's irrigation systems are among the best and most advance in the world. Their military is one of the best equipped, best trained, and most effective in the world. Israel's neighbors can attest to this fact. They accomplished all this in just over seventy years while fighting a series of wars and coping with constant attacks by terrorist organizations and suicide bombers.

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