ILLUSTRATION:
The book The World's Worst Predictions lists some of history's all-time prophetic goof.
King George II said in 1773 that the American colonies had little stomach for revolution.
An official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm's newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, declared that the ship was unsinkable.
In 1939 The New York Times said the problem of TV was that people had to glue their eyes to a screen, and that the average American wouldn't have time for it.
An English astronomy professor said in the early 19th century that air travel at high speed would be impossible because passengers would suffocate.
The World's Worst Predictions.
Scripture Text:
2 Peter 1:19-21 (KJV)
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Some Bible scholars suggest there are more than 300 prophetic Scriptures completed in the life of Jesus.
DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
I want to quickly go over just 10 out of the hundreds of Scriptures that talk about Gods' plan about Jesus Christ. This is a time table of the dates when the prophecy was foretold and when it was fulfilled. Listen to these:
1. Jesus was betrayed by a friend
Bible prophecy: Psalm 41:9
Prophecy written: About 1000 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Psalm 41:9:
Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
2. Zechariah foreshadowed the betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver
Bible prophecy: Zechariah 11:12-13
Prophecy written: Between 520 and 518 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Zechariah 11:12-13:
12 I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter"-the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.
3. Jesus was spat upon and beaten
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 50:6
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Isaiah 50:6:
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
4. God's servant would be silent before his accusers
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 53:7
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Isaiah 53:7:
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
5. God's servant would die for our sins
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 53:4-6
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Isaiah 53:4-6:
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
6. Zechariah foreshadowed the crucifixion of Jesus
Bible prophecy: Zechariah 12:10
Prophecy written: Between 520 and 518 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
The Talmud, which offers Judaism-related commentary about various Old Testament passages, makes a very Christian-like assessment of the prophecy found in the book of Zechariah:
"What is the cause of the mourning (Zechariah 12:10)? It is well according to him who explains that the cause is the slaying of Messiah, the son of Joseph, as it is written, 'And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son.'" -Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 52a.
Zechariah 12:10:
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
7. God's servant would be "numbered with the transgressors"
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 53:12
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Isaiah 53:12:
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
8. As no bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken (Ex. 12:46), not a bone of His would be broken.
Prophesied: “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psa. 34:20).
Fulfilled: For these things took place so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
‘Not a bone of Him shall be broken’ ” (John 19:32-33, 36).
9. God's servant would be buried in a rich man's tomb
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 53:9
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: About 31 AD
Isaiah 53:9:
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Notes: The commentaries above are summaries from the book 100 Prophecies: Ancient Biblical prophecies that foretold the future. Copyright © Ray Konig - http://www.100prophecies.org/page4.htm
10. Resurrection of Jesus and His Glory at the right hand of God the Father.
Psalm 16:9-11King James Version (KJV)
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Sermon:
Jesus came to our world and our history at just the right time because of the sin that is in our world. The sin that is present in us and the world causes us to be in a constant struggle with it trying to do good, trying to do whats right but failing.
How do we know we sin? Because the bible tells me so. Is there a way to be cleansed for this horrible thing we call sin, YES!
The gospel is no weak thing, but comes in power, Ro. 1:16 . The law sets before us our wretched state by sin, but there it leaves us. It discovers our disease, but does not make known the complete cure:
Isaiah 59: 1-2:
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, or his ear too dull to hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that He will not hear.”
Romans 7:15 (KJV)
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
It is a fact of Jesus crucified, in the gospel, is the reason that our soul is healed totally and completely and forever more.
1 Peter 3:18a (KJV)
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
The way to be free, truly free from sin is found in our Bible:
Romans 10:9 (KJV)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
When we believe and confess our sin with our mouth and believe in our hearts then we know within our souls by the Holy Ghost that he will come and get us at our days end on this earth or receive us unto himself in the sky.
The prophecy concerning Christ's second coming is "as a light"; it is a revelation of that which was before in the dark, lay hid as a secret and as a mystery in the heart of God. Until now:
John 14 (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jesus the Messiah is coming Back. If you don't know him now is the time to confess and be one of his children. Now is the time.
If you are a believer what do you do while you wait for his coming for you?
Illustration:
Years ago a hydroelectric dam was to be built across a valley in Maine. The town was a beautiful little town. It was well kept by the citizens. They took pride in their little town keeping the trees and lawns cut and trimmed. The roads were repaired. Then the people in the town learned they were to be relocated and the town itself submerged.
During the time between the initial decision and the completion of the dam, the town, which had once been well-kept, fell into disrepair. Why keep it up now the citizens said?
Explained one resident: "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no work in the present."
For those that are believers here is a word of faith and grace. It's straight from of the Almighty Word of the Living God:
Romans 14
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
