Prophecies fulfilled after the death and resurrection of Jesus

By Ray Konig | azbible.com

The Old Testament of the Bible contains prophecies that God's message of salvation would spread to people throughout the world and that the Messiah would have a worldwide impact. These prophecies began to find fulfillment after the death and resurrection of Jesus about 2000 years ago.

The Messiah would have a worldwide impact

There are various prophecies in the Bible that indicate that the Messiah would be known by people far beyond the boundaries of Israel, that he would affect people throughout the world.

In the Old Testament book of Micah, for example, there is a prophecy about the Messiah that says:

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:4, NIV)

Another example can be found in the book of Isaiah, where God reveals the impact that the Messiah would have:

he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6, NIV)

About 700 years after the time of the prophets Micah and Isaiah, Jesus was born in the land of Israel. He began his ministry when he was about 30 years old and he proclaimed that he was the Messiah who had been promised by the prophets of the Old Testament.

Jesus also revealed that his followers, who were evangelizing to others about Jesus, would be successful in reaching people throughout the world:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NIV)

Jesus' followers risked their lives to tell others about Jesus and of the salvation that is found in him. Jesus' followers traveled throughout the Roman Empire, where Christianity was not a legally recognized religion, and beyond. They preached to people throughout parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. From there, Christianity eventually spread to the world's other continents and islands.

The extent to which Jesus is internationally known is unprecedented. Christianity has a widespread, historically influential presence on each of the world's inhabitable continents.

God's salvation would reach the ends of the earth

In Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah prophesied of a servant of God (the Messiah) who would bring God's salvation to people throughout the world.

Jesus, as history shows, is the first and only person to be widely accepted as being the Messiah who was promised by Isaiah and other prophets of the Old Testament. And, the message of Jesus, including God's offer of salvation through Jesus (John 3:16; Romans 10:9,10; Acts 4:10-12; etc.), has been evangelized to people throughout the world.

In Acts 13:47, Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:6 in reference to evangelizing to Gentiles.

Here is Isaiah 49:6:

The line of kings descended from King David would be eternal

In 2 Samuel 7:16, we are told that the throne of David would be established forever.

King David lived about 3,000 years ago. He was the second king of Israel, and it was his descendants, rather than those of the first king, Saul, who reigned on the throne in Jerusalem for nearly four centuries after David's death.

The succession of reigning Davidic kings came to a temporary end after the Babylonians had conquered Jerusalem and the surrounding area, about 2,600 years ago.

Then, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus became the final person recorded in the Bible as being a king of Davidic descent. Jesus is recorded in Matthew 1:1-17 as being a descendant of King David through Jesus' adoptive father, Joseph. And, in Luke 3:23-38, Jesus also is recorded as being a descendant of King David. Some scholars believe that the genealogy provided by Luke traces Jesus' ancestry through his mother, Mary.

Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He is fully divine and fully human at the same time. As such, he is a descendant of King David and he is uniquely able to preside over an everlasting kingdom.

Here is 2 Samuel 7:16:

Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'" (2 Samuel 7:16, NIV)

In Psalm 89, there is another promise from God involving the permanence of David's throne. In reference to David, God said, "that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;" (Psalm 89:36, NIV).

This is fulfilled by Jesus. As a human, he is a descendant of David. And because Jesus is also fully God, he is uniquely able to reign forever as King.

Here is Psalm 89:34-37:

34 I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.

35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness- and I will not lie to David-

36 that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun;

37 it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." (Psalm 89:34-37, NIV)

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