Over 300 Prophecies

There are over 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. These prophecies were made hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years before Jesus Christ was born. I was going to include all of them in a bulleted list, but then I thought, “Whose going to read over 300 bulleted items?” So instead, I’m just going to include some of the main prophecies, in paragraph form, in an attempted logical order, to make it easier to read. If you touch your mouse cursor over the verse reference, it will show you the entire verse.

The Old Testament says that the Messiah would descend from Shem (Genesis 9,10), Abraham (Gen. 22:18), Isaac (Gen. 26:2-4), Jacob (Gen. 28:14), Judah (Gen. 49:10), Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-5), and King David (Sam. 7:11-16). He would be heir to the throne of David (King of the Jews, King of Kings and Lord of Lords) (Isaiah 9:6-7). He would be born of the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15). Nothing is said about the seed of a man. All nations would be blessed by Abraham’s seed (Gen. 12:3). He would be preceded by a messenger to prepare His way (Malachi 3:1), fulfilled in Matthew 11:7-11. His messenger would come before Him in the spirit of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6), fulfilled in Luke 1:17. This messenger would cry, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” (Isaiah 40:3), fulfilled in Matthew 3:3. The Messiah would be a prophet of the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 18:15), fulfilled in Matthew 2:15.

The Messiah would be born in the city of Bethlehem in the county of Ephrathah (Micah 5:2) when a bright star appears (Numbers 24:17). It will be a miraculous, virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14). He would be presented with gifts (Psalm 72:10). There would be a slaughter of the children (Jeremiah 31:15), fulfilled in Matthew 2:18. The Messiah would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), fulfilled in Matthew 2:15. He would be a Nazarene (Judges 13:5; Amos 2:11; Lamentations 4:7), fulfilled in Matthew 2:23.

The Messiah would be unique, having pre-existed His birth (Micah 5:2). He would be declared to be the Son of God (Psalm 2:7), fulfilled in Matthew 3:17 and Matthew 17:5. He would preach to the poor, the brokenhearted and the captives (Isaiah 61:1), fulfilled in Matthew 11:5. He would perform many miracles, such as calming the sea (Psalm 107:29) and causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the mute to talk (Isaiah 35:4-6 and Isaiah 29:18). He would come to bring a sword, not peace (Micah 7:6), fulfilled in Matthew 10:34-35. He would be rejected by His own (Isaiah 53:3). He would be a stone of stumbling to Israel (Isaiah 8:14-15), fulfilled in I Peter 2:8.

The Messiah would come to save mankind (Isaiah 53). He would become man's sin offering (Isaiah 53) and present Himself to Jerusalem as both the anointed King (Zechariah 9:9) and the Passover Lamb (Isaiah 53). This would occur exactly 173,880 days after the decree by Artaxerxes to rebuild both Jerusalem and the Temple (Daniel 9:20-27). So, 4 days before Passover, the Messiah would present Himself to a rejoicing Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). But then He would suffer greatly (Isaiah 53), and would be rejected by many, including His friends (Isaiah 53). He would be hated without a cause (Psalm 35:19). He would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9) for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13). Those 30 pieces of silver would later be thrown on the floor of the temple (Zechariah 11:12-13) and would eventually go to a potter (Zechariah 11:12-13). He would be forsaken by His disciples (Zechariah 13:7). At His trial, He would be silent to accusations (Isaiah 53:7) except as required by law (when the High Priest put Him under oath, He was required by law to answer, so He finally admitted to being the Christ, Mark 14:60-64). Israel would reject Him (Isaiah 8:14). He would be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11). He would be spit upon, smitten and scourged (Isaiah 50:6 and Isaiah 53:5). He would be smitten on the cheek (Micah 5:1).

The Messiah would be taken to a hilltop identified by Abraham as "the Lord will provide"---God would provide Himself a Lamb as an offering (Genesis 22:8). He would be the Sacrificial Lamb (Isaiah 53:5). He would be given for a Covenant (Isaiah 42:6 and Jeremiah 31:31-34). He would be crucified with His hands and His feet pierced (Psalm 22). He would not strive or cry (Isaiah 42:2-3), fulfilled in Mark 7:36. His enemies would encircle Him (Psalm 22), and would cast lots for His clothing (Psalm 22:18). He would call to God (His Father), asking why He was forsaken (Psalm 22). He would be given gall and wine (Psalm 69:20-22). He would die with thieves (Isaiah 53). But unlike the thieves, none of His bones would be broken (Psalm 22). His heart would fail (Psalm 22), as indicated by blood and water spilling out (Psalm 22) when He was pierced with a spear (Zechariah 12:10). Research has indicated that His heart burst. He would be buried in a rich man's grave (Isaiah 53). In 3 days, He would rise from the dead (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22).

He would be referred to in many ways including 'Immanuel, God with us' (Isaiah 7:14), wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). One day He will rule over everything---all nations will bow down to Him (Isaiah 45:23, Psalm 22).

The odds against any one person’s fulfilling all the above prophecies are astronomical. It has been estimated that the odds against it are one in 10 to the 17th power (ten followed by 17 zeros). Considering the fact that Jesus Christ literally fulfilled all of these prophecies, it is an impossibility that He is not Messiah, Savior of the world. The ONLY person---past, present or future---who could fulfill all these prophecies is Jesus Christ.