Is there anything that sets Christianity apart from other religions? Why do Christians claim that Christianity is true and other religions aren’t? Just what are “messianic prophecies”? Why are they important? How can we know who God really is?
Well, the God of the Bible has told us exactly how we can know that He is the one true God. One of the primary ways that God authenticates Himself is through predictive prophecy. In other words, only the one true God can tell us the end of the story from the beginning. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says this:
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.
So is there evidence in the Scriptures that God has told us the end from the beginning?
There sure is!
When you are talking with a non-believer, have them read Isaiah chapter 53.
Then ask them who it is talking about. Most of the time they will say something like: “Of course it is talking about Jesus – but should we be surprised that the Bible talks about Jesus?”
Then tell them that Isaiah 53 was written about 700 years BEFORE Jesus came to earth.
That will get their attention.
The truth is that Isaiah 53 contains stunning messianic prophecies of the suffering, death and resurrection of the future Messiah.
7 different times in that chapter Isaiah prophecies that the future Messiah will suffer for OUR sins…..
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows
Isaiah 53:5 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.
Isaiah 53:6 …the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:8 …for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering
Isaiah 53:11 …he will bear their iniquities
Isaiah 53:12 For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53 also tells us that the Messiah will die and that He would be assigned a grave with the wicked (Jesus was crucified with thieves) and with the rich (He was buried in a rich man’s tomb)…..
Isaiah 53:12 …he poured out his life unto death
Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death
In verse 11, Isaiah also tells us that after His suffering, the Messiah would be resurrected…..
Isaiah 53:11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied
Isn’t all of this amazing?
If you have never read Isaiah 53, I would encourage you to read the entire chapter:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053&version=9
But Isaiah 53 is not alone. The Bible is literally packed with prophecies that have been fulfilled.
But getting back to Isaiah 53, the Bible Code researchers have found something truly extraordinary in that chapter.
They have found the name of Jesus (Yeshua), Mary, the names of the 12 disciples, Messiah, Galilee, Herod, His Cross, Let Him Be Crucified and many other terms related to Jesus all in this short passage.
You can read all about it at this excellent site:
http://bibleprobe.com/jesuscode.htm
What will the skeptics have to say now? It is all a “coincidence”? If that is what you believe, then you have a whole lot of blind faith.
Anyway, here are some of the terms that the Bible Code researchers have discovered in Isaiah 53 and the verses where the terms were found:
Yeshua (Jesus) 53:10
Nazarene 53:6
Messiah 53:11
Shiloh 53:12
Passover 53:10
Galilee 53:7
Herod 53:6
Caiaphas, High Priest 52:15
Annas, High Priest 53:3
Mary 53:11
Mary 53:10
Mary 53:9
The Disciples 53:12
Peter 53:10
Matthew 53:8
John 53:10
Andrew 53:4
Philip 53:5
Thomas 53:2
James 52:2
James 52:2
Simon 52:14
Thaddaeus 53:12
Matthias 53:5
Let Him be crucified 53:8
His Cross 53:6
Lamp of the Lord 53:5
His signature 52:7
Bread 53:12
Wine 53:5
From Zion 52:14
Moriah 52:7
Obed (servant) 53:7
Jesse 52:9
Seed 52:5
Water 52:7
Levites 54:3
From the Atonement Lamb 52:12
Joseph 53:2
Now that you are faced with the evidence, what will you do?
Will you turn to God or will you continue to ignore Him?
We urge you to make the right choice:
http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1049/1049_01.asp
The truth is out there if you are willing to look at it.