Justin Martyr, 2nd century

“To declare a thing shall come to be, long before it is in being and then bring about that very thing according to the same declaration – this, or nothing, is the work of God.”

Isaiah 46:9-11; 41:26

ONLY GOD CAN FULFILL PROPHECY

• A forth-telling and a foretelling• NOT a guess, a forecast, a mere

conjecture or a vague generalization

What are true prophecies?

• Criteria of True Prophecy [H.W. Everest, The Divine Demonstration, p.260]:

• The event must be beyond the power of man to foresee.

• It must be demonstrated that the prediction was written before the event.

• The prediction must be applicable to the event.

• The language of the predictions must be unambiguous and unmistakable.

• The prediction must have a clear and demonstrable fulfillment.

What are true prophecies?

• The purpose of fulfilled prophecy is to provide evidence that God has spoken.• John 14:29

What are true prophecies?

• Spokesmen for God• Deuteronomy 18:18

• Prophets and prophecy were to be tested.• Deuteronomy 18:20

God’s prophets spoke as they were guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20, 21).

• From 1947 to 1956 Dead Sea Scrolls’ caves were excavated.• Thousands of manuscript

fragments• Jewish sect Essenes – monastic

community near Qumran• Essenes existed from 167 B.C. to

A.D. 68

Isaiah scroll was written definitely before the coming of Christ.

• Great Isaiah Scroll• 24 foot long scroll• A complete manuscript• Oldest Hebrew scroll – dated from

100 B.C.

• Septuagint, Greek translation of Hebrew Old Testament, dated from 250 B.C.

Isaiah scroll was written definitely before the coming of Christ.

• God’s predictions spoken by Isaiah (740-700 B.C.):

• A virgin will give birth to a son named Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14)• A son will be born and will be deity (9:6-7)• The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon Jesse’s descendant who will judge righteously (11:1-5)• God’s chosen Servant will bring forth justice and salvation (42:6; 49:6)• God’s Servant will suffer and die bearing the sins of others, interceding for sinners (53:3-6)

Only God could have foreknown, foretold and then fulfilled Messianic prophecies.

• Jesus hits the mark on every point:

•Seed of woman (Genesis 3:15)•Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18)•Seed of Judah (Genesis 49:10)•Seed of David (2 Samuel 7:12, 13)•God’s Holy One not left in Hades (Psalm 16:10)

Only God could have foreknown, foretold and then fulfilled Messianic prophecies.