"and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (KJV)
Within this single verse, the apostle Paul fully describes and enumerates the one-and-only status of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The Son of God came to earth in a human body... He tabernacled among us. Jesus fulfilled many of the prophesies of the old testament at birth. Others, He will fulfill at His second coming. Here are seventeen prophecies from the Old Covenant (Testament), their fulfillment in the New Covenant (Testament), and, the probability of this happening "by chance". I am not going to write these out; it would make this post much too long and detailed; but, if the reader doubts any of these, please take the time to look up the references provided.
The Laws of Probability: If you study statistics, you will find that there are mathematical laws and theories governing the odds of an event occurring. The probability of a single event occurring is one chance in five; the probability of a second event is also one in ten; the combined odds of both events occurring together in sequence is five multiplied by ten. Therefore, the odds of the two events occurring in sequence is fifty. If I toss a coin in the air - "heads or tails" - the odds are one out of two (50%) that I will get "heads". But, suppose I toss two coins in a row. What are the odds of my getting heads" twice? The answer is only one chance in four (25%). The combined odds are 2 x 2 = 4. Now, what if I tossed the coin ten times? What would the odds be that I would get "heads" all ten times? Here is the calculation and the answer:2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 1,024.
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| John the Baptist |
#2: Old Testament prophecy: A messenger would precede the Messiah. (Isaiah 40:3) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 3:1,2 Probability: 1 chance in 20
To calculate the combined probability of these two predictions, we must multiply 2,400 x 20, which equals 1 chance in 48,000 that Jesus would fulfill both predictions by chance.
#3:Old Testament prophecy: He would enter Jerusalem on a colt. (Zechariah 9:9) New Testament fulfillment:
Luke 19:35-37. Probability: 1 chance in 50.
The odds of these three prophecies happening "at random" are 50 X 48,000 = 1 chance in 2,400,000 that Jesus would fulfill all three of these prophecies.
#4: Old Testament prediction: He would be betrayed by a friend. (Psalm 41:9) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:47,48 Probability: 1 chance in 10.
The combined probability for these four prophecies is 1 chance in 2.4 million.
#5: Old Testament prophesy: His hands and feet would be pierced. (Psalm 22:16) New Testament fulfillment: Luke 23:33. Probability : 1 chance in 100
The combined odds of these five prophecies being fulfilled by one person: 1 chance in 2.4 Billion
#6: Old Testament prediction: His enemies would wound the Messiah. (Isaiah 54:5) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:26. Probability: 1 chance in 10.
Combined probability = 1 chance in 24 Billion
#7: Old Testament prophecy: He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. (Zechariah 11:12) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:15. Probability: 1 chance in 50.Combined probability = one in 1 Trillion, 200 Billion against all seven predictions occurring in one lifetime.
#8: Old Testament prediction: He will be spit upon and beaten. (Isaiah 50:6) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:67. Probability: 1 chance in ten.
Combined odds: i chance in 12 Trillion that these eight prophecies would be fulfilled by one Man.
#9: Old Testament prediction: His betrayal money would be thrown in the Temple and then given to buy a potter's field. (Zechariah 11:13) New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:5-7. Odds of this happening: 1 chance in 200.Combined probability: The combined odds against these nine predictions being fulfilled by one Man: One chance in 2,400 Trillion.
To be continued with next post...
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