Jesus - The Light of the World from Genesis to Revelation

I believe that every word of scripture is prophetic.  I know this sounds a bit outrageous at first glance, but, upon studying the Bible and looking into its many layers (many of which I am probably not yet aware), I have come to the conclusion that this is so. Five years ago I didn't understand the Hebrew language as well as I do today;  understanding Hebrew and ancient Jewish customs reveals some of the prophetic layers in the scriptures.  Fifteen years ago I did not know about the Bible codes - the Hebrew text of the Bible reveals mathematical designs and codes so complex that they couldn't possible be produced by a human.  These messages were not revealed until the advent of super-computers which could detect the intricate messages within the literal  message of the scripture.  ALL of this points to Messiah!

 The very beginning of Genesis says,  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light."  (Genesis 1:1-3)

So, God created the world through the Spoken Word.  John 1:1 - 5 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."  Thus, God existed, and with Him was the Messiah - Jesus - the Word - the Light of the World.  God spoke the Word and created everything that was created. And the Holy Spirit hovered over the surface of the deep throughout this creation.  And, what was the first thing created?  Light.




" When Jesus spake again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' "  (John 8:12)

And, finally,  "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."  (Revelation 21:22,23)

I TIMOTHY 3:16 Part Two

"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen of angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory." (NIV)

What are the odds?

Continuing with the  evidence of Jesus Christ's life on earth, and how His fulfillment of so many prophecies could not possibly be "coincidental":


#10: Old Testament prediction: He would be silent before His accusers. (Isaiah 53:7)  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:12-14.  Probability:  1 chance in 100.

The odds against these ten prophecies being fulfilled by one Person = 1 chance in 24,000 Trillion.

#11: Old Testament prophecy: He would be crucified with thieves. (Isaiah 53:1)  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:38  Probability: one chance in 100.

#12:  Old Testament prediction: People would gamble for His garments. (Psalm 22:18)  New Testament fulfillment: John 19:23-24.  Probability: one chance in 100.

#13: Old Testament prediction: His side would be pierced. (Zechariah 12:10).  New Testament fulfillment:
John 19:34.  Probability: 1 chance in 100.

#14: Old Testament prediction: None of His bones would be broken. (Psalm 34:20)   New Testament fulfillment: John 19:33.   Probability: 1 chance in 20.

#15: Old Testament prophecy:  His body would not decay. (Psalm 16:10)  New Testament fulfillment:
Acts 2:31. Probability: 1 chance in 10,000.

#16: Old Testament prophecy:  He would be buried in a rich man's tomb. (Isaiah 53:9)  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:57-60.  Probability: 1 chance in 100.

# 17: Old Testament prediction: Darkness would cover the earth. (Amos 8:9).  New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:45.  Probability: 1 chance in 1,000.



The question we need to consider is this:  What are the chances that all seventeen of these predictions occurred BY CHANCE in the life of one individual - rather than by Divine plan?  The combined probability of these seventeen prophecies occurring is:
                                                  1 chance in 480 Billion x 1 Billion x 1 Trillion
or, another way of looking at it:   1 chance in 480,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!

Thus, we are confronted with a combined probability absolutely staggering in its magnitude. If, somehow, this fails to make an impression on you, consider the fact that we have only examined 17 of the 48 major predictions given in the Old Testament concerning the promised Messiah.

Certain skeptics might say that Jesus arranged to have these events occur in His life so as to fulfill prophecy.
Okay... How does an infant arrange to be born in a certain town? How would you arrange for the price of your betrayal to be thirty pieces of silver? How would you arrange to be crucified with thieves? And, how would  a crucified man arrange to have his enemies gamble for His garments?  No, Jesus of Nazareth lived and died as foreseen in the Old Testament prophecies, all of which were written by the invisible hand of God

(The primary resource for this study on probability is "Jesus, The Great Debate", by Grant Jeffrey. Please take the time to buy Mr Jeffrey's books and read them;  this two-day blog is just the tip of the iceberg of Grant Jeffrey's extensive knowledge of Jesus Christ the Messiah.)



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I TIMOTHY 3:16

          

     "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.

John the Baptist

#1: Old Testament prophecy:  He would be born in Bethlehem and be descended from the tribe of Judah. (Micah 5:2, and Genesis 49:10)   New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 2:1  Probability: 1 chance in 2400

#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...

ZECHARIAH

     This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.  They will call on my name and I will answer them: I will say, "they are my people", and they will say, "The Lord is our God."
                                                                                               Zechariah 13:9   NIV)

  

Zechariah by Michaelangelo

      The book of Zechariah has so "3:16".  The awesome verse quoted above refers to purification.  Refining.  As in strengthening as well as beautification of precious metal by placing them in the fire...
     The prophet Zechariah wrote this book of fourteen chapters to encourage his people to put off their sinful ways, and to accept refining and purification through the observance/obedience of God's law.  Zechariah foretold of the coming Messiah and of the coming of a renewed covenant through the Messiah.  He urged the "faithful remnant, which was approximately one-third of the Jews, to remain pure and obedient.  He encouraged this remnant to continue building God's temple - because this was God's plan.
     As is often (probably always!) the case, Zechariah's prophecy was for his time AND for the future. Zechariah also foretold of Christ's second coming.  The second coming will occur after the temple is rebuilt once again. We today need that same refining and purification that Zechariah wrote about thousands of years ago. Purification and obedience are still God's plan.  Why is it that we want so badly the rewards of salvation, yet balk at the purification process?
    


  
       When metal is refined in the fire, it comes out shinier, purer, and more precious with each step.  If you feel as if you've "been through the fire" lately, perhaps you are being refined.  You will come out stronger and more valuable every step of the way, until, finally, God will pull you out of the fire and you will be so pure that He will see Himself reflected in you.  This is His plan.
  

      God's  message to His people through Zechariah was "Trust me; I have a plan.  THE  PLAN.  Continue building the temple.  I need you to build the temple."  The great temple prophesied about for Israel has not yet been built.  But, there is another temple... And, where is that temple?  "Don't you know that you yourselves  are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him, for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." (I Corinthians 3:16,17)  We should be encouraging one another - not criticizing.  We should be building - not tearing down.
 

     Two sure methods of destroying a building are to mess with the foundation and to make the building with inferior materials.  The Church must have Christ the Messiah as its foundation, and each member must be willing to go through the refining process so as to be the best he can be.   I heard a preacher say recently, "Jesus told us that we would be like sheep among wolves.  If there aren't any wolves in your life, maybe you're not really a sheep."  The wolves of life... stress, financial worries, sickness, strife... are part of the refining process. Work at coming out of the fire with a pure heart and a renewed spirit.
  

RUTH 3:16

     "When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, 'How did it go, my daughter?'  Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her."   (NIV)

Ruth and Naomi, from "Women in the BIble", painter unknown 

    Love. Selfless love. The kind in which each party places the other ahead of self.  The kind we all wish we could be a part of.  Ruth and her mother-in-law had that type of love.  Ruth was from Moab, a territory which was well-known for idol worship.  But when Ruth married one of Nami's sons, Namoi taught her about God.  And Ruth became a faithful follower of God.
     The name "Ruth: means "lovely friend",  and the name "Naomi" means "pleasant".  But, as the story unfolds, both Ruth and Naomi are recently widowed and destitute.  Naomi has made plans to return to her hometown of Bethlehem;  she hopes that she will find a relative there who will take her in.  As a widow, this is her only hope of survival.  Unsure of what will happen in Bethlehem, Naomi encourages Ruth to stay put, remarry, and be secure.  But Ruth insists on going with Naomi to Bethlehem;  she can't allow her friend to go alone with no one to take care of her.  This was a true friendship between these women;  each was putting the other's needs first.

Ruth in the Fields, painter Merle Hughes

 When the two women arrive in Bethlehem, they start to glean grain from a field.  In those days, it was the law to leave the corners of one's field unharvested.  These corners could then be gleaned by widows, orphans, and foreigners - all of whom would starve otherwise.  The women were gleaning the field when Boaz, the owner of the field, arrived on the scene.  He instructed his men to give them extra grain and to be kind to them.  As it turns out, Boaz was related to Naomi's deceased husband, but Boaz showed kindness to the women before he knew this.
     The book of Ruth has only four chapters.  It's an easy read.  And it's sort of like a "Cinderella story". Ruth would be "Cinderella" and Boaz would be "Prince Charming".  Boaz, a wealthy man, showed kindness to both women upon their arrival in Bethlehem.  Eventually, Boaz married Ruth, and they took Naomi in and cared for her the rest of her life.  It is recorded in the Bible that throughout her days Ruth was known for her love and kindness toward others.  That sounds like "happily ever after" to me...
     But, then, the writer tacked on a little list of geneology at the end of Ruth's story. And, we find out from this list of who-begat-whom that Ruth was the great-grandmother of king David, which makes her a direct ancestor of Jesus the Messiah.  There are only four women listed in the geneology of Jesus Christ.  Ruth is one of them. So, from an "unimportant" widow from a pagan country... came a great woman of God.