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happen, because God was working in the fabric of history as well. And although the promise was made
to specific persons, such as Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, it was cosmopolitan in its
inclusiveness. What God was doing through Israel and these individuals was to be a source of blessing to
all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3).
Some insist that the Messiah whom Christians revere is not the same one that Jewish people also look
forward to meeting. To them, ask “It says in Zechariah 12:10 that ‘They will look on me.’ Who is the one
speaking here?”
Their reply will be inevitably, “The Almighty, of course.”
Then ask them, “’They will look on me, the one they have pierced.’ How did He get pierced?” It was at
Calvary that Almighty God was pierced.
The Bible is saying that on that future day of His Second Coming, Jews and Gentiles will personally see
the One who was pierced for the sins of the world. In other words, that “future day” will not be the first
time they have seen Him. So even the Old Testament, it turns out, anticipated two comings of the
Messiah: one at His birth and another when He comes as triumphant king at His Second Coming.
What would this world be like without the Messiah? What would Christmas be like without the
fulfillment of all those ancient promises and the prospect of Messiah’s coming yet once more as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords? His arrival has made the difference between light and darkness itself. Think
what His triumphal appearance once more will mean to this world. Everyone, including all of nature
itself (Romans 8:20-21), will let out a burst of praise such as has never been heard: Here comes the King
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Himself, our Lord and our Savior! Joy to the World!
So, what are the odds that Jesus Christ could fulfill the prophecies concerning
the Messiah?
The apostle Peter, after testifying that he had seen Jesus Christ in all His glory, said, “And so we have the
prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark
place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19, NASB). Peter here is
appealing to fulfilled prophecy as a witness to the truth of the Scriptures.
The Bible itself gives the purpose of prophecy, “Remember the former things long past, for I am God,
and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and
from ancient times things which have not been done… ” (Isaiah 46:9, 10, NASB).
“I declared the former things long ago and they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them.
Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.… Therefore I declared them to you long ago, before they took
place I proclaimed them to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my graven image and
my molten image have commanded them’” (Isaiah 48:3, 5, NASB).
The New Testament spoke of the coming of Jesus Christ, “Which he promised beforehand through his
prophets in the holy scriptures” (Romans 1:1–4, RSV).
26 https://decisionmagazine.com/the-promise-of-the-messiah/
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