Page 76 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook- short

• (2) Oracles against the Nations. Another way prophets brought a message of hope and salvation to
the people of God was through pronouncing judgments against other nations who had rebelled
against God. Although in a formal sense these prophecies were judgments, they served as positive
assurances of salvation for the faithful people of God because they were leveled against the enemies
of God's people. Nahum and Obadiah, in their entirety, describe holy war against Gentiles. Within
the larger books, major sections consist of oracles against the nations (Isa. 13-24; Jer. 46-51; Ezek.
25-32).

Oracles against the nations divide into two main types. On the one hand, a number of prophecies
announced that God would judge specific nations through the aggressions of other nations (for
example, Amos 1:2-2:3; Zeph. 1:18-21). On the other hand, a number of prophets proclaimed that a
final worldwide judgment against the nations would take place after God's people were restored
from exile (Ezek. 38:17-23; Amos 9:12; Hag. 2:20-23).

Christ in the Prophets

Old Testament prophets pointed to Christ and his work in a variety of ways. In all cases, Christ fulfilled
dimensions of these prophetic expectations in his first coming, continues to fulfill them in his ministry to
the church today, and will ultimately fulfill them in the consummation of all things at his second coming.

In most cases, the prophets anticipated Christ quite indirectly. This was especially true when they spoke
of lesser judgments and blessings whose fulfillments characteristically took place during Old Testament
times. These acts of divine justice and mercy had already taken place, but they also foreshadowed the
greater judgments and blessings that Christ would bring.

Prophets predicted Christ and his work more directly when they focused on the great judgment of exile
and the blessing of restoration from exile (with the associated judgment against the nations at the
restoration). The destruction and exile of Israel and Judah were mere preludes to the eternal judgment
that will come against the covenant people who rebel against God. Similarly, the restoration of God's
faithful people to the Promised Land and the blessings their received, as well as the judgment against
the nations predicted for the days of restoration, anticipated the final reward and judgment that Christ
would bring.

The most direct predictions of Christ appear when the prophets spoke of specific royal, priestly and
prophetic activities that would take place in association with the restoration after exile ("my signet ring"
[Hag. 2:23]; "I will restore David's fallen tent" [Amos 9:11]). It is in this context that specifically royal,
Messianic prophecies appear. As the prophets spoke of the days of God's Kingdom after the exile, they
made references to the ways in which the great Son of David would bring judgment against God's
enemies and grant eternal blessings to his people. These predictions were fulfilled, are being fulfilled
and will be fulfilled in none other than Jesus Christ (http://reformedanswers.org/answer.asp/file/40899).

Many of the prophecies in the Major and Minor Prophets were fulfilled in the coming and life of Jesus
Christ, the Messiah. For the prophets foretold of His coming with amazing accuracy. Here is a list of a
few of the prophecies of the prophets that came to fruition in just the book of Matthew:

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