Messias Prophesied Part 1
In today’s world the concept of a messias is understood by just about everyone. A messias is an individual that is going to free someone from what ever it is they need to be freed from or save someone from what ever it is they need to be saved from. It is commonly used subject matter in movies, in television shows, in books and in novels. There are literally millions and millions of people on this earth today that believe in a Messias. They may believe that he has already come to this earth or they may believe he has not yet come to this earth. There have also been an innumerable number of people that have lived and died on this earth that also had a belief in a Messias. The idea of a Messias coming to earth can actually be traced back to the beginning of mankind. It was a promise given to mankind by God our creator. The proof can be found in the most unique book ever written it is called the bible. Proving there is a God is not difficult every society is governed by law. The laws that govern societies had to be born of intelligence. There are laws that govern the entire universe. Such as gravity the speed of light or the speed of sound. The laws that govern the universe also had to be born of intelligence. These laws of the universe are scientific facts that they are born of intelligence is obvious therefore God is unmistakable.
The bible is the book that God had written for mankind why is it so unique? It was written over a period of 1600 years by more than 40 authors. This makes some of what was written almost 4,000 years old. None of the authors contradicts the other and yet they may have lived hundreds of years apart. The Old Testament contains records of events from the creation of mankind to about 400 BC. It also contains the promise and prophecies of the Messias. The New Testament consists of eyewitness accounts of the life, message, death and resurrection of the Messias. Its books also include a chronicle of the men the Messias chose to deliver his message to the world.
God gave the promise of a Messias to a man named Abraham. This man Abraham lived on the earth about 4,000 years ago. This promise was also a prophecy because the Messias would not be born until about 2,000 years after the promise was given. The account is found in the first book of the Old Testament called Genesis.
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, unto a land that I will show you:
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.
God told Abraham that “in him all the families of the earth would be blessed”. What exactly did that mean? How would all the families of the earth be blessed in Abraham? A man named Matthew made the meaning very clear in his record of the Messias. It is found in the first book of the New Testament that is called by his name.
Matthew 1:1 & 16
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Matthew says the “generation” or the “making” of Jesus the son of Abraham. In verse 16 Jesus is also called “Christ” which is the Greek word for Messias. All the families of the earth would be blessed in Abraham because the Messias would be “generated” or “made” from him. A promise and prophecy that was fulfilled 2,000 years after it was given. Think about it only God could promise someone a very special descendant and then make it happen 2,000 years later.
Another man named Balaam was given a vision from God about the coming of the Messias. Balaam lived about 800 years after Abraham he was a priest and prophet of God. Moses was at this time leading the Israelites out of Egypt and Balak the king of Moab was afraid of them. He asked Balaam to curse the Israelites and when Balaam asked God to curse them he was given a vision. It is also found in the Old Testament in the book of Numbers.
Numbers 24:15-17
15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said:
16 He has said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
This vision and prophecy is over 3,000 years old and there are 2 very important details given to consider. Balaam prophesied that there would come a “star” out of Jacob and a “scepter” would rise in Israel. What exactly did this mean? The answers are 2 of the most extraordinary events to ever occur on the face of this earth. The first answer is found in the New Testament book of Matthew.
Matthew 2:2 & 9
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
A “star” suddenly appears in the night sky and men from the east who were not Israelites follow it to the birthplace of the Messias. Not only did they know of the prophecy of the star that would come out of Jacob. They also knew that the Messias would be a King because a scepter is the emblem of rule and authority. But wait a minute Balaam said that a “scepter” would “rise” in Israel. The Messias gives the answer to his followers in the New Testament book of Luke.
Luke 24:44-46
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
A “scepter” did in deed rise in Israel and when the Messias ascended into heaven he was given rule and authority as is recorded by the Apostle Peter in the New Testament book called by his name.
1 Peter 3:21-22
21 The like figure where unto even baptism does also now save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Balaam prophesied of the resurrection of the Messia and the rule that would be given Him by God about 1200 years before it happened.
These are only two of the prophecies that pertain to the Messias of God our creator. There are many, many more please take the time to read part two of Messias Prophesied to learn more.