FULFILLED PROPHECY PRODUCES FAITH

The Bible, for the most part, has to do with the history of God's interaction with His creation, but approximately twenty-seven percent of the Bible is prophecy:  what God will do in the future.  It begins with His description of how He created the Universe (History - Gen. 1 - 2), and it ends with John's vision describing, what could be called, the beginning of eternity (Prophecy - Rev. 21 - 22).

Bible prophecy can be divided into two categories:  prophecies that have been literally fulfilled, most of which were fulfilled by Christ's First Advent; and those prophecies yet to be fulfilled.  I have no doubt that those prophecies which describe Christ's Second Advent will also be fulfilled literally.

There is a phrase in the Scriptures which appears only in the Book of Matthew:  "that it might be fulfilled."  Matthew's Gospel is a transitional book, connecting the Israel of the Old Testament, with the introduction of their long-awaited Messiah.  This connection is obvious in that it begins with the genealogy of Jesus, starting with Abraham (Mt. 1:1-21).  Below are the nine occurrences of the phrase:

*  "A virgin shall be with child, and...call His name Emmanuel..." (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:22-23).
*  "Out of Egypt have I called My Son" (Hos. 11:1; Mt. 2:15).
*  "He shall be called a Nazarene" (Lk. 1:26; Mt. 2:23).
*  "The people which sat in darkness saw great light..." (Isa. 9:1-2; Mt. 4:14-16).
*  "(He) Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Isa. 53:4; Mt. 8:17).
*  "He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles" (Isa. 49:5-6; Mt. 12:17-18).
*  "...I will open My mouth in parables..." (Ps. 78:2; Mt. 13:35).
*  "Thy King cometh...sitting upon...a colt the foal of an ass" (Zech. 9:11; Mt. 21:4-5).
*  "And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots..." (Ps. 22:18; Mt. 27:35).

As can clearly be seen by comparing the Old Testament prophecies, with the New Testament fulfillment of those prophecies, God was letting us know ahead of time, what would happen, so that when it occurred, we would trust Him.  What was true of those prophecies concerning Christ's First Advent, will also be true concerning His Second Advent:

God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me; how about for you?