"Examine the Evidence"

Challenge any of today's so-called psychics to see who would be willing to stake their lives on their predictions and we bet there would be no takers. Yet that was the standard for Biblical prophets--one false claim and they were stoned. (and we don't mean on pot!) (Deut. 13:1-11)

The reason God filled the Scriptures with provable, fulfilled predictions was to lend this library of books (the Bible) credibility. The concept of a book directly inspired by God had to be backed up with evidence--otherwise who'd believe it?

The Scriptures have been scrutinized by scholars, ripped to shreds by skeptics and studied by scientists for 2,000 years. No one can dismiss it. Archaeological research offers proof that the Bible can be trusted in geographical and historical matters. Manuscript evidence exceeds those of any other ancient document and the Dead Sea Scrolls prove that modern Bibles are identical to ancient copies.

With this in mind, let's take a look at eight of the Messianic prophecies. Though there are many more, we chose only eight because the mathematical odds of anyone fulfilling all eight prophecies is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In other words, it's impossible!

1.
Prediction: Isaiah 7:19 says: "The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Immanuel means 'God with us'. Isaiah lived seven hundred years before the birth of Christ.
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."

2.
Prediction: The prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, predicted the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2).
Fulfillment: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?'" (Matt. 2:1-2).

These are only two of the many Old Testament prophecies surrounding Jesus' birth. There is nothing vague or wishy-washy about them. We can think of at least nine others that are just as specific.

3.
Prediction: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."
(Is. 53:4)
Fulfillment: "...He healed all who were sick." (Matt. 8:16a).

4.
Prediction: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9).
Fulfillment: "They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude...cried out saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'" (Matt. 21:7).

5.
Prediction: Zechariah penned this prophecy almost 500 years before Jesus was born: "And the Lord said to me, 'Throw it to the potters'--this magnificent sum at which they valued me!' So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potters in the Temple of the Lord.'" (Zech.11: 12, 13).
Fulfillment: "Then Judas, Jusus' betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ' I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.'
And they said, ' What is that to us? You see to it.'
Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
But the chief priests took the silver...and bought the potter's field." (Matt. 27:3-7).

How specific is that?

6 & 7.
Prediction: In Psalm 22, David gives a vivid description of Christ's crucifixion more than a thousand years before the event.
(Psalm 22:16) : "...they pierced My hands and My feet."
(Psalm 22:7) : "They divided My garment among them, And for My clothing they cast lots."
Fulfillment: (Matt. 27:35) : "Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots..."

8.
Prediction: "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." (Is. 53:4-5).
Fulfillment: "It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:24-25).

These are only eight. There are hundreds more; each graphic, literal and exact.

A wise guy once said : "Seven days without the Bible makes one weak."

News:

• Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke warns Congress of dire economic consequences if debt ceiling is not raised.
• Japan's beef test positive for radioactivity. Japanese officials claim it is nothing to worry about.

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