January 21, 2008

The scripture gives many examples of prophecies that were fulfilled already and also not yet. Below are some that are quoted in the New Testament. Mat 1:22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew is quoting Isaiah 7:14. But in the context, Isaiah was talking about a sign for Ahaz. Isaiah was talking about his own son but the Holy Spirit was also speaking of Christ. Thus we see the apostolic method of interpretation. Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled already for Ahaz, but not yet for Mary. Isaiah meant it for Ahaz, but the Holy Spirit meant it for both. Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.Isa 8:18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts. Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew is here quoting Hosea 11:1. Hosea is referring to Israel as God’s son. But we see from this that the true Israelite is Christ. We also see this in Isaiah where Israel is called the servant of the Lord (Isa. 41:8). The context in Isaiah continues to chapter 53 that describes the servant’s suffering for our transgressions. The Jews say that chapter does not refer to Christ, but to Israel. True. But the only true Israelite is Christ. He is the Good Olive Tree. But in the context of Hosea, it is referring to the nation of Israel. So here again we see a double application. Hos 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2 As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images. Mat 2:17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” Clark’s Commentary says – A voice was heard in Ramah] The Ramah mentioned here, (for there were several towns of this name,) was situated in the tribe of Benjamin, about six or seven miles from Jerusalem. Near this place Rachel was buried; who is here, in a beautiful figure of poetry, represented as coming out of her grave, and lamenting bitterly for the loss of her children, none of whom presented themselves to her view, all being slain or gone into exile. St. Matthew, who is ever fond of accommodation, applies these words, Mt 2:17, 18, to the massacre of the children at Bethlehem. That is, they were suitable to that occasion, and therefore he so applied them; but they are not a prediction of that event. Mat 2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Which one of the prophets is Matthew quoting here? There is only one place these words are found in the Old Testament. Jud 13:5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” It appears that the apostolic method of interpretation sees Samson as a type of Christ. The word to Samson’s mother was fulfilled in Samson already, but not yet in Christ. Jesus is the Greater Samson.  1Co 10:11 Now all these things [written in the Old Testament] happened to them as examples [Gr tupos], and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. We see this same principal in the covenant with David. The prophet Nathan promised four things, but Gabriel, to Mary, reversed the order of the four items. Observe the following. The New Testament substance is mirrored by Old Testament types just as the objects in a mirror are reversed. Promise To David1. Kingdom2. House3. Throne4. God’s Son The Type2 Samuel 7:12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 “I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.”Promise To MarySon of GodThrone of DavidHouse of JacobHis kingdomThe FulfillmentLuke 1:31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” This is a good example of how the prophecy to David had a double meaning. It was fulfilled in Solomon “already,” but not yet until the Greater Solomon came. Jesus said, “a greater than Solomon is here” (Luke 11:31). Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land