KING HEROD USES THIS PROPHECY TO FIND OUT THE PLACE OF BIRTH OF JESUS:
We see it in Matthew 2:4-6 that King Herod got information about Bethlehem only through this prophecy.
Matthew 2:4 (NKJV) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
Armed with this information King Herod ordered the killing of all male children under the age of two in and around Bethlehem in verse 16.
Isaiah prophecy #4 THE PROPHECY ABOUT JESUS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION – Isaiah 53
The whole chapter 12 of Isaiah deals with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Let us see a few verses of this prophecy.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 8.He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? FOR HE WAS CUT OFF FROM THE LAND OF THE LIVING; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
AND THE RESURRECTION:
Isaiah 53:10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, HE SHALL PROLONG HIS DAYS, AND THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD SHALL PROSPER IN HIS HAND. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.
AND THE FUTURE (PROPHESIED THROUGH JOHN, THE APOSTLE AT PATMOS ISLAND) – 90-96 AD
John saw Jesus on Judgement throne – the Great white throne judgement for the unbelievers, sinners and those who follow God(s) who are incapable of speaking to human beings. None who ignored Jesus can escape this great white throne judgement.
Revelation 20:11 (NKJV) The Great White Throne Judgement
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
LAKE OF FIRE AWAITED FOR THE SINNERS AND UNBELIEVERS:
Those whose believe in Gods who are incapable of speaking to human beings will be judged here with the price that is eternal – the lake of fire.
Jesus has said it very clearly that He is the only route to Heaven. No Mohamed, no Mother Mary (John 14:6)
THE REDEMPTION PLAN: JESUS DEFEATED DEATH
Jesus had to destroy satan who is the author of death. He gave His life into the hands of the Father on the Cross (Luke 23:46) and resurrected on His own on the 3rd day thus destroying satan who is the author of death.
Hebrews 2:14 (NKJV) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
We know the resurrected Jesus is not going to die forever (Romans 6:9).
Through the Cross the Lord achieved multiple objectives viz., a) paying the price for the sins thus rescuing His children from the clutches of devil b) fear of death removed from His children as they have the blessed hope of resurrection just like Jesus Christ and 3) the Lord took back the keys of hades and death from satan. Whatever lost through sin in Eden garden was restored to the hands of the original owner – Jesus.
KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES BACK TO JESUS, THE SON OF MAN
What was lost in Eden Garden was got back on the cross, after crushing the head of satan, the old serpent.
Revelation 1:18 (NKJV) I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Today, the devil has no powers over any human being unless the Lord Jesus gives him authority to do so. Because the Lord has removed the keys of hades and death from the devil. In other words, no life can be taken ahead of the Lord ordained date and time through accident, suicide, diseases etc. unless Jesus concurs with the devil. The devil needs prior sanction to do any of these things. He has lost his power on the Cross. Amen.
As I knew this truth, I had no problem at all facing murderous crowds while touring on Lord's work during the years 2011-2015 (upto Jan 2015). The word of the Lord was “no one would lay his hands on you”. Jesus has absolute powers over the devil. Well, he handed over that power to us through Luke 10:19. Cool.
Taking back the keys of hades and death was an important part of the redemption plan. That was achieved on the Cross. Unless the Son of Man had come to the earth in flesh and blood and paid the price for sins, this was not possible.
THE BOX ITEM: NO ONE CAN KILL JESUS, THE ALMIGHTY GOD.
Let the blind see: For those blind people who say Jesus was just a man and not Son of God!
JESUS: “I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again”.
John 10:17 (NKJV) “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
PROPHECY FULFILMENT: Jesus entrusts His Spirit into the hands of Father God.
Luke 23:46 (NKJV) And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.
THE RESURRECTION:
The angel of the Lord at the sepulchre where they buried the body of Jesus:
Mark 16:6 (NKJV) But he (angel) said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Angel of the Lord says, “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay”
Matthew 28:1 (NKJV) Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
With these, the Lord's prophecies through John 10:17 and 18 got fulfilled. Amen.
- To be Continued