THE THIRD PART: 24 CRUCIAL LINES IN THE BIBLE
The All-inclusive Christ
Message Six—Christ Prophesied in the Old Testament
Scriptures Reading: Psa. 102:25-27; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23; Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17; Deut. 18:15-19; Psa. 40:6-8; Isa. 9:1-2; Micah 5:2; Hab. 2:6-7; Mal. 3:1; Luke 2:25
I. The prophecies concerning the divinity of Christ in the Old Testament mainly say that Christ is the eternal Creator, that His goings forth are from ancient times, that He is God, even the Mighty God, and that He is the eternal Father—Psa. 102:25-27; Micah 5:2:
A. In the aspect of divinity, the Old Testament prophesies that Christ is the Creator who is eternally unchanging and whose years are without end—Psa. 102:25-27.
B. The prophet Micah prophesied that Christ is from the ancient time and from the days of eternity; this means that Christ existed in eternity, before the creation of all things; this is also a prophecy related to Christ’s deity—Micah 5:2.
C. Psalm 45:6 prophesies that Christ is God—Psa. 45:6.
D. Isaiah prophesied that He is the Mighty God and the Eternal Father; the Christ who was born as a baby is the Son given to us by God, and this Christ the Son is the eternal Father—Isa. 9:6.
II. The Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ’s humanity mainly speak of His humanity in relation to four persons: the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the seed of David, and the branch of Jesse—Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23:
A.The first prophecy in the Old Testament, which is also the first prophecy in the entire Bible, speaks of Christ as the seed of the woman in His humanity—Gen. 3:15:
1.Christ in His humanity was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin; hence, man called His name Emmanuel—God with us—Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23.
2,Genesis 3:15 prophesies that Christ as the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the old serpent, Satan, and the serpent would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman.
B.As the seed of Abraham, Christ is typified by Isaac, who came out of Abraham and received the inheritance; furthermore, Christ in His humanity blesses the nations so that the nations may receive the gospel of Christ, which is to receive the Spirit promised by God—Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:8-12, 14, 16.
C.This indicates that Christ in His humanity is the seed of David and that in resurrection His humanity was sanctified, uplifted, transformed, and designated the Son of God—Rom. 1:3-4.
D.Christ in His humanity is a branch of Jesse, the Shoot of David—Isa. 11:1-2.
III.The Old Testament prophets not only prophesied concerning the first coming of Christ; they also prophesied concerning many aspects of His person and work in His first coming; these aspects include Christ as Shiloh, a Star, a Prophet, the One who does God’s will, a great light and a light of the nations, a child, a Son (Emmanuel), the King, the One coming forth from Bethlehem, the Desire of the nations, a Messenger of God and the Angel of the covenant, and the glory and consolation of Israel—Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17; Deut. 18:15-19; Psa. 40:6-8; Isa. 9:1-2; Micah 5:2; Hab. 2:6-7; Mal. 3:1; Luke 2:25.
IV. The prophet Micah prophesied that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, and Jeremiah also prophesied that Christ as the righteous Shoot of David, raised up by God to David, would reign as King; these prophecies tell us that, on the one hand, Christ would be born in Bethlehem and, on the other hand, Christ would be the seed of David to reign in the kingdom—Micah 5:2; Jer. 23:5.
V. According to the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1, Christ was not only anointed to have the Spirit of God upon Him; for His whole life the Spirit of God was upon Him in His living and work; toward man, He did not strive nor cry out, and His voice was not heard on the streets; toward God He had full trust; the zeal of God’s house devoured Him—Isa. 42:2; Psa. 18:1-2; 69:9a.
VI. According to the Old Testament prophecies, the crucified Christ would be the Messiah who was cut off, the stone that was rejected by the builders, a stone to strike against and a rock of stumbling to the Jews, the stone engraved by God Himself, and the smitten Shepherd—Dan. 9:25-26a; Psa. 118:22-23; Isa. 8:14; Zech. 3:9; 13:7.
VII. There are many prophecies in Psalms 22, 34, 40, and 69 concerning Christ’s death:
A.Psalm 22:6-8 prophesies that Christ was reproached of men and despised by the people.
B.Psalm 22:12-18 continues to prophesy concerning how Christ passed through the suffering of crucifixion:
1.While Christ was being crucified on the cross, many fierce men, like the mighty bulls of Bashan, encompassed Him; they opened their mouth at Him like a ravening and roaring lion; evil men, a congregation of evildoers signified by dogs, surrounded and enclosed Him—Psa. 22:12, 13, 16.
2.Christ’s two hands and two feet were nailed to the cross, and His side was pierced with a spear by one of the Roman soldiers who executed Him; two substances came out of the Lord’s pierced side: blood and water; blood is for redemption, to deal with sins for the purchasing of the church; water is for imparting life, to deal with death for the producing of the church—Acts 20:28; John 1:29; Heb. 9:22; Eph. 5:29-30; John 12:24; 3:14-15.
3.Psalm 22:18 says that they divided His garments to themselves, and for His clothing they cast lots; in His crucifixion, the Lord’s right to be clothed was stripped from Him, along with His life—John 19:23-24.
C.The prophecies in Isaiah concerning Christ’s death and burial are seen mainly in chapter 53; the emphasis of the prophecies in this chapter is that the Savior Christ died a vicarious death—Isa. 53:4-5, 7, 9, 10, 12b.
VIII. Hosea 6:2 prophesied that Christ would be raised from the dead on the third day; Christ being raised from the dead was not an accident; rather, it was planned by God in His economy for the accomplishing of His eternal purpose.
IX.Psalm 110:1 is a prophecy concerning how the resurrected Christ at the time of His ascension was seated at the right hand of God, receiving the position of glory, honor, and power.
X. Zechariah 14:9 says, “Jehovah will be King over all the earth.” This verse, along with Matthew 25:31-34 and 1 Corinthians 15:25, prophesies that at His coming back Christ will establish His kingdom on the earth; when the Lord comes back, He will save Israel, crush the Gentile nations, and judge the peoples on earth.
Ministry Excerpts:
THE PROPHECIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCERNING CHRIST—
HIS DIVINITY AND HUMANITY
The New Testament reveals and testifies that Christ in His Godhead is God, and in His humanity He is man. There are also prophecies concerning these two aspects in the Old Testament. The prophecies concerning the divinity of Christ in the Old Testament mainly say that Christ is the eternal Creator, that His goings forth are from ancient times, that He is God, even the Mighty God, and that He is the eternal Father. The prophecies concerning the humanity of Christ are typified mainly in relation to four persons: the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the seed of David, and a branch of Jesse, the Shoot of David.
In the aspect of divinity, the Old Testament prophesies that Christ is the Creator who is eternally unchanging and whose years are without end. Christ is the Creator who existed even before creation. He remains forever and ever, from eternity past to eternity future. The prophet Micah prophesied that Christ is from the ancient time and from the days of eternity. This means that Christ existed in eternity, before the creation of all things. This is also a prophecy related to Christ’s deity. The Psalms prophesy that Christ is God Himself, that in His divinity He has the eternal throne, and that the scepter of His kingdom is upright.
Concerning the aspect of His humanity, the Old Testament first prophesied that Christ is the seed of the woman; this is the first prophecy in the entire Bible. Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Christ being the seed of the woman in His humanity. As the seed of the woman, Christ in His humanity is God with us. By His death on the cross, He bruised the head of the ancient serpent, Satan. Christ in His humanity is also the seed of Abraham as typified by Isaac, who came out of Abraham and received the inheritance. Christ in His humanity blesses the nations so that the nations may receive the gospel of Christ, which is to receive the Spirit promised by God. He is also the seed of David, who builds the temple of God in His resurrected humanity and whose humanity in resurrection was designated the Son of God as the firstborn Son of God. The Old Testament further prophesied that Christ is a branch of Jesse, the Shoot of David. The Spirit of Jehovah rested upon Him, and He was full of the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of Jehovah. His name is called Jehovah our righteousness. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—HIS FIRST COMING
When the Lord appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, He said, “All the things written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms concerning Me must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). This word unveils that God prophesied in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of Christ. Furthermore, the Old Testament prophesies concerning many aspects of Christ’s person and work in His first coming.
Christ in His first coming is Shiloh; He is the Arbitrator and Peace bringer. He not only created peace between men but also rectified the condition between God and us. Since we have Christ as Shiloh, we can enjoy true reconciliation and peace. Numbers 24:17 is a prophecy concerning Christ as a Star. In His first coming Christ was manifested as a star. Psalm 40:6-8 prophesies that in His first coming, Christ came to do the will of God. As the One who does God’s will, Christ fulfills and replaces all the sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament. This is to terminate God’s Old Testament economy and to initiate and enact God’s New Testament economy. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 3)
Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 are two of the greatest prophecies in the Bible concerning Christ. These prophecies speak of a child being born to us and a Son being given to us. This child of both divine and human natures born of a human virgin was also a Son given in the divine nature by the Eternal Father.
The child born of the virgin is Jesus, whom man called Emmanuel, and this child is also the Son, as the gift to us from God. This Son, this gift, is the Mighty God and the Eternal Father. When we received Christ, we received Him as so many marvelous items. He is Jehovah our Savior to save us from sins into Himself, and He is Emmanuel, God with us. We enjoy this One as grace, which is God Himself becoming our portion for our enjoyment, and the issue is that He becomes our reality.
Isaiah 32:1-2 prophesies that Christ in His first coming would be a King as well as a man, coming to be among men in a lowly way to be a refuge to us from the wind and a covering from the tempest. His first coming was prophesied by the prophet Micah. Micah prophesied that, on the one hand, Christ would come out of “David’s city” and, on the other hand, He would come forth from the days of eternity. Haggai prophesied that Christ, in His first coming, would be the Desire of all the nations.
Malachi 3:1 prophesies that Christ in His first coming is the Messenger of God and the Angel of the covenant. As the Messenger of God, Christ not only brings a word or a message from God to God’s people; He Himself is the living message. He is also the Angel of the covenant, who enacted the new covenant with His blood before going to the cross. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 4)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—
HIS BIRTH AND YOUTH AND THE RECOMMENDER OF HIS MINISTRY
The prophet Micah prophesied that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, and Jeremiah also prophesied that Christ as the righteous Shoot of David, raised up by God to David, would reign as King. The New Testament shows that these prophecies were fulfilled by God’s sovereign arrangements.
Before Christ began His earthly ministry, John the Baptist was His recommender. The recommending ministry of John the Baptist was planned by God and was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. Malachi 4 prophesied that John would be the coming Elijah. He would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the heart of the fathers to the children. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 5)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—
HIS LIVING AND MINISTRY ON EARTH
Isaiah 61:1 prophesied concerning the anointing of Christ, the Anointed of Jehovah. This verse says, “The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon Me, / Because Jehovah has anointed Me.” When Christ was baptized, the Spirit of God descended upon Him. For His whole life, the Spirit of God was also upon Christ in His living and work. Toward man, He did not strive nor cry out, and His voice was not heard on the streets. He was always merciful and full of sympathy. Toward God He had full trust; the zeal of God’s house devoured Him.
In the first aspect of His ministry, He was the Servant of Jehovah. As such, He brought good news and proclaimed the jubilee of God so that those who were oppressed under Satan in sin or sickness could enjoy the release of God’s salvation. In His earthly ministry He did not faint, nor was He discouraged, until He established justice in the earth. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 6)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—
HIS DEATH AND BURIAL
According to the prophecies of the prophet Daniel in the Old Testament, the crucified Christ is the Messiah cut off after the sixty-ninth week; the phrasecut off refers to the crucifixion of Christ, the anointed One. Psalm 118 prophesies that Christ is the stone rejected by the Jewish builders who became the cornerstone in resurrection. In God’s New Testament economy Christ was rejected by the Jewish builders, but He was precious to God. As our Savior, He makes us living stones, and in the process of transformation, we are being built into the dwelling place of God. In Zechariah 3:8-9 the angel prophesied to Zechariah that Jehovah would engrave on Christ the stone, indicating that when Christ was on the cross, He was engraved and cut by God. Christ, the stone engraved by God, was the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world on the day of His crucifixion.
Psalm 41:9 prophesied that Judas, who ate bread with Christ, would lift his heel against Him and betray Him. Even though Judas ate with the Lord at the Passover feast, he did not have part in the new testament feast instituted by the Lord. Zechariah 11:12-13 prophesied that Christ would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 7)
There are many prophecies in Psalms 22, 34, 40, and 69 concerning Christ’s death. He was reproached by men and despised by people. All who saw Him derided Him, sneered at Him, and shook their heads. Even though Christ suffered, He still trusted in God, because He had trust in God even while He was at His mother’s breasts. While He was being crucified, evil men, as a congregation of evildoers, surrounded and enclosed Him like dogs. They divided His garments to themselves, and for His clothing they cast lots. On the cross Christ was poured out like water, all His bones were out of joint, His heart melted like wax, His strength was dried up like a shard, and His tongue was stuck to His jaws. On the cross Christ’s hands, feet, and side were pierced. Blood and water came out of His pierced side to take away sins on the negative side and to dispense life on the positive side. Christ would not be stupefied; rather, He drank the bitter cup to the dregs. Moreover, not one of His bones was broken. This indicates that in Christ is an unbreakable and indestructible eternal life that can be dispensed into His believers.
Isaiah 53 prophesied concerning Christ’s vicarious death and His burial. Christ bore our sicknesses and carried our sorrows, was wounded because of our transgressions, and was crushed because of our iniquities. The chastening for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we have been healed. Christ poured out His human life as an offering by passing through death and shedding His blood. His death was altogether a vicarious death. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—HIS RESURRECTION
The prophets in the Old Testament also prophesied concerning Christ’s resurrection. Hosea 6:2 prophesied that Christ would be raised from the dead on the third day. Christ being raised from the dead was not an accident; rather, it was planned by God in His economy for the accomplishing of His eternal purpose. Psalm 16:9-11 is a prophecy concerning the resurrected Christ as the Holy One of Jehovah whose soul Jehovah would not leave in Hades and whom He would not permit to see corruption. Therefore, His heart was made glad, His soul exulted, and His flesh rested in hope while He was in Hades. God Himself also made known to Him the ways of life and raised Him up, having loosed the pangs of death, since it was not possible for Him to be held by it.
Psalm 2:7 prophesied that in resurrection Christ, the only begotten Son of God, would be born as God’s firstborn Son. By Christ’s birth in resurrection, His human nature was uplifted into the divine sonship, and He was designated the Son of God to become God’s firstborn Son. His believers were also born with Him to be the many sons of God. Isaiah 55:3 prophesied concerning the resurrected Christ being the sure mercies shown to David, the holy and faithful things; He is the sure mercies and blessings to us. Isaiah 53:10 and 11 prophesied that Christ’s resurrection would be a reproductive resurrection. In His resurrection Christ produced the church as His extension. The pleasure of Jehovah, which is God’s eternal economy, will prosper in the hand of the resurrected Christ. Verse 11 prophesied concerning Christ being the resurrected, righteous Servant of Jehovah through whom many are justified. Today Christ in resurrection is our righteousness and is also the proof of our justification by God. Psalm 22:22 prophesied that Christ in His reproducing resurrection would declare the Father’s name to His brothers and sing hymns of praise to the Father in the midst of the church. After His resurrection Christ began to call His disciples brothers, because like Him, they had the Father’s divine life and nature. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 9)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—HIS ASCENSION
Psalm 110:1 is a prophecy concerning how the resurrected Christ at the time of His ascension was seated at the right hand of God, receiving the position of glory, honor, and power. In His ascension Christ was made the Lord, the Christ, the Leader of the entire universe, and the Savior.
Psalm 8:4-8 prophesied concerning Christ being a man, a little inferior to the angels, but in ascension being crowned with glory and honor and set over the works of God’s hands. The first man, Adam, failed to accomplish God’s purpose for man, but another man, Jesus, has come and has accomplished so much for the fulfilment of God’s desire in man.
Joel 2:28-29 prophesied concerning Jehovah pouring out His Spirit upon His sons and daughters. This Spirit is the Spirit of God compounded with Christ’s humanity, death, resurrection, and ascension as the realization of Christ and the ultimate consummation of the Triune God.
Isaiah 22:22 is a prophecy concerning Christ as the One who holds the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 10)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—HIS COMING BACK
Christ’s coming back will begin from His throne in the heavens before the last three and a half years of the great tribulation, continue with His remaining in the air during the great tribulation, and end with His coming from the air to the earth at the end of the great tribulation. In His coming back Christ will first appear secretly as a thief and as a bright morning star to the overcomers. He will catch up the man-child, the martyred overcoming saints throughout the generations, taking them up to God and to His throne. He will reap the firstfruits, the first-ripe overcoming believers living at that time. He will also take up the other living overcoming believers, keeping them out of the three and a half years of the great tribulation.
Afterward, at the end of the great tribulation, Christ will come secretly from the third heaven to the air to catch up the majority of the saints, set up the judgment seat of Christ in the air, and choose the overcomers to marry them as His bride and constitute them into an army.
Finally, at the end of the great tribulation, Christ’s parousia will be completed in His being manifested openly to the Jews and the Gentiles. He will come on the clouds of heaven, just as the lightning coming forth from the east and shining to the west, so that every eye will see Him. At this time Christ and His overcomers will strike and slay Antichrist, casting him into the lake of fire. Christ will also gather all the tribes of Israel to the Holy Land. Moreover, He will strike the Gentiles, the nations, like a stone, crushing them into pieces, like chaff being carried away by the wind. Afterward, He will become a great mountain—the kingdom of God filling the whole earth. Finally, sitting on the throne of His glory, Christ will judge all the living peoples, the nations on the earth at the time of His coming back. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 11)
PROPHECIES CONCERNING CHRIST—
IN THE MILLENNIUM AND IN ETERNITY
When the Lord comes back, He will save Israel, crush the Gentile nations, and judge the peoples on earth. Afterward, He will establish His kingdom on the earth for a thousand years, which is the millennium. In the millennium Christ with His overcomers as co-kings will reign over the nations. Such a reigning will be the unique work of Christ in the millennium to show to the entire universe His kingship with His divine and heavenly authority to shame Satan. In the millennium Christ as the Bridegroom will enjoy the marriage dinner of the Lamb with the overcoming believers as the bride. At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released from the abyss to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth and to lead them to rebel against God. However, God will use fire from heaven to devour them, thereby purifying for the last time all the peoples on the earth. Then Christ will judge all the dead at the great white throne. The perishing unbelievers will be judged by Christ according to the scrolls, which are a record of their works, and they will also be cast into the lake of fire according to the book of life.In eternity Christ the Lamb will be the Husband, and the New Jerusalem will be the wife. Christ will enjoy a married life with His redeemed forever and ever. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 12)