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: (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
C. Psalm 45:6 prophesies that Christ is God—Psa. 45:6. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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: (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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: (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 2)
D. Christ in His humanity is a branch of Jesse, the Shoot of David—Isa. 11:1-2. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 3)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 6)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 7)
VII. There are many prophecies in Psalms 22, 34, 40, and 69 concerning Christ’s death: (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
A. Psalm 22:6-8 prophesies that Christ was reproached of men and despised by the people. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
B. Psalm 22:12-18 continues to prophesy concerning how Christ passed through the suffering of crucifixion: (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 8)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 9)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 10)
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. (Truth Lessons, Level 4, Vol. 1, lsn. 12)