Prophecy

One of the strongest evidences for the divine authorship of the Bible is the specific prophecies often made hundreds of years in advance of the fulfilments. Each one was fulfilled without even slightly deviating from God’s prediction. For instance:

• 50 years before King Cyrus was even born, Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would decree that the children of Israel could return to the land and rebuild Jerusalem. Isaiah 44:28 says, ‘That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.’
• Babylonian Captivity – Jeremiah prophesied at about 600 B.C. that Israel would serve the king of Babylon. This prediction is found in Jeremiah 25:11 – ‘And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.’
• World Empires – Daniel 2:37-45. In circa 537 B.C., the Bible accurately predicted the Babylonian, Medo-Persian (538 B.C.-333 B.C.), Greek (333 B.C.-63 B.C.) and Roman Empires, even telling details that happened several hundred years later!

• City of Tyre – Ezekiel 26:3-5, 7, 12, 14, 16. This was written in approximately 590 B.C.

Seven Predictions:

1. Nebuchadnezzar shall take the city.
2. Other nations shall participate.
3. City to be made flat.
4. City to become a place for spreading nets.
5. Stones and timbers to be laid in the sea.
6. Other cities to fear greatly.
7. City never to be rebuilt.

Fulfilment:

‘Nebuchadnezzar took the city of Tyre in 586 B.C. When he took the city, he found that the people of Tyre had escaped to an island just off the coast. 241 years later, Alexander the Great, of Greece, along with the navies of other conquered nations, made a sea attack on Tyre. This was not enough, so he scraped off all of the old buildings and even the earth from the old location of Tyre and threw them into the sea, building a causeway out to the island where the city of Tyre had been relocated. His armies made a land attack over the causeway while his navy made a simultaneous sea attack and conquered the city. By his actions, other nations participated in the prophecy and the location of the old city was made flat like the top of a rock, and its stones and timber were laid into the sea. Other cities in the area were so frightened at the fall of Tyre that they surrendered to Alexander without a fight. Although the site of the old city of Tyre is an ideal site for the building of a city, it has never been rebuilt to this day. The site of ancient Tyre is used today by area fishermen for the spreading of their nets to dry in the sun.’  -Dr. Mike Aylestock

• Jesus Christ – 18 Fulfilled Prophecies:

1. Born of a Virgin – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
2. Seed of Abraham – Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8
3. Tribe of Judah – Genesis 49:10; Hebrews 7:14
4. Lineage of David – Psalm 110:1; Romans 1:3
5. Born at Bethlehem – Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6
6. Anointed of the Spirit – Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 4:18, 19
7. Ride into Jerusalem on Donkey – Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4, 5
8. Betrayed by a Friend – Psalm 41:9; John 13:18
9. Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver – Zechariah 11:12, 13; Matthew 26:15; Matthew 27:9, 10
10. Forsaken by His Disciples – Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:31, 56
11. Pierced in Hands and Feet, No Bone Broken – Psalm 22:16; Psalm 34:20; John 19:36; John 20:20, 25
12. Given Gall/Vinegar to Drink – Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34
13. Part His Garments, Cast Lots for Vesture – Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35
14. Forsaken of God – Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46
15. Buried with the Rich – Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60
16. Rise from the Dead – Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:27
17. Ascend on High – Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:8
18. Sit at Father’s Right Hand – Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:43-45

Bible prophecy is powerful evidence that God wrote the Bible. I have shown you specific prophecies that occurred hundreds of years after the specific prediction was made. Not only is the prediction not vague, but the fulfilment was 100% accurate. There are hundreds of these prophecies in the Bible. There is nothing like this anywhere else in ancient or modern literature. Why? Simply put, the eternal God who knows the beginning from the end, knew what would happen and told us well in advance.

Listen to Isaiah 42:9, which says, ‘Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.’

Contrasting the one true God Jehovah with the idols, Isaiah 45:21 says, ‘Tell ye, and bring them [the idols or false gods] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.’

And again, Isaiah 46:9, 10 say, ‘Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’

Prophecy sets God and His Word apart from the pretenders.