Seasons Greetings 2021

I know very few people that like this time of the year; the time shortly before Christmas day and on through the New Year. Many parents and old folks spend a great deal of time thinking about what gifts to buy for children, family and other loved ones, while the younger look under our trees and watch with anticipation for presents to appear there before or on Christmas day. The watching and waiting is almost to much to bare for some.

Years ago, long before the Christmas holiday existed, another group of people waited and watched not for presents to appear under a tree but in a lowly little town. The Jews, also known as Hebrews, had been told by no less than 10 prophecies, that God would be sending the Messiah. Those ten prophecies, 10 of more than 400, were fulfilled in and by Jesus; God’s only begotten son and His gift to the world.

I would imagine that over the years there has been many great Christmas gifts given. But the greatest gift which didn’t happen on Dec 25th, was Jesus dying on the cross (James 1:17), to pay the sin debt that we ourselves could not pay (Romans 6:23). That was the main reason for Christs coming (John 3:16), to die on our place and guarantee us eternal life if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:13). And He wants everyone to accept Jesus (1 Timothy 2:4) and is patient on executing His wrath and judgment on the world for mans sake (2 Peter 3:9).

The following 11 verses are prophetic scriptures straight from God concerning Jesus birth and early childhood. God spoke through man and they wrote His word down. Bible prophecies are always true and none have ever been proven false. In fact, even just one, were proven to be false or a lie, then the whole Bible would be worthless. God tells us He cannot lie (2 Samuel 7:28, Hebrews 6:18), so His word, the Bible, has to be all true or it is not His word.

So let us look at these 11 truths, the 11 prophecies, concerning the Messiah’s coming, also known as Jesus coming, and see for ourselves whether the New Testament scriptures validate what the prophets of long ago predicted.

1. The off spring of Adam and Eve would defeat sin.

Adam disobeyed God by eating the fruit from the forbidden tree. Adam’s sin, or rebellion, ushered in a curse on all of creation that affects us even to this day. But God promised that He would provide the means to right the wrong, pay the debt, that Adam and all of humanity owes for disobedience to God.

It would be approximately 4,500 years before made good on His word. It would be approximately 1,500 years before Moses wrote the promise down in the first book of the Tora.

Note - The last part of Genesis 3:15, God is talking about Satin and Jesus.

It would be approximately 4,500 years before made good on His word. It would be approximately 1,500 years before Moses wrote the promise down in the first book of the Tora.

Note - The last part of Genesis 3:15, God is talking about Satin and Jesus.

It would be approximately 4,500 years before made good on His word. It would be approximately 1,500 years before Moses wrote the promise down in the first book of the Tora.

Note - The last part of Genesis 3:15, God is talking about Satin and Jesus.

2. Jesus' lineage would be confirmed through scripture.

Prophecy Predicted

Adam (Genesis 3:15), Adam to Noah (Genesis 3:15), Noah to Abraham (Genesis 11:10-26), Abraham to Isaac (Genesis 17:21, Genesis 26:4), Isaac to Jacob (Genesis 28:14), Jacob to Judah (Genesis 49:8–12), Judah to Jesse (Isaiah 11:1) and Jesse to David (Isaiah 9:7, Jeremiah 23:5). Genesis 5:1-32 lists the genology from Adam to Noah and his son Shem. Genesis 11:10-26 lists the genelogy from Shem to Abraham.

Note - All people listed above except Noah were made promises by God that one of their offspring would be the Messiah.

From Abraham to David we use the following Bible verses (Genesis 21:3), (Genesis 25:25-26), (Ruth 4:12), (Ruth 4:21), (Luke 3:33), (Ruth 4:21), (Matthew 1:5) and (Ruth 4:22).

Matthew 1:1-17 gives a complete linage of Jesus back to David, while Marry's statement in Luke 1:68-69 affirms that Jesus was from the house of David.

Note - In Genesis 16:11, we see that Abraham had a son before Isaac. However, this son was born to him by his concubine and not by Sarah. Sarah was pomised a child in her old age and that child would be the Messiah. In Genesis 25:25-26, we see that Isaac's wife Rebecca had twins, Esau and Jacob. However, Jacob, and not Esau, was to be of the linage of the Messiah.

Fun fact - From the creation of the world to Jesus' birth was about 4,000 years.

Prophecy Predicted

Note - All people listed above except Noah were made promises by God that one of their offspring would be the Messiah.

From Abraham to David we use the following Bible verses (Genesis 21:3), (Genesis 25:25-26), (Ruth 4:12), (Ruth 4:21), (Luke 3:33), (Ruth 4:21), (Matthew 1:5) and (Ruth 4:22).

Matthew 1:1-17 gives a complete linage of Jesus back to David, while Marry's statement in Luke 1:68-69 affirms that Jesus was from the house of David.

Note - In Genesis 16:11, we see that Abraham had a son before Isaac. However, this son was born to him by his concubine and not by Sarah. Sarah was pomised a child in her old age and that child would be the Messiah. In Genesis 25:25-26, we see that Isaac's wife Rebecca had twins, Esau and Jacob. However, Jacob, and not Esau, was to be of the linage of the Messiah.

Fun fact - From the creation of the world to Jesus' birth was about 4,000 years.

Prophecy Predicted

Note - All people listed above except Noah were made promises by God that one of their offspring would be the Messiah.

From Abraham to David we use the following Bible verses (Genesis 21:3), (Genesis 25:25-26), (Ruth 4:12), (Ruth 4:21), (Luke 3:33), (Ruth 4:21), (Matthew 1:5) and (Ruth 4:22).

Matthew 1:1-17 gives a complete linage of Jesus back to David, while Marry's statement in Luke 1:68-69 affirms that Jesus was from the house of David.

Note - In Genesis 16:11, we see that Abraham had a son before Isaac. However, this son was born to him by his concubine and not by Sarah. Sarah was pomised a child in her old age and that child would be the Messiah. In Genesis 25:25-26, we see that Isaac's wife Rebecca had twins, Esau and Jacob. However, Jacob, and not Esau, was to be of the linage of the Messiah.

Fun fact - From the creation of the world to Jesus' birth was about 4,000 years.

3. Jesus's birth and death would happen before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Prophecy Predicted

“Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler--the Anointed One--comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end” (Daniel 9:25-26).

This must have seemed a very odd prophecy to the Jews as they were in Babylonian captivity. The battle for Jerusalem not only destroyed the city but the Temple also. So this prophecy not only foretold when the Messiah would come, but the rebuilding and destruction of Jerusalem and the second Temple's. Jesus also prophesied of the 2nd Temples destruction (Luke 21:5-36).

There is no concrete year that Jesus was born and the Bible seldom mentioned exact months and dates and when it did it usually only did so in connection with events, such as festivals. About the only dates I can think of is in relation to the flood and the exodus.

However, Jesus had to be born before Herod died in 4BC since he had asked the Maji to come back to him and tell where the baby king was located, then later Harod later sent soldiers out to kill all male children 2 years and younger. Both Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed in 70AD by Rome.

Prophecy Predicted

4 Power, Peace, and the Spirit would be Jesus' from birth.

5. Jesus would be Born in Bethlehem.

Prophecy Fulfilled

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1).

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel". (Matthew 2:5-6).

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them (Luke 2:1-7).

Take note that the Magi, wisemen from the East, knew the Jewish scriptures better than King Harod and his court. The wise men responded to Harod's question with a quote from Micah.

Note - The Bible wasn't broken up into chapters and verses until much later so people just referred to a particular book or would say it is written and not refer to any book, as it is assumed that the listener was knowledgeable of the Jewish religious literature.

Note - It is likely that the wise men had received copies of the Jewish manuscripts from when Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and subsequent nations after that. It was common for all conquering countries learned men to study the wisdom of the nations they conquered, including the Gods (and God in Israel's case) so that they would not offend any gods.

Prophecy Fulfilled

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1).

Take note that the Magi, wisemen from the East, knew the Jewish scriptures better than King Harod and his court. The wise men responded to Harod's question with a quote from Micah.

Note - The Bible wasn't broken up into chapters and verses until much later so people just referred to a particular book or would say it is written and not refer to any book, as it is assumed that the listener was knowledgeable of the Jewish religious literature.

Note - It is likely that the wise men had received copies of the Jewish manuscripts from when Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and subsequent nations after that. It was common for all conquering countries learned men to study the wisdom of the nations they conquered, including the Gods (and God in Israel's case) so that they would not offend any gods.

Prophecy Fulfilled

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1).

Take note that the Magi, wisemen from the East, knew the Jewish scriptures better than King Harod and his court. The wise men responded to Harod's question with a quote from Micah.

Note - The Bible wasn't broken up into chapters and verses until much later so people just referred to a particular book or would say it is written and not refer to any book, as it is assumed that the listener was knowledgeable of the Jewish religious literature.

Note - It is likely that the wise men had received copies of the Jewish manuscripts from when Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and subsequent nations after that. It was common for all conquering countries learned men to study the wisdom of the nations they conquered, including the Gods (and God in Israel's case) so that they would not offend any gods.

6. Jesus would be born of a Virgin.

I won't speculate how this was verified, but most likely by using the method mentioned in Deuteronomy 22:13–21. The cloth being referred to would be similar to a woman's pad now days.

The punishment handed out to a woman claiming to be a virgin but found not to be is severe: death by stoning. So I doubt that non-virgins would go around proclaiming their purity. If the woman was a virgin until their marriage, the man would get a flogging, fined 100 shekels and could not divorce his wife for as long as he lived. I bet after shaming her like that he would have a hard time living peacefully with her. There is no record of this 'virgin' test being performed in the Bible.

Let's just leave it that she was a virgin.

Note - However, she did not stay a virgin, as some refer to her still today, as Jesus had brothers and sisters as siblings.

I won't speculate how this was verified, but most likely by using the method mentioned in Deuteronomy 22:13–21. The cloth being referred to would be similar to a woman's pad now days.

Let's just leave it that she was a virgin.

Note - However, she did not stay a virgin, as some refer to her still today, as Jesus had brothers and sisters as siblings.

I won't speculate how this was verified, but most likely by using the method mentioned in Deuteronomy 22:13–21. The cloth being referred to would be similar to a woman's pad now days.

Let's just leave it that she was a virgin.

Note - However, she did not stay a virgin, as some refer to her still today, as Jesus had brothers and sisters as siblings.

7. People not living in homes would worship Jesus.

Prophecy Fulfilled

“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger…When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” (Luke 2:12, Luke 15-17).

Shepherds tending the flocks would be sleeping in the open or in a tent and not in a house. They likely would have knew the scriptures enough to know that the time is near for the Messiah to appear. They may not have been educated enough to know that He was to be born, let alone in Bethlehem.

Of course, they may just have heeded the angel (there were many angels but only one was identified as having spoke to the shepherds) instructions and did as they instructed. It certainly had to have been quite a spectacle as they left their herds, which their and their families financial well being depended on to go on this quest.

Prophecy Fulfilled

8. A star would point the way to Jesus.

We don't know what the star was exactly. Anything that would be in the 2nd heaven (where the birds flew) and shone would be considered a star in those (for example planets and comets).

We also are not told of whether anyone besides the Magi saw the star. It's very possible that others did see the star, as God set the lights in the firmament to be signs and to mark the years and months and days (Genesis 1:14). Other people just may not have known what this star, or sign, was for and what to do.

We don't know what the star was exactly. Anything that would be in the 2nd heaven (where the birds flew) and shone would be considered a star in those (for example planets and comets).

9. Foreign dignitaries would bring Jesus gifts.

The Magi brought very expensive gifts. We are specifically told that they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold would have been given to enhance one's financial situation, frankincense was used as an essential oil, a perfume and to make the air more palatable. And myrrh was used as an essential oil and for burial purposes.

We aren't told how Mary, Joeseph and, if any was left when Jesus was old enough, Jesus used the gifts. Likely they were sold to take care of expenses, such as their refuge into Egypt.

We also don't know how long after Jesus' birth that the Magi arrived to give their gifts. They were out of the stable and into a house though, as stated in Matthew 2:11. It most likely was after the censes was completed and the crowds needing shelter had returned to their homes, freeing up living space for Joeseph, Mary and Jesus.

Note - This kinda busts up how we imagine the Christmas Nativity Scene that we all see around town, in our yards and on our mantles. Maji wouldn't be kneeling at a manger in a stable under star. They were probably kneeling at a home under a star though, several days up to 2 years after the birth of Jesus.

We aren't told how Mary, Joeseph and, if any was left when Jesus was old enough, Jesus used the gifts. Likely they were sold to take care of expenses, such as their refuge into Egypt.

Note - This kinda busts up how we imagine the Christmas Nativity Scene that we all see around town, in our yards and on our mantles. Maji wouldn't be kneeling at a manger in a stable under star. They were probably kneeling at a home under a star though, several days up to 2 years after the birth of Jesus.

We aren't told how Mary, Joeseph and, if any was left when Jesus was old enough, Jesus used the gifts. Likely they were sold to take care of expenses, such as their refuge into Egypt.

Note - This kinda busts up how we imagine the Christmas Nativity Scene that we all see around town, in our yards and on our mantles. Maji wouldn't be kneeling at a manger in a stable under star. They were probably kneeling at a home under a star though, several days up to 2 years after the birth of Jesus.

10. Jesus would escape to Egypt.

11. Great despair at the loss of children around Jesus' birth.

Rachel was the wife of Isaac and patriarch mother of Israel. Here, Jeremiah 31:15 refers to descendents of Rachel, crying at the loss of their children.

Harod was a cruel ruler of Judah and apperently only answered to the Ceaser of Rome. He was very harsh to all the inhabitants of Israel and it isn't out of his historical character to have killed a bunch of children in an effort to thwart any potential adversary to his throne. And it certainly wouldn't have been good for Harod if he let an uprising occur in a Roman providence under aa different leader.

Rachel was the wife of Isaac and patriarch mother of Israel. Here, Jeremiah 31:15 refers to descendents of Rachel, crying at the loss of their children.

I hope you enjoyed this post on 11 prophecies predicting the birth of the Messiah, Jesus. All eleven have been fulfilled. As I mentioned at the start of this article, there are over 400 prophesies concerning Jesus. Some have been fulfilled and some haven't (they will be though starting at His second coming). They, like all of the prophesies in the Bible, will, WILL, be fulfilled. Absolutely none have been false. And like all prophecies, all of God's promises will be honored and come to fruition.

It's fun to sit around anticipating gifts or buying them for others, but it is profitable for each of us to watch for the king to come; again. Don't get caught not being ready (Matthew 25:1-13). Don't miss the celebration because you're not ready.

Not ready and don't know how to get ready? Need to get readier? Just ask!

Holiday wishes to you and yours. Watch for my Christmas post, coming a little later this month (it won't be Happy Holidays but Merry Christmas). God Bless and good day.

Here's another little bonus nugget

Prophecy Predicted

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:3-5).

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:1).

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes" (Malachi 4:5).

Prophecy Predicted

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes" (Malachi 4:5).

Prophecy Predicted

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes" (Malachi 4:5).

Not ready and don't know how to get ready? Need to get readier? Just ask!

Holiday wishes to you and yours. Watch for my Christmas post, coming a little later this month (it won't be Happy Holidays but Merry Christmas). God Bless and good day.