MAIN PURPOSE OF THE TABERNACLE
It was a daily physical visible object lesson. It would remind the people that the presence of God was dwelling in their midst and indicated the promise keeping and the covenant keeping.
In Genesis God said that He would promise again and again to send the “Messiah”, His son who would deal with the “Sin problem”. So the coming of Messiah was true and that was the hope of Israel. And in the Tabernacle all the details were kept safely about the coming of the “Saviour”. His life, His ministry and the work of salvation would be fore shadowed and typified.
The tabernacle to the Jewish people would take another role. That is to say, it would be transformed into a temple, which the people built later. The Israel after they came out of Egypt in desperation and humiliation due to slavery, they needed something like individuality as human beings in the society.
So, by giving “Torah” (Law or the Law of Moses, the five books of Moses) and the “Tabernacle” to the people, so that they would find which they were looking for. But the law given by God to the Jews was far beyond the normal law, that was the “Ten commandments”. They could be also called ceremonial laws, dietary laws, sacrifice laws, social laws, dealing with criminal matters and they might be more.
And finally the Israel counted the number of laws they were supposed to follow. The number came to 613 laws and they had to be observed. These unique laws were given to the Jewish people (Romans 3:1-27). They even felt proud of themselves for having that kind of Laws. In addition to that, those laws made them to identify themselves as people who were formerly bonded slaves in Egypt. Such people became an important race in religion and as a nation.
It was no doubt a permanent and important for them and it was all illustrated and represented by the tabernacle (and later the Temple). This information gave us the idea that Jesus can and would one day give warning to the Jewish people that they appeared to be giving more importance to the temple than to the God of the Temple.
The structure symbolized that the Jews held dear, much the same way as the Americans honour their flag, because all that it symbolized for some orthodox Jews, the temple mount of Jerusalem is very sacred and more important than anything else even today.
There are 50 chapters of scripture, in parts completely devoted to the tabernacle. While studying the Bible, we come across a principle known as the "Principle of international selection." The selection of 50 chapters would tell us how much importance was attached
Quest for the Living God to them and also the pivotal role they played in the minds of Jews.
Some aspects regarding the coming of “Messiah” were illustrated in accomplishing salvation and it is said God did not want to dwell in the presence of the sinful people. Many books were written by the noted authors about the typifying of the tabernacle. The people began to think about time and place. Then details of the structure of them and the ministry of Jesus Christ.
It is a prelude to understand about the future temple of Israel, their importance, their history, their destruction and their reason. As we could understand the whole story to some extent, so far it begins with the Tabernacle. We will see how the Tabernacle, prefigured the coming “Messiah” and the significance of replacing the Tabernacle with magnificent temple.
THE TRIBULATION TEMPLE
The first Temple is commonly referred to the “Tabernacle Temple”. According to some references found in Mathew and Revelation, it is believed that some type of Temple would be built for the “Antichrist” and declare him to be God. That Antichrist period is known as the period of Tribulation.
In this connection there are two serious questions.
1)Where should the Temple be built ?
Any one who is familiar with Jewish history would certainly say Jerusalem as the suitable place for the Jewish temple and that should be on the temple mount of Jerusalem.
The second question needs some clarification. It is
2)How can that happen when the Philistines were controlling the
temple mount?
This is during this period, it is quite but natural they would not allow for the construction of the temple under any circumstances and also they don’t allow the Jewish people to pray or to worship their God. This question is really un-understandable. We find today the Muslim’s dome of the Rock just at the centre of the temple mount.
In addition to that, the “E L Aqsa” Mosque is located at the South Western wall of the temple mount. The mosque but not the dome is considered by the Muslims as the most “Sacred place”.
So, when the buildings settled peacefully on the mount, how can the Jewish people think of building their own temple on the temple mount? Several members with various stories discussed this complicated issue. Some elders said that the Muslims Mosque might be destroyed through an earth quake or war. There is some fault geographically that runs under The Temple of Israel the mosque, and the damage done to that was caused by tremors occurred many a time in the past. Some people expected an Iraqui sent missile would fall on the mount and destroy both the buildings of Muslims during Gulf war.
There is another probable idea also that is lingering in the minds of some important people that a treaty would be advisable and signed between the Muslims and the Jewish people to divide and share the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people try to get the temple mount as part of their portion under any circumstances. If this happens peacefully, then the Jewish people can have their Temple built on that mount probably in Northern side, in alignment with the Eastern Gate.
With this adjustment, there would not be any problem for both of them. According to the information available, some Jewish scholars and archeologists believed that its original place was the mount itself. In spite of all these probabilities, time would solve all those problems.
Millennial temple: This might be called the final temple that we have to confirm. This is aptly described in “Ezekiel” and also in the book of Revelation (in chapter 21). This is referred by the most eminent scholars of the Bible. What ever might be the argument of different people, there is a strong argument went on and finally decided. There is only one temple that is mentioned in Ezekiel but there is no temple mentioned in the Revelation.
After Jesus removes the curse from the earth, He would establish the kingdom of righteousness for 1000 years during the period of millennium or thousand years. Christ would also establish the temple as Ezekiel mentioned in his book and it is from this temple Jesus would rule His kingdom. The temple of Jesus would not be like that of the temple of king Herod which had multi court system (court of the gentiles, the women, for Israel and the priests).
The temple of Jesus would be with inner and outer courts. The outer court is 825 square feet. It’s wall will be 10 feet high and 10 feet thick. It will have three gates, one on the eastern wall, the second on the western wall and the third will be on the southern wall. In the outer walls, there must be a good number of rooms useful for preparing sacrifices and other rooms for dining purpose etc.
The inner court is about 175 feet, which will be also with three gates corresponding to the three gates of outer gate. The temple itself is in the same size of the temple of king Solomon which was not extremely a large structure.
It is not yet mentioned the ark of “Covenant veil”, the altar of incense “Menorah”. As narrated, these are all symbols for the person and the ministry of the “Messiah”. Jesus Christ will be present finally in the temple. So there is no need of the symbols presence.
Quest for the Living God
However there is “Brazen altar” and sacrifices (Ezekiel 43:13-21, 45:13-40, 24) and here is a clear question why the sacrificial system is re introduced.
In this context, Israel commentators of the Bible provide several possible and probable explanations. All of them have merit and at the same time, all of them may be the answer.
People who were born during that period had to be saved by grace and faith in the blood-shed atoning the death of Christ. But such belief would not be easy. Jesus Christ as a king would rule the kingdom with a “rod of iron”.
In His reign people would not be allowed to do wrong and if they do so the punishment would be very severe; people who lived their lives under the most powerful king, should not behave like the king who once put Jesus to death, and shed his blood by some wicked men. It was really difficult for them to believe. What must have happened to the “Messiah” as it was for the Old Testament people of that period believed what the prophet said. But they had no idea what would happen to the Messiah in future (Psalms 22 chapter; Isaiah 52,53 chapters).
But the Bible does not provide a concrete or clear reason for the sacrifice system is re- introduced during the millennial kingdom. This is, no doubt the millennial temple would be destroyed at the end of thousand years. When eternity begins all the old things will be set aside and new things introduced.
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సాక్ష్యం 24.
QUEEN OF SHEBA AND KING SOLOMON
The queen of Sheba heard many things about king Solomon as the wisest and richest man on the earth and the monarch of Israel. Some wonderful stories of Israels king filled the court of queen of Sheba. The country of queen Sheba is the present “Yemen”. The name and fame of the king echoed in her ears and so, she decided to meet him personally at any cost. Her kingdom was about 1000 miles to Jerusalem. Her country was not only wealthy, but also advanced in irrigation techniques and hydraulic power.
The people of Sheba were mentioned in the Bible as “Sabeans” whose routine work was building of dams up to about 60 feet high and also digging the wells and those wells contributed to them to thrive in their life time with agriculture and in raising most wonderful gardens. The country was abundantly blessed, with the goodness and mercy of God. The country was filled with enormous quantity of precious stones, incense and exotic spices. Those riches made the queen a popular trading partner and her country enjoyed lucrative caravan trade.
Therefore in 905 B.C. the camels of the queen of Sheba became frequent travellers up to “Incense Road” that connected Arabia with Egypt and Indians along the “Sea of Reeds” (Red sea) to Israel. Though she had been enjoying life happily with all her riches and other facilities in her country, she did not want to remain idle. As she heard the greatness of king Solomon, she wanted to come and meet him. It was really far away in those days. She wished to see with her own eyes, how far God blessed him as the king of Israel, God’s chosen people. So she started the journey of 1000 miles to Jerusalem with so much hope and anxiety. Her visiting of Jerusalem means seeking of God's people and their king.
The queen thought, she was fortunate enough to have associated herself with king Solomon, a famous king on the earth in his time. He became a talk not only in middle eastern world, but also in “Asia and Africa” regarding his immense wealth, wisdom and fame. She wished to take that name and fame to her country by meeting him. She also heard about the
Quest for the Living God God of Solomon who blessed him abundantly. When the other monarchs attributed their greatness either to armies or to their brilliance, Solomon attributed his greatness and prosperity to God only.
The believers would be seeking a greater work with the Lord Jesus Christ and the queen of Sheba also pointed out to us in the course of direction. Her interests were political and economic considerations. She derived more inspiration and enthusiasm from the decisive connections of Solomon.
In this context the believers are advised to follow whole heartedly the church programmes, Christian books and hymns music: then pray with more attention to the following.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrew 12:2).
The queen of Sheba finally reached Jerusalem with a big train of camels that carried a variety of spices, a huge quantity of gold and precious stones. She brought all those things because she came to visit the most renowned God’s man on the planet. So, what she brought to the king were the best; as she should not come to such a man with empty hands. The very big train that accompanied her was beyond comprehension as no body would expect such enormous loading of baggage. Many servants also followed her as her security and to take care of the riches she was bringing to the king.
But it is not mentioned in the Bible how king Solomon received her. As soon as she reached Jerusalem, she was ready with a flood of questions in order to clarify all her doubts. She travelled such a long distance only to find out truth. She must have naturally a pretty and beautiful court with magnificent royal palace. But when she saw the premises of king Solomon she thought she did not even dream of it.
She was really shocked to see the splendour and glory of the king. His court was more sophisticated and affluent. As a matter of fact her court was also as pretty and beautiful like the king’s. But as a woman she could not but praise his court and other things. “The main reason for her coming to Jerusalem was to seek what she heard about the king of Israel and his association with Israel God. She came all the way with true heart and with good intention. When she found everything she heard was quite true, she was overwhelmed with joy and at the same time stunned.
In like manner, believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are looking for greater relationship with God, must approach Him with true heart and honest intentions: So there would not be any disappointment. The lord God would certainly shower upon the believers His spiritual blessings which they never expect. “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” Queen of Sheba & King Solomon (Ephesians 1:3).
The queen of Sheba obediently told the king she had the first hand information of what she heard in her country was proved true. She came, she saw and she conquered. As the queen found out truth as first hand information, the believers too must seek God by themselves by coming closer to him through prayers and by reading the Bible regularly. She was telling about the kind hearted king, who always tried to do something to the satisfaction of all. She also knew about hard hearted kings, whose kingdoms would produce discontentment and bitterness.
She was happy and exited, how the king was treating his people primarily his servants of the court. In her rapturous excitement she proclaimed that “Happy are thy men happy are thy servants”. She was also a monarch like Solomon and had her own beautiful court and other establishments. Still she could not but praise him and his lucky servants. As she understood the servants were fortunate enough to be under him because no other king would give that kind of treatment to servants. So she said “If I were not be a queen and had to serve some one else, it would be king Solomon”.
She praised the servants again and again for their life and treatment the king was giving to them made them happy. Satisfied with the environments and the treatment given to her by the king, she had a lurking desire to spend a few more days with the king, but she was also a queen. She could not be absent for a long time from her country. She had a great ability to penetrate into the situation and comprehend deeper importance. The affluence of kings court, and affluent ruling of God’s people Israel were the result of character and wisdom of the king according to her estimation.
She continued to exhibit her appreciation about the kingdom and her reception. She was of the opinion that Solomon’s wealth and wisdom were developed from something greater than himself and that must be God’s gift. So, she said “Blessed be thy Lord, thy God which delighted in thee to set on the throne of Israel”.
Some kings would come to the throne by using their army, some others through inheritance. But king Solomon came to the throne through the mercy of God. Like some other kings he became king by inheritance from his father “David”. Solomon had actually elder brothers who would have claimed for the throne. But his occupation of the throne was no other than God’s gift. God must have some specific purpose when he selected Solomon as king from his family: She said.
She was quick and intelligent enough to notice the critical truth. She could not stop recognizing and praising God’s love for His chosen people, Israel. She said, “Because the Lord loved Israel, forever, therefore, made him king to do judgment and justice”. It is really
Quest for the Living God strange that the queen of Sheba had her appreciation that God loved Israel forever and the sovereign Lord of the universe made everlasting covenant with Israel.
According to the words uttered by the queen she appeared to have read the “Hebrew scroll” of the day that would indicate such truth God must have worked out providentially the proclamation of God’s love for His people. The queen being a heathen monarch seemed to have been recorded for ages a witness of this undeniable fact. Those who are really interested to know God better must acknowledge and understand that all good things would come to people from God only. There might be some men and women of God, who were appointed in our lives to guide and help us to develop ourselves mentally and spiritually.
The queen of Sheba was continuously praising the way of life and his noble qualities. She gave her first priority to God and gave her testimony by saying, “He is the originator of all blessings”. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father” (James 1:17).
As a token of appreciation, the queen of Sheba responded to all she experienced in king Solomon’s court by showing and giving extra-ordinary and expensive gifts to king Solomon. They were one hundred and twenty talents of gold, the spices of huge quantity and some precious stones. For the purpose of record 120 talents of gold is equal to more than four tones (4 tones). She came fully prepared and brought best of her nation to the king. There was no decree or declaration that she should bring such huge quantity to the king.
In return, the king also gave what she desired. This was not a new experience to the king, as many kings and other dignitaries visited king Solomon. One important thing we can find in the queen is that her attitude towards God. What she showed should be ours also. God had brought salvation to us through Jesus Christ and we must respond to God for that by offering to Him every best of us since the queen also offered her best to the king. Even God seemed to have felt happy at her behaviour and rewarded her for the actions.
Many people suffer for their faith. Still there is a sweetness, and a richness, that comes from walking with God completely and bringing pleasure to him. We must always look to God only so that He would provide us our day to day needs. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (proverbs 16:7).
She was greatly impressed by the king of Israel. She had done everything her best and honoured the king. She herself had been honest and gracious, benevolent, good understanding and thankfulness. After everything was done to her utmost satisfaction the queen left Jerusalem with heart felt contentment and with sweet memories. Her trip to Jerusalem caused a radiant Sheba and fact. A glow of Solomon the splendour of his court, and the goodness of his Queen of Sheba & King Solomon God, planted firmly in her mind.
For the believers of today, there is good news to find God with their pure and perfect heart and with unchanged faith. In this context, let us see what God has said in John, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall seek what ye will and it shall be done unto yours" (John 15:7). That does not mean God will give us whatever we desire. It is cleverly said the word “abide” is mentioned two times in these lines. Which means we can humbly request God what ever we need, but granting our needs in his choice.
The visit of the queen of Sheba to Jerusalem, to the court of king Solomon was undoubtedly an extraordinary and most significant one. This appeared that Jesus Christ Himself seemed to have arranged this historic “Episode” in the history of Israel. This meeting gave scope to the queen to understand what king Solomon was. God is speaking here with certain doubt filled and unbelieving character.
Jesus said “The queen of South (Sheba) shall rise up his judgement with the generations and shall condemn for she came from the utter most part of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42).
Jesus Christ too commented and praised the queen exceedingly even after one thousand years passed. He referred to the story to prove that the queen of Sheba was a real person and her trip to Jerusalem was a real story. But more than that Jesus was expecting of a heathen, though dignified and gracious woman to shame the Jewish leadership of His day. That is to say, the so called Jewish leaders did not have the knowledge and faith of that heathen woman the queen of Sheba had. She left all her comforts in the royal palace, and travelled 1000 miles in the Arabian desert just in order to look for the wisdom and splendour of God’s man king Solomon.
As a king he was the greatest man on the earth. But he was just a man. He was also mortal like us. Jesus Christ’s message to His fellow Israel in this connection was quite clear and appropriate. She, being a queen, travelled all the way to meet just a man like herself. When Jesus travelled within Israel among His own people like scribes and pharisees they did not acknowledge him as their “Messiah”. The gentle queen of Sheba acknowledged God whole heartedly, where as the so called religious leaders of Israel vehemently denied him as their Saviour. God judged her and rewarded her duly through king Solomon. Jesus Christ was frustrated by the Jewish leadership.
Some of the believers may also frustrate him through their peculiar way of life. We must understand undoubtedly that Jesus is greater than Solomon or any other man on the earth. So all the Christians should acknowledge Him as our Saviour and worship Him in spirit and
Quest for the Living God in faith. The queen was just a woman who anxiously looked for “Divine” connection and travelled far away in those days; To prove the reports about him, his people and about their monarch.
The story of queen of Sheba reminds us to strive always to reach for deeper things of God, whether they are seeking for His wisdom or for our greater relationship with Him. If the queen could go to such a height to satisfy her curiosity concerning Israel God and their king, then the believers also must understand our God better than itself. The story of queen of Sheba, and her understanding of our God being a heathen woman is worthy to be remembered by all of us.
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సాక్ష్యం 25.
MESSIANIC PROPHECIES AND
FULFILMENT
THE LAMB LIKE MESSIAH AND THE SUFFERING MESSIAH.
The word of God warned "study to shew thyself approved unto the God", (2 Tim. 2:15). These words showed to challenge us to investigate the claims of the "Bible". After all, the Old Testament made some Phenomenal predictions and many of them were focused on a Messiah, who would come to redeem mankind. Those who wish to find the truth would examine the Old Testament prophecies very closely.
Millennia ago, God inspired the Old Testament Prophets and New Testament pen-men and promised to the nation of Israel that He would bring "Theocratic Kingdom". He also clearly pointed out that this Kingdom would be possible only when the Messiah or Christ would come to the earth. So far we have seen it is confirmed that "Yeshua" (Christ) can only fulfill the Messianic prophecies which are found in the Scripture. When we have to recognize Jesus is the only one who can inaugurate the promised Kingdom to Israel and finally to the world, Jesus after coming again, clean up all the mess and dirt which Satan and his henchmen had produced and made the world perfect.
The hope of Messiah who would become interactive Bible study was focused on the prophecy of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah. In the study we would also delve into the New Testament, to reveal to the humanity how the prophecies were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ the valuable and thorough study of all this would certainly the prophecies of the Scripture and how they were pointed out towards the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Christ would banish all the followers of Satan and bind him in the lake of fire in the bottomless pit; then He might remain there perpetual eternal damnation. Jesus Christ then
Quest for the Living God by sitting on the throne of David, rule the world including Israel. This is the only noteworthy information in history that the entire world would experience abundant blessings that God has in store for His children.
"John Seeth, Jesus coming unto him and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 'sin' of the world" (John 1:29) why was Jesus being a Jew claiming to be the promised Messiah of Israel referred to as a lamb?". If we go back to Adam and Eve to the Garden of Eden, God's mercy and kindness, His Holiness, Righteousness and Justice became evident when he made provisions for their sins by providing animal blood sacrifices.
At the time of Noah, when God's anger took the toll on earh on every living species expect Noah's family and animal species were kept for future. The first thing Noah did after disembarkment was to build an altar and made some animal scarifices unto the Lord (Genesis 8:20) God's acceptance of animal sacrifices was confirmed and became basis for establishing "Noah Covenant". Then we have the example of the faithful and trustworthy Abraham in obedience offered his only begotten son Isaac, as a sacrifice to God, though he loved him so much.
What truth can we assess from these examples?
1)First in keeping with the theme of redemption, which is spelled out for the first time
man sinned and God's justice, holiness and righteousness had to be satisifed in order to
restore mankind spiritually.
2)The second point is - God restored the mankind to accomplish the task through animal
sacrifice.
3)The third point is that Abraham prophesized the first prophetic glimpse of what God
was going to do only through his beloved son 2000 years later on the same mountain
ridge of Moriah (Genesis 22:81-3).
If you believe Jesus as "Christ" the son of living God, then you would become qualified to embrace the promised Messiah of the Old Testament.
According to him, whatever laws were written in the Law of Moses called "Torah" must be fulfilled, written in the prophecies and the Psalms concerned Jesus must be fulfilled.
It is necessary that one must try to understand the meaning of certain words like "Messiah" and "Christ". To tell the truth, they are synonyms. They differ in their origin as they are from different languages. The word "Messiah" is taken from the Hebrew language. Messiah means, "The Anointed One". Then the word "Christ" is from Greek langauge. "Christos" also means "The Anointed One". This is explained in some scriptures like (Psalms 2:2) when David spoke about future when some kings and rulers might refer against Lord, God and the anointed Messiah. Messianic Prophesy and Fulfillment
In the Book of Daniel (9:26) Daniel prophesied about the time of the anointed one and His appearance. According to Daniel of three score and two that Messiah be called off....We can find in the New Testament interchange of those two words. When Andrew was bubbling over with excitement after his personal encounter with Jesus said to his brother Simon Peter, "We have found the Messiah which is being interpreted as Jesus".
These two words were merged together once again, in the woman of the well in Samaria engaged in a talk with Jesus, regarding life changing water conversation with Jesus. In the midst of eye opening event the woman made the following statement "I now that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ" (John 4.25). For that statement Christ replied "I that speaketh unto thee am He".
The term "Messiah" was used as a noun in Old Testament as discussed above. Then as a verb indicating an action to be taken, an activity had to be done of anointing God's servants with oil for the office of prophets, priests or kings. The main purpose of the anointed people that were chosen by God himself was for a specific ministry. This is considered to be one of the loftiest prophetic passages providing a glimpse into the duty of the Messiah. It reveals that He as God would be elevated to a position beyond all others.
In 1500 years up to first century A.D. millions of lambs were brought to the altar of sacrifice. Then the Messianic Law was handed down by "Jehovah" (God) to Israel that there should be animal sacrifices to him. Then that system was given a prominent place in mount Sinai and God also instituted the Passover (Ex. 12:1-4). At the center of the redemption process a miraculous thing is the Lamb. It is the God's Passover. According to this process each Israel family was to sacrifice a Lamb and it was to be done throughout all generations. It is quite understandable to any one to function as substituted for a sacrificed "Sin" offering "a Lamb which is brought to the slaughter. As an individual it has to suffer much."
Accordingly, the suffering those who turn to be none other than the Messiah who was predicted from 700 to 1100 years in advance and that was mentioned in the "Hebrew Scriptures". The suffering seems to be much greater than anything and even fathamable when we consider to whom that would happen.
In the early scriptures, God revealed that the Messiah would be an Agent and His purpose was to remove the damage done to earth. The system of the world especially physically and spiritually was bankrupt humanity. In such imperfect conditions, ultimately Messiah would come to the rescue of people. But upon bedlock prophecy of hope, the entire Old Testament flourished with and expanded upon the theme of God's future earthly kingdom, His king and humankind redemption. This stream of details would flow into the ocean, rich in prophecies that became more focused from "Genesis to Malachi".
Quest for the Living God
Many of the interesting Messianic prophecies were directly related to Israel nation and to the Jewish people. And through these people only the Messiah would be humanly introduced. The kingdom that Jesus is going to reign should be established in Jerusalem. Then in Jerusalem as the king of Israel, he would sit upon the throne of David and rule as King of kings and Lord of lords over the entire world. After this happens according to the prophecy, Israel and the rest of the world would experience the everlasting true peace and harmony, righteousness and justice.
As mentioned in scriptures, the age of the kingdom was brought, about by the Messiah. And the same scripture revealed about the suffering of the Messiah for the sake of humankind. The later part of the Messianic prophecy was dealt with redemption process, which was overshadowed by the Old Testament sacrificial system. This restored neutrality enables mankind to be restored then spiritually alive and finally enter into a realtionship with God for everlasting life. Since the time of John the Baptist, (for 2000 years) people had been anticipating the arrival of the Messiah and from that time onwards the spirit grew immensely in the hearts of the people.
In the first century AD people came to know that the prophecies would be fulfilled with the appearance of Messiah, that reached a "crescendo" and the Messianic fervour the impression that Messiah's coming was sure and certain and that became a common belief among all Jews. Then popular chronology had become an important "element" to explain the strong hope and the anticipation of Messiah and his kingdom. It is likely to be produced by the realization that the fulfillment was near at hand.
It was quite evident in the New Testament, and in the book of "Zacharaiah" then in the Gospel of "Luke" finally in the statement of Samaritan woman at the well along with many other Samaritans (4:25-42). Many thousands of other Jewish people were very enthusiastic to hear and receive the proclamation of the Messiaship of Jesus. Mathew's main purpose was to produce and present Jesus as the Messiah to the fellow Jews continuously referred back to the prophecies of the Old Testament to show the humanity that Jesus had fulfilled all the prophecies.
When we look for credentials or evidence that Jesus is the promised Messiah to the Israel and saviour of the world, this is necessary to compare the prophecies concerning the lamb that the Messaiah who suffered bitterly for his people with the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of New Testament. Our thanks are due to His willingness to become the sacrifised Lamb of God on our behalf (Isaiah 53:7).
Let us consider the wonderful statements made by John the Baptist, and some important Jews who sent some priests and levites to examine whether Jesus was the real Messiah or not. Some noted scholars were trying to prove the Messiahship of Jesus through mathematical Messianic Prophesy and Fulfillment calculations and demonstrated that Jesus would only fulfilI all the Messianic prophecies. It is really very enthusiastic to know that the fulfillment of all the precise prophecies were a mere coincidence.
Out of 300 Messianic prophecies that were written, 48 were confirmed on examination. We find that any one man can fulfill all the "98 prophecies". Those prophecies concerning the Messiah were not only fulfilled in Jesus but also literally scores must have been fulfilled in detail.
There are so many purposes of Messianic prophecies, out of them four
are chosen for consideration:
1)To prepare the way for the Messiah so that he might appear. Then he would be identified
by a comparison of prediciton and fulfillment. This will be the same today, as it was for
those Jewish people of the first century.
2)The Second one is to testify the sovereignity of God over the future fulfilled Messianic
prophecy revealed that "Jehovah" the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is indeed the
one and true God of the Universe.
3)It is a source of confident hope and what all he promised would come as he declared.
4)The fourth and final one is that the fulfilled Messianic prophecies would give strong
support to the claim that the scriptures are the very "word of God".