'Ought not the Christ to have suffered ?'

A road leading out of Jerusalem heading towards Emmaus Nicopolis. Photo: GoogleEarth

Good beautiful day here in West Central Florida dear friends! Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries. I’m your servant Leonard V. Johnson. I pray that you’re having a glorious day, it’s gorgeous outside here today. I hope that it’s going well for you.

Friends – where in the world have you been!? Have you not been watching the news!?

This was the occasion where someone said to Jesus Christ, “Where in the world have You been!? Have You not been watching the news at what has been going on in our world today!?”

In the Book of Luke, the 24th chapter – it’s like someone who had been on a long vacation, had come back, was walking around and they didn’t even know what was going on – that some fantastic thing had happened – and they didn’t even know about it!

Cleopas asked Jesus, said, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

And Jesus asked, “’ What things?’”

“The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.”

Of course, they believed that Jesus the Christ was going to be the redeemer of Israel and was going to re-establish the nation of Israel once again.

“Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.”

And, of course, this is referring to the very first of this chapter where it tells us that on that Sunday morning when the women came there to the tomb early – before it was even daylight – they actually saw the tomb was empty, the stone had been rolled away and He was gone. And they went back and reported this to the disciples. And the disciples, of course, didn’t really believe it at first, and the disciple Peter ran to the tomb. And here they are – a couple of guys who had walked up and looked into the tomb were now on their way to Emmaus, which was a town about seven-and-a-half miles from Jerusalem, on a road which led out of Jerusalem. And as they were walking along, along comes beside them out of some side street perhaps – the resurrected Jesus Christ!

And, as He walked along with them – and like what we have learned – and I believe that the Bible supports this belief; yet, it’s not important for salvation – that Jesus had the ability to shapeshift – they didn’t recognize Him. And He played this little game with them as if He didn’t really understand or see what was happening in their world in their day.

And, down in verse 24 – “And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

And what did Jesus say here to these His disciples – one was Cleopas, who was the husband to one of the Mary’s who was there at the crucifixion and stood there before the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Verse 25 – “Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, …’” – now, here is Jesus Christ talking to some of His own beloved disciples – not just of the twelve, but perhaps some of the 120 that became disciples and were converted and became part of the glorious Work of God in the very early stages of the living Church of God. “ … ‘and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’”

He’s telling them, ‘Shouldn’t you have known that those things would come to pass!?’ Why were all of His disciples so bewildered at what happened to Jesus!? And here Jesus is saying, ‘You should have known that this was going to happen!’

Verse 27 – “And beginning at Moses …” – of course, referring to the first five books of the Holy Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

And, I wish I had been present to witness that! I don’t know how long it takes you to walk seven-and-a-half miles, but evidently, He walked along with them and went into the Old Testament, and at the end of their journey, sat down with them to have something to eat, and then He allowed them to recognize Him, and they realized who He was – and then He vanished out of their sight. After this long walk and what He had to say.

Now, the majority of the people in this world are completely ignorant when it comes to the Holy Bible. And I say this not as a derogatory comment – it just happens to be true. I was looking at one of the Pew Research Center surveys’s here recently, called the “U.S. Religious Knowledge Quiz” where they surveyed 10,971 adults on how much they know about religion and how they compared with the average American. It was a short 15 question quiz. Most of the questions were basic questions about the Holy Bible sprinkled with Islamic, Buddhist, and even Sikhism questions – and you’d be surprised how many people don’t know which leading figure is most closely associated with leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Or, on which day of the week does God’s holy Sabbath begin. I took the quiz and received a score of 11 out of 15. And, the ones I got wrong were questions dealing with other religions such as Catholicism, Sikhism, and Protestantism. But, of the overall population surveyed theirs was a score of 7.4 out of 15. The questions dealing with the Holy Bible were so very basic. I mean there was only one question I really had to think about – a question dealing with Kabbalah. The rest of the questions were so basic it was like I was in kindergarten when it comes to biblical knowledge. And here was a survey - excerpted from the larger collection of 32 questions – in which one was about the Catholic teaching on transubstantiation (34% know the Catholic Church teaches that during the Mass, the bread and wine used for Communion are not symbolic, but actually become the body and blood of Jesus) – I got that one wrong. Now, of course, this survey didn’t tell me anything about myself, my own personal knowledge about the Holy Bible – it didn’t test me or stretch my ability any. This is what they’re polling people with!? These types of questions!? It reminded me of questions that are being asked of our American school children in their history lessons - “What is Islam?” Who is Allah?” “Who is Muhammad” and “What are the pillars of Islam?”

But anyway – I’d like to look at some of the things Jesus may have told these disciples as they were walking on the road to Emmaus. The things that they didn’t realize before this moment.

I’d like for us to begin all the way back – and it tells us that He began in the Book of Genesis, the 3rd chapter. Where I believe is one of the very first prophecies concerning Jesus Christ – the coming Savior of all mankind.

Verse 15 – this, of course, after Adam and Eve had sinned in the garden and God came along and said that He was going to curse Satan the devil. “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; …” – now, as I’ve come across with many – including a friend of mine who just died April the 19th – they take this passage and say, “Satan actually has progeny through women” And, of course, we know that our Lord Jesus said, ‘the angels neither marry or are given in marriage’ (cf. Matthew 22:30) – they don’t have progeny like a man and a woman can have a child. Satan the devil does not have the ability to cohabit with women and produce what many call the “Serpent’s Seed.” And, let it be known that the ‘40s and ‘50s healing evangelist William Branham believed this very thing! Through many of the conversations I had with my friend, he believed that you’re supposed to hate. Like a conversation, he had with me - and he was quite knowledgeable about the Holy Bible; having graduated from an Assemblies of God college (to note: Jimmy Swaggart and the Pentecostals of that ilk do not believe this, so it must have come from Satan the devil himself!) – saying to me that Satan the devil has a seed. And that there are people out there that are Satan’s seed. And, friends, this is a dangerous doctrine – a horrible doctrine.

The LORD God said here – “’ I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; …” – meaning, the followers of Satan. Like what Jesus said to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, He said, “’ You are of your father the devil, …’” and He uses this term. But, it doesn’t mean that they were actually Satan’s progeny. But that they were followers of Satan – that they gave in to his whims and his corruption.

“ … ‘He shall bruise your head, …’” – and, of course, we know that this had to do with the fact that Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights in the wilderness there and He faced Satan the devil head-on. Satan trying to tempt Him – taking Him up upon a high mountain, saying, ‘all the kingdoms of the earth will I give You, if You’ll only fall down and worship me.’ Of course, Jesus said, “’ Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” – Matthew 4:10 NKJV.

So, what Almighty God is truly saying here in this passage is – “’ He shall bruise your head, …’” – Jesus Christ will actually destroy the kingdoms of Satan, and in the process of doing so – “ …’ you [Satan the devil] shall bruise His heel.’” –the Jamison Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible states it this way – “Satan would be permitted to afflict the humanity of Christ and bring suffering and persecution on His people.” 1 Of course, bringing about the betrayal, the persecution, and the death of Jesus Christ. But, it wasn’t the end – look at what this brought about with the result of the death of Jesus Christ! – the salvation of all mankind! And that was the purpose of this prophecy – here.

Turning over to the 12th chapter of the Book of Genesis –

This is the promises and the blessings to the patriarch Abraham here, and let’s read some in the light of this. Not to get into too much of the promises that God made to Abraham – we have a seven-part series that covers this in great detail, “God's Promises To Abraham - a seven-part series.”

Verse 3 – “’ I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; …’” – of course speaking of the physical nation that would come out of Abraham as the result of God’s great blessings in which He said, ‘nations would come out of you.’ But, notice the last part of this – “ … ‘And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”

Now, this is a prophecy here that Jesus Christ would come from the descendants of Abraham – through Abraham. And friends, I have to say, that includes all nations. Not just a certain group, nationality, or race of people – but all nations. The apostle Paul would later say, “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” – Galatians 3:29 NKJV. Those Gentile nations – God’s glorious plan all along was to allow for the Gentile nations to also see the light of Christ. Recall, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined” – Isaiah 9:2 NKJV. God’s revelation – primarily through the apostle Paul – to all of those Gentile nations.

Now, also, in the 1st chapter of the Book of Matthew, it gives the genealogy of Jesus.

Verse 1 – “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” – so that was the fulfillment of that prophecy in the Old Testament here about Jesus. Way back in the garden of Eden and even unto the time of the patriarch Abraham – we’re talking about 4000 BC and 2085 BC respectively.

You know, when you look at the Holy Bible – and yes, I keep italicizing “Holy” for emphases, it is Holy Scripture. But, when you look at the Holy Bible – and I’ve got over a dozen Bible’s in my library, including a partial copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and one which I just purchased, the New English Bible. Many churches have a large Bible on a podium up in front where they’re collecting dust. Now, this collection of books is a document which many take for granted. The Holy Bible is a collection of inspired writings of men who were inspired by the very Creator of the universe to write down on what God intended for them to record. And the dates of this inspired document spans this over 4000 years! And yet there is a continuity that runs throughout Scripture in so much that it does not contradict itself. And that is quite remarkable – there is no other writing like it.

Over in the Book of Numbers, the 24th chapter –

This was Balaam’s prophecy talking about Israel – he was actually brought here to curse Israel – and he saw this great vision. And he was allowed to sort of speak in a trance, but instead, he said how God was going to bless Israel.

Verse 17 – “’ I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of [Sheth].’” – speaking of the enemies of Israel. But here he is speaking of a kingly line. A scepter is a royal ornamented staff – a symbol of sovereignty. And here this prophet was saying that this Scepter was going to rise out of Israel – out of the tribe of Jacob. And this is the point I want to make – here. This prophecy proves that Jesus came from the tribe of Jacob.

Let’s go back again to the Book of Genesis, the 49th chapter. Now, we’ve studied this extensively in the past –

Verse 8 – where Jacob is blessing all of his sons. He gives this prophecy concerning each one of his sons – all twelve. And, when he gets to his son Judah – look what he said – “’ Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; …’” – is that not the case TODAY! Is not Judah – who is modern-day Israel; over in that little narrow strip of land of Palestine today, truly the NATION OF JUDAH because we know that they (Judah, Benjamin, and the Levites) returned from Babylon after having been in captivity. The northern ten tribes were taken captive by the Assyrians and they never returned. But the NATION OF JUDAH is there surrounded even today by their enemies.

Verse 9 – “’ Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’”

And, look at verse 10 – “’ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, …’” –

What did his descendants become known as!? Now, there will be those out there that will dispute this – but, he was the progenitor of the Jews. The Jewish people – that are there in Israel even today. There are Jewish people – like a very good friend of mine and my wife’s “in the Great Smoky Mountains” of North Carolina – living in the United States of America. Some of the most wealthy and brilliant minds to ever come to our country were the Jewish people – like Albert Einstein, Max Bergmann, and J. Robert Oppenheimer – a son to a wealthy Jewish textile importer who had immigrated from Germany in 1888. And, you can look at any industry you care to look at and you will see the talent. Many of these who immigrated to America were the ones who began these great companies that became huge multibillion-dollar organizations – I believe from these very blessings that we are reading about here. So, the Jewish people are from the tribe of Judah.

And, there are also those out there that will say that Jesus wasn’t a Jew. But, the Book of Revelation tells us that He is called ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah’ – Revelation 5:5. And, of course, it goes on to say that He is ‘the Root of David.’ And we know that King David was of the Jewish race. And, that Jesus’ parents both were descendants from David.

“ … ‘Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; …’”

And, as I mentioned in “One God One Mediator II” that that word “Shiloh” is etymologically “this obscure word is variously interpreted to mean ‘the sent’ (John 17:3), ‘the seed’ (Isa. 11:1), the ‘peaceable or prosperous one’ (Eph. 2:14) – i.e., the Messiah (Isa. 11:10; Rom. 15:12).” 2 Referring to the ‘Scepter.’ That this condition here of a Scepter and a Lawgiver existing – a kingly line would exist until the One comes – the One who the scepter belongs. And, we have known for several decades – Ezekiel the 21st chapter in which the Lord GOD says, “’ Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, Until He comes whose right it is, And I will give it to Him.’” – to possess this scepter or this kingly seat.

So, in that history of Israel – and it is referring to the nation of Israel – the litany of kings which went down through the nation of Israel eventually coming to an end under King Zedekiah. And you remember this story – how he had his sons brought before him and they were killed in front of him by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. And then he had his own eyes gouged out and was taken captive into Babylon where he later died.

But, friends, if we are to believe these great promises by God – all the way back into the Book of Genesis to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – in which He says, “’ I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude’” – Genesis 32:12 NKJV. – and ‘the Scepter shall not depart from Judah’ then that kingly line had to continue and will continue down all the way to the glorious return of Jesus Christ! Now, we believe and we have known this – because we know the identity of the nations of Israel today when Jacob crossed his hands and said, ‘let my name be named upon them.’ Upon Ephraim and Manasseh. And they – as God promised Abraham – became two nations. One was ‘a great nation’ and the other ‘a company of nations.’

Now, did that kingly line end at the time of King Zedekiah as we read in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah!? The answer is, no. We, of course, know the historical story of where the prophet Jeremiah (in the company of his scribe Baruch) took King Zedekiah's daughter, Tea Tephi, to Ireland where she founded a line of Davidic kings that has continued on down to this day. 3 And that that overturning happened from the Middle East to Ireland, then to Scotland, then to England, where this kingly line is today. And, to think of this – Queen Elizabeth II, who is 94 years old, and Prince William, who is 38 years old – who will be the next king of England!? When you research her life and how she refused to give up England, her heritage, her right there. What a remarkable life! I think when you look at that in the light of biblical prophecy – and you understand that God made these promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, about two brother nations that were going to be lights unto the world. And, you look at today around the world and you ask – Well, is that Afghanistan and Iran!? Is it Japan and China!? What ‘great nation’ and ‘company of nations’ exist today that fulfills these promises here!?

As I said at the beginning - Why were all of His disciples so bewildered at what happened to Jesus!? And Jesus is saying, ‘You should have seen it coming!’ Now, maybe this condition continues today – I wonder!

Over in Isaiah the 9th chapter – it says, “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end.” – this is talking about an everlasting kingdom, an everlasting government. Now, all four of the “gospels” talk about the kingdom of God, the ‘kingdom [from] heaven.’ Our Lord and Savior, when He came out of the wilderness, with the temptations that He had undergone for forty days and forty nights with Satan the devil – who at every turn was trying to get Him to fail – Scripture says that Jesus left there and “from that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom [from] heaven is at hand.’” – Matthew 4:17 NKJV. Speaking about the kingdom of God. Not the kingdom up in the upper heavenly realms – ‘in the sides of the north’ (Isaiah 14:13), but the kingdom [from] heaven that is going to be upon the E A R T H!

Let us turn and look at this prophecy here again – “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, …” – now, of course, the LORD – through the prophet Isaiah – was referring to the Davidic covenant. Remember when the LORD God asked the prophet Nathan to go tell King David, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?’” “Also the LORD tells you [King David] that He will make you a house.” And, the LORD continues – “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed [your lineage] after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. … and I will establish the throne of his kingdom FOREVER’” – 2 Samuel 7:4, 11, 12, 13 NKJV.

Now, you have to ask yourself these questions - and so do all the other secular Christians of this world; all the Protestant and Catholic evangelicals in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand:

1. Does this throne still exist!?
2. Is God’s promise still valid!?
3. Did Jesus Christ inherit this throne!?

Now, God’s living word states that when Mary received that awesome announcement that she was going to have a Son, the angel said, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord GOD will give Him the throne of His father David” – Luke 1:32 NKJV. Did Jesus inherit this throne when He was here on earth!? Did He establish – as we read here, ‘a government of peace’? Was Jerusalem at peace when Jesus was there!? Friends from all around the world – ask yourself these very logical questions! Why won’t people address these questions!?

“Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, EVEN FOREVER. 33) And He will reign over the house of Jacob FOREVER, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

It is going to be a kingdom that is going to last forever! He was an heir to David – which was a fulfilled prophecy that the disciples should have known.

But, sadly, the majority of the people today go – including my beloved wife – “Ho-hum! That Bible was written by men, and it's been translated and translated so many times, you can’t believe a word it says!” They don’t care to read and to look into these or any other Scriptures. We, friends, know just how much they are missing on what is happening today.

In the Book of Psalm, the 45th chapter, verse 6, says – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God [speaking, of course, concerning Jesus Christ!], Your God, has anointed You, With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

And, in the Book of Psalm, chapter 102, verse 25, it is written – “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26) They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 27) But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.”

Friends, these two psalms surely inspired the apostle Paul when he wrote the Book of Hebrews, chapter 1, verse 8, in which he writes –

“But to the Son, He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.’” – and he goes on to quote this very passage because he realized and understood that that psalm which King David wrote was under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit and that it referred to Jesus Christ!

Now, in the Book of Micah – and I’ll be quoting from The Soncino Books of the Bible of which I added to my library back in 2016 – the 5th chapter, verse 1 –

“But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, Which art little to be, among the thousands of Judah, Out of thee shall one come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth are from of old, from ancient days.”

Now, the New King James Version rightly has “Ruler” capitalized because this indeed is a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ. The commentary states, “This prophecy of the Messiah is comparable to the more famous … Jesse prophecy in Isa. Xi. … Micah foretells the coming of [O]ne from Bethlehem (i.e. of the house of David) who, in the strength of the LORD, will restore Israel …” 4

In the Book of Revelation, the 2nd chapter, verse 26, Jesus says –

“’ And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations – 27) ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; …’”

Now, is Jesus Christ ruling with a rod of iron – now!? Are these rogue nations today – that want to literally destroy human beings and commit genocide on a massive scale, and even the homegrown terrorists in the streets screaming “No Justice, No Peace” – is Jesus executing justice and judgment upon them now!?

Well, let’s look at the Book of Revelation, the 12th chapter – speaking about ‘a great, fiery red dragon.’

“And another sign appeared in heaven [the atmosphere]: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4) His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.” – and, as I spoke of in “’Wake Up, Sleeper, Rise From The Dead’” we know that this is in reference to Satan the devil and, his demons being cast down to this earth.

“ … and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.”

Now, the scholars – most of which understand this to be a reference to the edict that King Herod the Great sent out – cf. Matthew 2:1-9. Now, by the way, the wise men didn’t come to the manger. If you look at all the “gospel” accounts they say that the wise men came to the house where ‘the young Child was.’ Jesus would have been 1 to 2 years old by this time – otherwise, Herod the Great wouldn’t have sent out the edict to kill – to ‘put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under’! Can you imagine the distraught and grieving mothers when two years old’s, one-year-olds, and even newborn babies were hurled up into the air and landed on a Roman spear!? Can you imagine this bloody scene!? Well, this very scene was prophesied in the living word of the Eternal – “’ A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Because they are no more.’” – Jeremiah 31:15 NKJV.

It’s truly vile and evil having a ruthless dictator doing something so absolutely heinous to little precious and innocent babies.

Now, I do believe that this is a reference to this in the Book of Revelation, chapter 12 –

Verse 5 – “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. …” – what, truly, does a man like Herod deserve!? Now, despite this king’s reputation, however, a great many people wonder why no other historian – at least any that are available to us – mentions Herod’s murder of the babies of besieged Bethlehem and the other surrounding areas. In fact, the only account we have is from the apostle Matthew, which has led many to claim that this atrocious act is but a myth. Yet, the very truth of the LORD our God attests to the cruelty Herod became known for. Other than murdering several members of the Jewish nobility when he first subjugated Jerusalem, his paranoia led to the execution of his uncle, his children, and even his wife. 5 I need to guard myself on what that man actually deserves!

“ … And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”

Now, later in the Book of Revelation, the 19th chapter, verse 11 –

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, … 12) His eyes were like a flame of fire, … 15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.”

Now is this going to take place up in the third heaven where God’s throne is!? Is Jesus Christ going to ‘strike the nations’ up in heaven!? Is that where we’re all going – heaven?

Friends, when you look at the living truth of God, and you begin addressing some of what His word actually says, and you compare it to what is being taught throughout this world – in this world’s religions – in the so-called Christianity, there is a great deal of difference! THEY ARE NOT TEACHING THESE SCRIPTURES HERE!

They are not telling their people – that Jesus Christ is coming here to this earth! Instead, they are teaching this pablum about – we’re all are going up into heaven, and ‘won’t it be great to be with the Lord’ and ‘standing there in front of St. Peter’s gate’! This is the nonsense that I have heard for over fifty years! And I just stand and shake my head when people begin quoting and saying things like – “Oh, he’s up there with the Lord and he’s looking down at us!” And I say, “No. He’s asleep right now, where he will be asleep – as our Lord Jesus said on four occasions in the 5th chapter of John – until the resurrection.” The great majority absolutely do not understand the link between what the apostle Paul wrote and what Jesus Christ said about the dead, the state of the dead, and especially these Scriptures we’re covering here today.

Over in the Book of Daniel, the 9th chapter, verse 25 in which he speaks of the 70-weeks prophecy. This was a prophecy concerning the time of Jesus’ birth. Now, certainly, the prophet Daniel had read the Book of Jeremiah and realized that there was a certain 69-weeks that would transpire before the nation of Judah would return to Jerusalem – understanding that they would not be in captivity forever, they were going back to Jerusalem, they were going to rebuild the wall, they were going to rebuild the temple – and the Messiah was going to come at that time! At the end of this sixty-nine weeks prophecy – that is exactly what happened! Because, if you look back into history (cf. Herodotus’ Histories 3. 150-160) when Darius I, king of ancient Persia (who reigned from 522-486 BC), subjugated the Babylonians – and Flavius Josephus wrote, “when Babylon was taken by Darius, and when he, with his kinsman Cyrus, had put an end to the dominion of the Babylonians, he was sixty-two years old” (Antiquities 10.11 §4). And you look at that date the 70-weeks depicted a time – that at exactly at the end of that 69-weeks prophesied period Jesus the Christ was born in 4 BC. It’s an amazing prophecy! So, the prophet Daniel knew that the Messiah was going to come! And no doubt, Jesus, on this occasion read these Scriptures here and told His disciples on the road to Emmaus – ‘that was speaking of My birth.’

Now, in addition to Daniel, chapter 9, Mr. Garrett wrote:

“Daniel 9 gives us a clue: Contains what is often referred to as the SEVENTY WEEKS PROPHECY. Verse 27 – Remember, verse 25 we see the word “Messiah.” That’s who we’re talking about here in verse 27. The “he,” who – JESUS CHRIST – “he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;” Which in Bible parlance, one day for a year – this is SEVEN YEARS. “But in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” Now, who was the ultimate sacrifice!? Jesus Christ. When did He die!? When was He executed!? He was executed on a WEDNESDAY, in the middle of the week. And, His human life ended after 3½ years of His public ministry. It was SEVEN YEARS He was supposed to have a very special dispensation. And He lived upon this earth for 3½ years, it begs the question: What became of the other 3½ years!? Well, the other 3½ years will be fulfilled in those events upon His return and for 3½ years the Millennium doesn’t really start, UNTIL AFTER 3½ years. Because Jesus Christ for 3½ years, is, as it were, remolding and reshaping the Earth – the people of the Earth. He’s getting the attitudes right. We are told, “as a Rod of Iron.” And, Jesus Christ WILL wield that club, and we as members of the resurrected Family of GOD WILL in part wield that club, and here’s a part of the story – God uses the physical people of Israel as a part of His club. That’s a part of the story which has NEVER been told.”

(Garrett, M.C., Notes Concerning The Feast of Tabernacles And The Last Great Day pdf, 2019 ).

Over in the Book of Isaiah, the 7th chapter, verse 14 –

“ … Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” – which means “God with us.” Now, certainly, it must have been a difficult time for Joseph – wouldn’t you say!? Here he was betrothed (engaged to be married) to a young Jewish virgin, and he discovers one night while sitting down eating dinner, she’s pregnant. Surely it would have been difficult and troubling news for him to have found out. And it says that he didn’t want to “make her a public example” instead, deciding to “put her away secretly” – which was lawful for him to do if she was found pregnant. “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream” and told him, “Do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” – the very power and Spirit of the Creator Almighty God! – cf. Matthew 1:18 NKJV. God (Jesus the Messiah) is coming to be a human being! Of course, we just read this very thing back in the Book of Genesis – “Between you [Satan the devil] and the woman, And between your seed [those who follow Satan the devil] and her Seed [that Seed being – Jesus Christ].”

Now, over in the Book of Hosea, the 11th chapter, verse 1 –

“’ When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My [S]on.’”

Recall, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,” and said, “’ Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word” because of King Herod the Great’s edict throughout Rome’s subjugated Bethlehem and in all its districts to murder any Jewish child 2 years old or younger.

And, the Book of Matthew, the 2nd chapter, verse 14 –

“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15) and was there until the death of Herod [6], that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son.’”

And, of course, here is another amazing prophecy, given by the Lord through the prophet Hosea, that the Messiah would actually come from Egypt.

Now, friends, there are so many more prophecies – in the Life Application Study Bible NLT which I have in my library there lists a whole litany of “Messianic Prophecies and Fulfillments” It lists, of course, that Jesus was to be a Prophet. But, I’d like to speak of one which declared Him to be the Son of God – in the Book of Psalm, the 2nd chapter, verse 7 –

“’ I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’”

And, in the Book of Matthew, the 3rd chapter, verse 17 –

“And suddenly a voice came from heaven [the atmosphere], saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” – and this was a voice which some of the disciples actually heard. And, of course, the apostle Paul wrote in the Book of Hebrews, “For to which of the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’?” – Hebrews 1:5 NKJV.

Indeed, God’s living word speaks of a Father and a Son. A familiar relationship between two Beings. It doesn’t talk about a threesome or a triune God. Be sure to watch Mr. Garrett’s short sermonette entitled “The Truth Concerning the Trinity Explained” it’s most enlightening.

Conclusion

Yes, friends, the coming of our Messiah was indeed written down ahead of time – it was all prophesied. It was all there for those disciples to have read and studied. I say, as our Lord Jesus said – “They should have known that these events were going to take place.”

Every single one of these references is from the Old Testament – which most of so-called Christianity rejects as something which has been done away. And yet, it reveals so much about the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – so many details were written down – over 4000 years of inspiration was written down so that mankind should have known, expected, and looked for – but more importantly – recognized the Messiah when He came to this earth. It is unbelievable looking back at all of these prophecies that they couldn’t put the evidence together. Did they truly want to understand!? What is equally disturbing is that over the course of eighty-seven years, within the 20th Century and on into this 21st, the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God has been scoffed at, laughed at, made fun of, and largely rejected, hated, tried to discredit, and ignored. And it makes one wonder – will they even recognize the real Jesus Christ of Nazareth when He stands up at His Second Coming!? □

Bibliography:

1 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 20.
2 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, pp. 52.
3 O’Donovan, J., LL.D., M.R.I.A., Annals: The Kingdom of Ireland, By The Four Masters, V. I, Hodges, Smith, and Co., Grafton. Street, 1856, pp. 31. pdf. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
4 Cohen, A., Dr., M.A., Ph.D., D.H.L, Soncino Books of the Bible, The Twelve Prophets, The Soncino Press, LTD. 1994, pp. 174.
5 Edersheim, A. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, pp 623-633, https://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/lifetimes.html. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
6 Most biblical scholars follow Emil Schürer's calculations of 4 BC. Schürer, Emil. A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Vol. I, Herod the Great pp. 400-467, New York, Scribner's, 1896.