#4 One dark night
during WWII enemy planes bombed the city of Liege, Belgium –
relentlessly Suddenly a chaplain helping with the rescue heard something! A child’s muffled cry! With a new rush of adrenaline, rescue workers redoubled their efforts clearing wreckage and clawing away! Four days and four nights they worked desperately, recovering every person living or dead. In the chaplain’s own words, “When we heard that feeble cry, we thought no one could survive the cold and exposure, least of all a child. But sure enough, the little fellow was there; and when we got him out, he was still conscious, with no food nor water all that time.” How did that child survive? A miracle of mother love and sacrifice – the little boy lay sheltered beneath his mother’s lifeless body. Sensing imminent danger, that brave mother deliberately curved her strong body over and above her child. When the building collapsed, she took the full weight of the crashing stone, and under her protection, her little son was safe. John Masefield,
poet laureate of England, wrote: That dear, little Belgian mother sacrificed her life to save her own flesh and blood – the little one who loved her. But ladies and gentlemen, God sacrificed His Son not just to save those who loved Him but also to save His enemies – those who hated Him. Isaiah 53 says: <Isaiah 53:3,
5-7> The question tonight is: Who was this Jesus? Why does the Bible say, <Revelation
5:12> Tonight as the Voice of Bible Prophecy SPEAKS, we discover a technique of God – absolutely profound and amazing – in the way He deals with people. When you and I look at the Bible record, whenever this planet has experienced cataclysmic catastrophe, spiritual crisis – judgment – God always first sends a prophet with a message of salvation; a loving prediction warning about that crisis. That message results in the inauguration of a movement of remnant people who respond to that prophetic message, they avoid the judgment, and move safely through that crisis into another epoch of time. And throughout the Bible it’s always the same. At least five major epochs in human history illustrate this point. Watch carefully and notice how the Voice of Prophecy SPEAKS. Because it has something to do with Armageddon. And “Left Behind. And you tonight. First cataclysmic crisis we come to in the Bible is the Flood. Genesis 6:5-8 says, <Genesis
6:5-8> Trouble coming, Noah! Big time. Was he surprised by the flood? No. Because before God sends judgments, first He sends a prophet. Well who was the preacher-prophet sent before Noah? I mean Noah preached 120 years warning about the flood. Did someone precede him? The little book of Jude 14 says <Jude 1:14> Yes! There it is! Before Noah’s catastrophic flood, God first sent Enoch. A prophet, it says. Enoch had a son by the name of Methuselah. You remember him? Longest person who ever lived in the Bible! <Genesis
5:21> But Methuselah became the turning point in world history. A changing point in Enoch’s life as a prophet. You see, part of Enoch’s prophecy was in the very name he gave his son, “Methuselah.” In Bible times, often when people named their children, God helped give them a name that had something to do with their future and with history. Methuselah’s name means, Methuselah = “at his death it will come” What will come? If you look at the margin of your Bible, it says Methuselah = “at his death the sending forth of waters” Hi, Methuselah! Hi, “at your death the sending forth of waters.” But notice now the amazing accuracy of prophecy here. God makes a prediction to Noah, “I’m going to send a flood.” But first the prophet Enoch predicts it through his son Methuselah, by naming his son, “at his death, the sending forth of waters...” And if you read the record, <Genesis
5:27> Methuselah lived 969 years – clear up to the time of Noah; when God raised up another prophet, Noah. Who began an evangelistic campaign saying, “A flood is coming! Get on board, folks!” And every time Noah preached, there in his audience was great, great, great, great, great grandpa Methuselah, and Noah would point to him and say, “Folks! There he is! When he dies it will come! The sending forth of waters!” We don’t know the day or the hour, but it’s coming. People poked fun. They didn’t believe it. But one day Methuselah died, and at his funeral Noah preached, “Please! Come into the ark. It’s here! The flood.” But only 8 people believed. The rest were destroyed. But notice what happens. God led His little remnant prophetic people safely through the cataclysmic flood into the next epoch of human history. The point is we see a technique of God here. God calls a prophet. Through a prophet He makes a prophecy. At the end of that prophetic time period, God raises up another prophet. who takes that prophecy, and starts a movement of people who go safely through the crisis, and on into the next epoch of human history. Through a prophet He makes a prophecy. At the end of that time period, God raises up another prophet who takes that prophecy, and starts a movement of people who go safely through the crisis, and on into the next epoch of human history. Let’s move to Exhibit #2, the major crisis of the Exodus. Probably the most remarkable prophecy in all the Bible, which you never hear preached, is the prediction God gave through Abraham 400 years before the Exodus. Dramatic and remarkable prophecy fulfilled 400 years later. II. THE EXODUS God comes to His friend Abraham, makes this dire prediction of bad news. But then, good news. Notice. God calls a prophet. Abraham. <Genesis
15:13, 14> God gives a prophecy to Abraham. Makes a prediction that after exactly 400 years of slavery and persecution there would come a deliverer. Another prophet. (By the way, if we include the call of Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, this is actually 430 years of prophecy.) But we should expect another prophet 400 years later to come along, take that original prophecy, and start a movement. He inaugurates a movement of remnant people who respond to that prophetic message, they avoid judgment, and move safely through that crisis into another epoch of time. Did it happen? Read the story of Moses and the Exodus. It fulfilled prophecy dramatically and remarkably! Notice Ex. 12:40-42: <Exodus 12:40-42> And into a new epoch of time! One of the most remarkable and amazing prophecies in the Bible. Fulfilled to the very “self same day!” The same technique of God. Always! A prophet makes a time prophecy, toward the end of which the Lord raises up another prophet to apply this prophecy to his generation and begin a movement that goes into the next epoch of history. III. BABYLONIAN
CAPTIVITY (70-Year Exile) Jeremiah the prophet made the prediction that God’s people would go into 70 years of exile because of their wickedness, backsliding and apostasy. Worst catastrophe ever to come to Israel. Capture by Babylon. Exile. A time of crisis. <Jeremiah
25:11-12> Now, if the technique of God is going to be consistent (and we saw it holds true in the Flood and the Exodus, 2 instances), then we should expect a prophet or prophets to come on the scene at the conclusion of this 70-year period and lead God’s people through the crisis into a new epoch, a new era. Exactly 70 years later, guess what? Three prophets show up! Daniel. Haggai. Zechariah. Down to the very year 536 B.C. Daniel says, for example, <Daniel 9:1,
2> Daniel takes the prophecy of Jeremiah, applies that prophecy to His day. And God begins a “remnant”, who went back to Jerusalem and started a new movement and moved on into a new epoch for Israel. It’s thrilling! God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God rules, folks! He’s in control. But now hold on to your seat belts. Tonight’s message is one of the most amazing examples of this prophecy principle in all the Bible. The 490 year prophecy of Daniel 9:25. Most people who study the Bible know that there’s over 300 little prophecies in the Old Testament pointing forward to Jesus the Messiah. Every detail fulfilled in His lifetime. We call them “Messianic prophecies.” For thousands of years people offered sacrifices and slayed a lamb, sprinkling the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their homes. Clearly teaching people before Jesus died on Calvary that the only way to be saved from their sins is to, <John 1:29> Messiah’s coming! But, <Hebrews
9:22> God Himself set up that ceremonial system for all those millenia (on purpose) to point forward to Messiah – the Lamb of God. He’s coming! The most important, crucial, cataclysmic event in the history of the world! Jesus on Calvary’s cross! But let’s stop tape now, refocus the camera. Back up in time...five centuries. Nearly 500 years before. Daniel the prophet was carefully studying prophecy and praying for His people Israel. And he got excited because he was one of the exiles in that 70-year captivity in Babylon. He realized prophecy predicted that captivity would come to an end in about five years. “Wow! We Jews get to go back to Jerusalem. God’s about to set us free!” As Daniel was speaking to God in prayer, thanking Him for this revelation, the angel Gabriel came, <Daniel 9:22,
23> Notice, we have a prophet, God’s giving Daniel a vision, a new prophecy, Gabriel told Daniel “I’ve got good news and bad news. First, the bad news. Another crisis is coming:” <Daniel 9:24> Your Jewish nation, Daniel, has 70 weeks to get their act together, or God says I’m through with them! Finis. Over. Kaput.” Daniel’s heart stops cold. Why, Gabriel? <Daniel 9:24> Daniel was troubled. The vision haunted him for days and weeks. He didn’t understand it. Stayed up nights thinking about it. It wasn’t clear. You see, Daniel knew that in prophecy when you compute apocalyptic prophetic time, one prophetic day stands for one literal year! That’s how prophetic time works. Daniel knew about Ezekiel 4:6 and Numbers 14:34 which spell it out, <Ezekiel
4:6> (KJV) “First of all,” says Gabriel to Daniel, a prophet, “in this prophecy there’s a prophetic period of 490 literal years (70 prophetic weeks) for the Jews to get with it. 490 literal years are measured off for the Jews. To repent. Be saved as a nation of Israel. This is a special period of grace for the Jewish nation. But then, a crisis is coming, big time! But Daniel, here’s the good news! I want you to notice that during this 490-year period some great things are going to take place. Some special events leading up to Messiah!” “Really?” “That’s right! Daniel, during this long time prophecy all these rites and ceremonies and blood sacrifices will be brought to an end. Now pay attention, Daniel. This is the greatest prophecy God has ever given, Daniel. Four specific events leading up to Ground Zero, Calvary! I’m going to tell you exactly the year when Messiah comes, exactly when He will officially begin His ministry; how long it will be; even when He will die! (down to the year, month, day and hour!) And much, much more, Daniel!” “Wow! Thought Daniel. “Well, when does this prophecy start? When’s the beginning date? I’d like to know, so I can start computing when all these things will happen.” Gabriel says to Daniel in verse 25, “Now listen, it just takes a little bit of simple arithmetic. You can start figuring this prophecy and all its finer details from the time of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.” <Daniel 9:25> “Oh,” says Daniel. “Sure enough!” Jerusalem was in ruins at this time. Daniel and the Jews are captive prisoners in Babylon. Gabriel says, “get out your stopwatch Daniel when a decree is made to rebuild Jerusalem.” “All right!” says Daniel. “Can’t miss that!” This is like “WordPerfect for Dummies.” We find that decree recorded in the book of Ezra 6:14; 7:1, 7, 9, 13 – in fact, the Jews wrote it everywhere so nobody would miss it! <Ezra 7:7,
13> History tells us the decree of King Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem was issued in the year 457 B.C. In fact, in the Fall of 457 B.C. (The year, month and very day are given). The angel says, “Get out your pencil, Daniel. This prophecy is so simple an 8th grader can figure it out. The beginning date of this long 490-year period is when this decree is issued: 457 B.C.” “Daniel. Put it down. But notice, now there are several amazing subdivisions in this 490-year period. Write these down. 457 B.C. starts the clock ticking! But the first thing to happen? Rebuild the city!” <Daniel 9:25> Seven weeks is 49 prophetic days – but we want actual years, so that’s 49 years for the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Bingo! Brings you Down to 408 B.C. Do the math. History tells us that date’s correct. Artaxerxes Longimanus completed the work. Now, Daniel, from 457 B.C. this prophecy is to reach to Messiah, the Anointed One, verse 25, <Daniel 9:25> Doing a little math, that’s 483 days/years. 483 years after Artaxerxes’
decree brings us down to A.D. 27, the year Messiah should officially
appear. And Jesus came and asked to be baptized in the Jordan River. Anoint Me, John. “Now?” John asks. “Now. The prophetic clock has struck!” <Mark 1:15> John replies, <John 1:29> People, this is Messiah! Showing up right on schedule! Luke pinpoints this very year Jesus was anointed – at his baptism – the Fall of A.D. 27. <Luke 3:1,
21, 22> (KJV) God anointed Jesus “Messiah,” or “anointed One,” there at His baptism. Paul states: <Acts 10:38> In the Fall of 27 A.D. – and that’s important. Because it fulfills the 483-year prophecy – to the very month! Just an accident? Why wasn’t Jesus baptized in the spring or the summer of that year? Just happenstance? No friend. The prophecy said Messiah would be anointed exactly at that time – not Buddha. Not Confucius. Not Mohammed. This was no coincidence. Because it proves Jesus was indeed who He claimed to be! Messiah! Christ preached everywhere He went, <Mark 1:15> My whole life is based on prophecies! But hold on. There’s more. It really gets beautiful and wonderfully technical to the milli-second. In fact, my favorite part of the prophecy. The Jews still had another seven years to get with it, right? From Christ’s baptism in A.D. 27 clear up to A.D. 34. For seven more years after the Savior entered His ministry in A.D. 27, the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews. For three and one half years by Christ Himself; and afterward by the apostles. But look! Something else happens first – before the Jewish nation falls apart in A.D. 34, Daniel 9:26-27 says in the midst of the week, <Daniel 9:26> For others! He’d be killed. Look closely at what happens right smack in the middle of this last 7 years, Verse 27 <Daniel 9:27> In other words, exactly three and one-half years after Jesus’ baptism, by sacrificing Himself half way through this “week,” He’d bring an end to the entire sacrificial system of the Jewish Old Testament! Count it out with me. Use your fingers. From the fall of A.D. 27 to 28, 29, 30. Then 1/2 a year: fall, winter, to Spring of A.D. 31! When is Easter? In Spring! Prophecy was fulfilled exactly! History tells us it was Passover in 31 A.D. exactly 3 1/2 years after His baptism. In the middle of this prophetic week, Jesus died as the perfect Lamb of God. He the true sacrifice offered on Calvary was, “cut off.” Killed. Hung upon a cross, scripture tells us, on the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month. (Equivalent to our Easter time). You remember what happened that day? Mark records it was Passover in Jerusalem; and just as the priest in the temple was about to slay the lamb on the altar, suddenly “the veil in the temple (6” thick) was rent in twain from the top to the bottom” by an unseen hand! In horror, the High Priest dropped his knife, all those people now for the very first time see into the Most Holy Place – which only the High Priest was ever supposed to see. It was worthless now. It meant nothing. Why? It all came to an end at the cross. For at that very moment, Jesus hung on Calvary and cried out, <John 19:30> The Bible said Jesus would be crucified when the Passover Lamb was slain three o’clock in the afternoon of the 14th day of the first month in A.D. 31. on the month, day, the very hour and even the very second the lamb in the temple was slain. Meeting the specifications of prophecy in every detail. Time had come for the rites and ceremonies of the Old Testament to cease. No more sacrifices to show faith in a coming Savior. Messiah Changed the World! What a prophecy! Fantastic because no other person in history could have fulfilled it. But the prophecy isn’t ended. Three and one-half more years were measured off ending in 34 A.D. Three and one-half more years for the Jewish nation to straighten out, to accept Jesus and the message of the Disciples. But the Jews never did. The disciples tried to win them. But the Jewish nation officially rejected their message. Finally when they stoned Stephen to death in A.D. 34 they sealed their doom. Their rejection of the gospel. Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian church, and the prophetic clock struck again! Right on time. 490 years. The Jews had broken the camel’s back. The last straw. Persecuting Messiah’s church! So God sent word because they rejected Him as a nation, He finally had to reject them. And the disciples, under intense persecution, were scattered and... <Acts 8:4> Preaching the Gospel now to the Gentile world. If God couldn’t use the Jews, God would use Gentiles to proclaim His truth and formulate His church. We know this actually happened. Acts 13:46 gives the CNN News report from Antioch when the Jewish Taliban fiercely opposed the apostles: <Acts 13:46> Ending the 490-year prophecy of Daniel. End of the Jewish theocracy. Jesus said in Luke 13:7, <Luke 13:7> The Jews are useless as a nation. They are obstructing the Plan of Salvation. That’s why shortly after A.D. 34 the Jewish nation and Jerusalem was totally sacked, destroyed and leveled by the Roman armies in 70 A.D. Just like Daniel 9:26 foretold. Just like Jesus foretold in Matthew 8:12 <Matthew
8:12> (KJV) You see, friend, the 70-week prophecy is not only correct. It’s accurate to the very moment of time. Every little subdivision met complete fulfillment in history. Proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah foretold in Scripture. Jesus began His ministry and accomplished His death at the very times specified in prophecy. Who else could it be? No one. Not Confucius, Buddha. Jesus! Notice! We see it again. A technique of God. The consistency of God. A prophet makes a time prediction at the end of which another prophet raises up to form a movement - a nucleus of people. They lead that remnant through the time of crisis and on into a new epoch. Our God is the same. He is predictable. He doesn’t change. And in the last days of this earth’s history there’s one more prophecy we don’t have time for tonight – of tremendous global and cosmic interest that follows the same pattern. It’s the final prophecy that leads out a people in final crisis...final jeopardy...this time into the epoch of eternal life. You don’t want to miss that message! I mentioned there are hundreds of detailed prophecies in the Bible that point with stupendous and astonishing accuracy to Jesus. The true Lamb of God. Evidence that proves He is the Messiah: His Miraculous
Birth <Isaiah 7:14> His Birthplace <Micah 5:2> His Betrayal
by Judas <Psalm 41:9>
(NIV) The Price Paid
to the Traitor <Zechariah
11:12> (NIV) His Beating
and Abuse <Isaiah 50:6>
(NIV) They Pierced
His Hands and Feet <Psalm 22:16> He Was Numbered
With the Transgressors <Isaiah 53:12>
(NIV) They Cast Lots
for His Clothing <Psalm 22:18> Even His Words
on the Cross were predicted! <Psalm 22:1>
(KJV) Ladies and gentlemen of the jury tonight, Jesus Christ was not only truly everything He claimed to be – the Messiah! There’s only one Person in the world who could fulfill all the Biblical rubrics of prophecy. There’s no mistake. And friend, as our Lord hung upon that cruel cross fulfilling prophecy to the micro-second – His back lacerated from the cruel beatings, His hands and feet driven through with spikes, His head pierced by the thorns, enduring the mockery and jeers of the crowd – “He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free.” He was God! But you see, He couldn’t save Himself and save us too! Do you sometimes wonder if anyone out there really cares about you? Jesus does! 2000 years ago He proved just how much He cares as He poured out His life for you on a lonely hill just outside of Jerusalem! What incredible love! But listen, friend. Just as all these prophecies of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of His amazing grace, so the message of His second coming announces the kingdom of His glory. And the second-coming messages, even more than the first, are based on the prophecies. Hundreds of them. The Voice of Prophecy SPEAKS! Gabriel told Daniel about our days tonight. The last days. When... <Daniel 12:4,
10> Tonight, it’s closing time for this old world. We’ve reached the time foretold in all these scriptures. The time of the end is come. Solemn. Swift. Certain. Soon. George Vandeman used to tell the story a number of years ago about a lighthouse being built on the rock-bound coast of Wales. When the building was nearly completed, one of the workmen stumbled and fell back through the scaffolding to the rocks below. The other workmen were shocked. They didn’t dare to even look down for fear of being unnerved at the sight. With heavy hearts they all slowly backed down the ladders to the ground. But to their surprise and joy they saw their fellow workman lying on a tuft of grass – kind of shaken up. Shocked and bruised of course. But not seriously harmed. Right beside him lay a dead lamb. A flock of sheep had been wandering by, and a lamb had broken his fall. Friend, a Lamb broke your fall. A Lamb broke mine. Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world! Would you like to lift your right hand right now and say, “Yes, Jesus, I accept you tonight as my Lord and Savior. I believe You were the “fall guy” for me. You died for me. Yes, Lord, I give my life to you.” Maybe you want to stand to your feet, or kneel there at your seat. Do it now. Do it for that One Life that Changed the World. Gracious Heavenly Father: As we begin to comprehend through prophecy the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice, tonight we simply want to pause and say “Thank You.” Thank You for spelling out so clearly that You came on purpose to fulfill prophecy and bring Your free gift of salvation. We certainly don’t deserve it. Your prophecies show us time and again You are a God who is consistent. You are predictable. We can count on You. So just now by faith we choose to make a decision and respond, by accepting You. Claiming You by faith tonight. As our heads are bowed in an attitude of prayer, I want to invite you to take your decision card and make a tangible commitment to the Christ of prophecy tonight. He’s speaking to hearts throughout this auditorium or wherever people are listening. Will you say, “Lord, you can count me in on this prayer” by marking your commitment: Lord, accept our thanks. And accept our commitments to You. Surround us with Your promised power and presence, forgiveness and love, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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