The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is
useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong
in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right.
It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point, fully
equipped to do good to everyone.
2 Timothy 3:16 (The Living Bible)
Old Testament and New Testament, is that God established
a plan to redeem fallen man and this plan was fulfilled in
the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Long ago God spoke in many different ways to our fathers
through the prophets (in visions, dreams, and even face to face),
telling them little by little about his plans. But now in these days,
he has spoken to us through his Son to whom he has given
everything, and through whom he made the world and everything
there is. God's Son shines out with God's glory, and all that
God's Son is marks him as God. He regulates the universe by
the mighty power of his command. He is the one who died to
cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, and then sat down in
highest honor beside the great God of heaven.
Hebrews 1:1-3 (The Living Bible)
The Old Testament contains over 300 references to the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. The historic date for completion of the Old Testament was 450 B.C. The Septaugint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, was completed in the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 B.C.). It is rather obvious that if you have a Greek translation in 250 B.C. then you had to have the Hebrew text from which it was written in 250 B.C. Thus, there was at least a 250 year gap between the prophecies being written down and their fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.
(Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell, 1972.)
Prophecy--
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV Translation)
Fulfillment--
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary
was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together,
she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. When Joseph
woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and
took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she
gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18,24,25 (NIV)
Prophecy--
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we
considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone
astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has
laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)
Fulfillment--
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged
and handed him over to be crucified. And when Jesus had cried
out again iu a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment
the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The
earth shook and the rocks split.
Matthew 27:26,50,51 (NIV)
_
Prophecy--
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in
his death.
Isaiah 53:9 (NIV)
Fulfillment--
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one
on his left. ...As evening approached, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus
body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the
body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own
new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.
Matthew 27:38,57-60 (NIV)
