Behold, a virgin will conceive, and will bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel, which is interpreted, Our God with us. (Mat 1:23)
Mat 1:23 quotes Isa 7:14 to show a definite fulfillment of this prophecy in that a virgin named Mary conceived and bore a son, Immanuel, the Christ.
With Christmas just around the corner once again, I thought it would be a good idea to dwell for a few weeks now on Bible prophecy. In essence, this is what Christmas is. It is prophecy fulfilled. It is prophecy unfolding. Christmas IS “the story of Jesus.” No. Christmas is not “HISTORY,” Christmas is “HIS Story.”
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us). (Isa 7:14). Isaiah was therefore a true prophet. Isaiah spoke prophecies that were only about Jesus. HIS STORY. Jesus came for the cross. To die on Calvary for us. That’s the prophecy. That’s the Christmas story. If someone tries to tell you a different Christmas story than this, then they need to get their story straight. We have many many, too many people online and off now all purporting to preach the “warning message” and most of them do not even mention the cross. But they sure like to dote on and on about the beast!
Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in men’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God.– Manuscript 49, 1898. {7ABC 458.2}
So lets start at the beginning.
What are the Bible tests for a true prophet? How does scripture reflect on prophets and prophecy?
The tests for a true prophet are found in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and pointedly indicate that the many prognosticators (like Jean Dixon) who are not measuring up to these stringent, Bible only qualifications, cannot lay claim to the rare distinction of being true prophets of God. Please find enclosed below, some basics about Bible prophets, as depicted in the Bible:
1) A true prophet does not lie. His/her predictions will be fulfilled. “The prophet which prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, [then] shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.” Jer 28:9
2) A true prophet prophesies in the name of the Lord, not in his own name. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Pet 1:21
3) A true prophet does not give his own private interpretation of prophecy. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Pet 1:20
4) A true prophet points out the sins and transgressions of the people against God. “Cry aloud, spare not,lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isa 58:1
5) A true prophet is to warn the people of God’s coming judgment. Isa 24:1-23; Rev 14:6,7
6) A true prophet edifies the church, counsels and advises it in religious matters “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” I Cor 14:3,4
7) A true prophet’s words will be in absolute harmony with the words of the prophets that have proceeded him. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.” Isa 8:20
8) He recognizes the incarnation of Jesus Christ. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
I John 4:1-3
9) He can be recognized by the results of his works. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Mat 7:16-20
10) A true prophet acts in accordance with the will and approval of God:
“thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh divination [fortune-teller], or an observer of times [astrologer], or an enchanter [magician], or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits [medium possessed with a spirit or a guide], or a wizard [clairvoyant or psychic], or a necromancer [medium who consults the dead]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD” (Deut 18:9-12)
To be even more precise, the actions of a true prophet are not in contradiction to any basic Biblical doctrines, but rather all prophecies support and strengthen precepts already outlined in Scripture.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 20:6, Rev 20:14, Rev 21:8)
ANY prophecy or ANY doctrine that does not have “Christ and Him crucified” as the central cornerstone is simply not a true Christian doctrine, no matter how many Bible verses are quoted. We see a lot of false prophets and prophecy on the internet these days. It is important to just know what the Bible says about it all.
Look and Live. Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Savior, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in people’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, then we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson. Whosoever will come after Me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me. One whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will have no trouble to leave all. They will die to selfishness. They will believe in all of the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ. {6BC 1113.1}
There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures–Christ and Him crucified. Every other truth is invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme. The soul palsied by sin can be endowed with life only through the work wrought out upon the cross by the Author of our salvation. {FLB 50.2}
The Christ hanging on the cross is the Christmas story. HIS STORY. Our “warning message.” Our doctrine. Every doctrine. Starting next week we will look more in depth at some of the above points regarding Bible Prophets, and Bible Prophecy. It truly is about the cross.