Why Future Events?-Part 15

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WHY FUTURE EVENTS? PART 15

Introduction

In our previous article we noted that the Old Testament prophets recorded many prophecies concerning the restoration of nature to its pre-fall condition when the Messiah will establish the future theocratic kingdom. We also noted that for each of those Old Testament prophecies Christ performed at least one, and sometimes more than one, corresponding miracle while on earth in His First Coming. This present article will present examples of the correspondence between the Old Testament prophecies and Christ’s miracles.

The Old Testament Prophecies And Christ’s Miracles

First, the prophets foretold beneficial changes in the earth’s climate and natural elements for the future theocratic kingdom (Isaiah 30:23-26; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Joel 2:21-26; 3:18; Zechariah 14:8). The effectiveness of the moon and sun will be increased, and abundant rains will fall when needed. Special streams of water will flow out from Jerusalem to cleanse polluted bodies of water and to cause waste places to become very fruitful. Jesus demonstrated His power to control the earth’s climate and natural elements by walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee and calming two storms (Matthew 14:24-33; Mark 4:35-41).

Second, according to the prophets the theocratic kingdom will be characterized by unprec­edented growth and fruitage of trees (Isaiah 41:19-20; Ezekiel 36:8, 29-30; 47:6-7, 12; Joel 2:21-22). Jesus displayed His power to control the growth and fruitage of trees by cursing a fig tree and causing it to wither immediately (Matthew 21:18-20).

Third, the prophets declared that there will be great productivity of animals, including a huge multitude of fish, during the theocratic kingdom (Ezekiel 36:11; 47:8-10). Twice Jesus miracu­lously produced a huge draught of fish for His disciples after they had fished all night without catching any (Luke 5:1-11; John 21:1-12). Here was evidence that He could produce the great productivity of animals, including the huge multitude of fish, of the future messianic kingdom.

Fourth, the prophets proclaimed that the future theocratic kingdom will be blessed with a superabundant supply of food (Psalm 72:16; Isaiah 30:23-24; Ezekiel 34:25-30; 36:29-30; Joel 2:21-26; Zechariah 8:11-12). Famine will be abolished. Jesus exhibited His power to produce this superabundant supply of food in the future kingdom by expanding five loaves of bread and two fish into more than enough food to feed five thousand men. After all these people were filled, there were twelve baskets of food left (John 6:5-14). On another occasion Christ increased seven loaves of bread and several small fish into enough food to feed about four thousand people. After all of them were filled, there were seven baskets of food left (Mark 8:1-9).

Fifth, according to the prophets, wine will be abundant in the future theocratic kingdom (Joel 2:21-26; Amos 9:13). Jesus manifested His ability to cause this abundance of wine in the future kingdom when He turned water into wine at the marriage in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11).

Sixth, the prophets predicted dramatic changes in the nature of animals for the future theo­cratic kingdom (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:25; Hosea 2:18). All animals will be completely tame and vegetarian in diet. Sheep, goats, calves and cows will dwell together with wolves, leopards, young lions and bears and not be harmed. Instead of being flesh-eating in diet, the lion will eat the same vegetation as the ox. Little children will be able to lead all these animals as pets. Snakes that today are deadly poisonous will no longer be harmful.

Jesus demonstrated His ability to change or exercise authority over the nature of animals. On His triumphal entry into Jerusalem He rode a colt that had never been sat upon by a human being. He had no trouble doing so, in spite of the fact that such an animal would normally have attempted to throw off a rider. Jesus changed the nature of that colt (Mark 11:1-11). On another occasion He caused a fish with a coin in its mouth to come to the right place at the right time to be caught by Peter (Matthew 17:24-27).

Seventh, the prophets declared that the future theocratic kingdom will be characterized by the healing of physical diseases and deformities (Isaiah 29:18; 33:24; 35:5-6). The lame will be made to walk, the blind made to see, the deaf made to hear, and the dumb made to speak. No longer will anyone say, “I am sick.” Jesus gave overwhelming evidence of His power to produce that characterization of the future kingdom. He healed the lame (Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 2:1-12; John 5:1-9), blind (Matthew 9:27-31; 12:22; 20:29-34; Mark 8:22-26; John 9:1-7), deaf (Mark 7:31-37; 9:14-29) and dumb people (Matthew 9:32-34; 12:22; Mark 7:31-37; 9:14-29). He also healed those at the point of death (John 4:46-54), those possessed by demons (Matthew 9:32- 34; 15:21-28; Mark 1:21-28, 34; 5:1-20; 9:14-29), lepers (Mark 1:40-45; Luke 17:11-19), and those with fever (Mark 1:29-31, withered hands (Mark 3:1-5), issues of blood (Matthew 9:20- 22), infirmity (Luke 13:10-13) and dropsy (Luke 14:1-4). He replaced a severed ear (Luke 22:50- 51). In addition, He performed many other miracles of healing which are not specifically recorded (Matthew 4:23-24; 8:16; 9:35; 15:29-31; Mark 1:34; 6:56; Luke 4:40; 5:15; 6:17-19; 7:21).

Eighth, the prophets foretold that the future theocratic kingdom will be marked by great longevity of life (Isaiah 65:20-22). The one hundred year old person will be classified as a child; infancy will be measured by years, not days; old men will live a full life, and the days of God’s people will be as the life of a tree. Jesus raised Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter and the widow’s son from the dead, thereby lengthening their lives beyond their normal span (Matthew 9:18-26; Luke 7:11-17; John 11:1-45). This was evidence that He has the power to produce the longev­ity of life of the future theocratic kingdom.

The Primary Purpose Of Christ’s Miracles

The primary purpose of Jesus Christ’s miracles was to demonstrate that He is the Messiah who will fulfill the Old Testament prophecies concerning the future theocratic kingdom with its transformation of nature. This conclusion is based on several lines of testimony.

First, when asked to state plainly if He were the Messiah, Jesus said, “I told you, and you believed not; the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me” (John 10:24- 25). He indicated that witnesses of His miracles had a solemn responsibility to believe His claims (John 15:24). Second, the Apostle John expressed amazement that some witnesses of Jesus’ miracles did not believe His claim to be the Messiah (John 12:37-38), and John re­corded some of Jesus’ miracles in order that his readers might believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God (John 20:30-31). Third, the Apostle Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah (Acts 2:36) and indicated that God certified Jesus to be the Messiah “by miracles” (Acts 2:22).

By restoring nature to its original pre-fall condition, when he restores God’s theocratic king­dom rule to this present earth, Jesus Christ will accomplish the third future thing that God must do to fulfill His purpose for history.

For a study of how God works through time to accomplish His purpose for history, order my book: What On Earth Is God Doing? (Loizeaux Brothers, P.O. Box 277, Neptune, NJ 07754- 0277. Telephone-1-800-526-2796).

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