Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Chapter 9, part 1

This lengthy chapter deals with Messianic prophecies, their fulfillment, and answers to various objections to them.

1. Introduction.
* Purpose of Messianic prophecy
- Numbers 23:19 - God's word and knowledge are perfect.
- Isaiah 46:9-10 - God's will is supreme.
- Isaiah 48:3, 5; Romans 1:2-4 - God the Messiah's credentials make Him known.
* Appeal to Messianic prophecy
- Jesus: Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39, 40, 46-47; Matthew 13:14, 11:10, 21:42, 26:56; Mark 13:26; Luke 4:20-21, 22:37; John 15:25.
- NT writers: Acts 3:18, 10:43, 13:29, 17:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:2; 1 Peter 2:5-6; Matthew 2:4-6.
- Levitical feasts: Passover --> 1 Corinthians 5:7; Unleavened Bread --> 1 Corinthians 5:8; First Fruits --> 1 Corinthians 15:23; Pentecost --> Acts 1:5, 2:4; Trumpets --> Matthew 24:31; Atonement --> Romans 11:26; Tabernacles --> Zechariah 14:16-18.
* Significance of predictive prophecy. It logically implies...
- a divine mind behind the OT and NT.
- the fact of God.
- the deity of Jesus.
- the inspiration of the Bible.
2. The OT has over 300 Messiah references fulfilled in Jesus.
* Objection: self-fulfilling because they were written at/after Christ's time.
* Answer: Even if you doubt 450 B.C. as the finishing point of the OT, still remember that the Septuagint was done in 250 B.C. That's still 250 years MINIMUM.

We get into the good stuff tomorrow, very meaty sections.