Daily Archives: December 27, 2014

Lesson 7 Of Series – To Vindicate Christ As A True Prophet

Jesus had predicted the destruction of Jerusalem saying:

“…this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.” (See Matt. 24:34 and Luke 21:20-32, (RSV). This is construed by dispensationalists as having never yet been fulfilled, but awaits a yet future coming, appearing, or revelation. Rather, Christ’s promise of a contemporary fulfillment must be seen in the perspective of the tests commonly required of a prophet in that time to determine whether or not he was indeed a true prophet; tests advised by Scripture as well as good sense. (See Lesson 2 “Tests Of A Prophet.) Jesus fulfilled these requirements.

It was morally imperative in 68 AD that this event take place soon because Christ had predicted that the generation who heard Him pronounce the prophecy would live to see its fulfillment and that generation was fast passing away by this time.

The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 was the vindication of Christ’s claim to the role of a true prophet and completed the proof of His identity as the Messiah.

When Christ was proven to be a true prophet, those who had rejected, and killed Him, were condemned and became guilty of innocent blood as well as blasphemy and deicide. Those who had charged Him with being a false prophet because He had foretold the destruction of the city and the temple were now themselves proven guilty.

CHRIST REVEALED AS A TRUE PROPHET

Jesus knew that the end of the appointed times prophesied by Daniel was near, (Matt. 24, etc.). Although neither the day nor hour was known, the prophet Daniel had predicted the year. If Daniel’s predictions of an “end” had not come to pass in the appointed time as specified, he would have been considered a false prophet and his words would not have found a place in the Biblical canon, and we would never have heard of him. Jesus declared that “the [appointed] time is fulfilled,” (Mark 1:15). He was speaking of an ‘appointed time’ that the people to whom He spoke were well aware, the time appointed by the prophet Daniel.

Likewise, if Jesus’ predictions of the “end” of Jerusalem and the nation had not come to pass in the specified time, that is, “this generation,” He would have been called a false prophet, His words would never have been considered sacred, and we would never have heard of Him. But both Daniel and Jesus were proven to be true prophets by the fulfillment at the ‘appointed time’ of their words, – not some imaginary or esoteric calculation of ‘time outs’ but by the exact science of time-telling known to the faithful priests of Israel, based upon the movements of the heavenly bodies, (Genesis 1:14).

Daniel’s Weeks of Years and Times Calculated

Many eminent scholars have attempted to calculate these times and coordinate them with recorded historical events. From their work there is every reason to believe that the predictions were accurate, although the historical records they have to work with are fragmentary and open to interpretation. However, it is enough to know that the New Testament saints believed both Daniel and Jesus and recorded their prophesies as the inspired Word of God. They had access to first-hand information and experienced, in their own lives, the fulfillment. (My calculation of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks according to Biblical and Historical records is in my book, Revelation In Context, at pp. 21-24.)

Furthermore, the New Testament has been proven and can yet be proven true by anyone who will believe, for Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is alive forevermore and is presently making intercession for us. If He had been a false prophet, God would not have so honored Him.

Did Christ Come In The Clouds As He Had Promised, Matthew 24:30?

The question, then, is whether or not Christ’s prophecy was actually fulfilled concerning His appearance in a cloud “with power and great glory.” The view popular with dispensationalists and pre-millennialists is that the events of Matthew 24:30 “did not take place after the fall of Jerusalem.” (See next lesson for the full account of His appearing in the clouds.)

Next Lesson: Signs In The Heavens