Prophecies Respecting Messiah, and Predictions of Christ Respecting the Destruction of Jerusalem
fEOPlIECIES IlESIKCTING MESSIAH — PREDICTIONS OF CI Els’ T RESPKCTlfH THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.
The prophecies which relate to the Messiah are so numerous and interesting, and involve so much critical discussion, that to exhibit them m their proper light, a volume would scarcely be sufficient. I must, therefore, be contented to refer to the most remarkable of these predictions, in a very brief and general way.
1. It is plain, from a cursory perusal of the Old Testament, that frequent intimations are given of the coming of a remarkable personage. From these, the Jewish nation have been led, in all ages, to entertain the expectation of a Messiah; and from them, the idea of a distinguished person who was to proceed from Judea, seems to have pervaded the surrounding nations. Some of the passages of Scripture, on which this opinion was founded, were, the promise of “the seed of the woman;” “the seed of Abraham in whom all nations should be blessed;” “the Shiloh who was to come out of Judah, before the dominion of that tribe should depart;” “the prophet like unto Moses, whom the Lord would raise up;” “the king whom the Lord would set upon his holy hill;” “the priest after the order of Melchisedek;” “the anointed one or Messiah;” “the righteous branch;”” the corner stone;” “the desire of all nations;” “the Shepherd of Israel.”
2. The time of the arrival of the Messiah is designated in prophecy. He was to come before the sceptre departed from Judah; at the end of seventy prophetic weeks, or four hundred and ninety years, from the time of the going forth of the command Uj restore and build Jerusalem, a.nd while the secjnd temple was yet standuig.
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3. The plact of his birth, and the fj.nily fura wh’ch he was to descend, were also explicit y mentioned in prophecy. From the evangelical historv, and from the acknowledgment of the Jews, it -d evident, that they well know that the Messiah w is to be born at Bethlehem, and to be of the family of David.
4. Things of an apparently contradictory nature are predicted concerning the Messiah. At one time he is represented as a king and conqueror, whose dominion would be co-extensive with the earth, and who would flourish in righteousness and peace for ever; at another he is exhibited as one “despised and rejected, a man of sorrow and grief, as wounded and bruised, as cut off” out of the land of the living, and as pouring out his soul unto death.” These apparently irreconcilable characters led the Jews at one time to entertain the opinion that two Messiahs were predicted; the one a triumphant conqueror, the other a perseciUed and patient sufferer. But, however great the apparent inconsistency, there is an exact accomplishment of both characters in Jesus of Nazareth. And certainly, the same cannot be said of any other person who ever lived.
5. It is predicted of the Messiah, that he should be A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES; and that under his administration, the face of the world should be changed, md that peace and righteousness should prevail. Although this prophecy is only in part fulfilled, yet so much has been accomplished in the call of numerous Gentile nations to the standard of the Messiah and in the benign and salutary influence of Christianity, that we must conclude that it was uttered under the influence of inspiration.
6. It was not only predicted that Messiah should be cut off, but it is expressly stated that he should die as a vicarious sacrifice, an expiatory victim for sin and transgression. “Thou shalt make his sou’ an offering lor sin.”
For the fulfilling of these predict’ons, I need onl) ■^-fer to the recorded to^M>*iony of the evangelis”
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That there is a remarkable coincidence between tha language of the prophets and the history of the evan gplists cannot be denied, however it maybe accounted for. The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah has a counter* part in the sutlerings and death of Christ which has forced conviction on the minds of many unbeUevers.
But there are also many particular facts and circumstances foretold respecting the Messiah, which it may be proper briefly to mention. His forerunner, John the Baptist, is predicted by Isaiah and Malachi. His miracles, his uncomplaining meekness and tranquil SI tbmission under cruel sulierings, by Isaiah, His riding on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass; his being pierced where the wound should be visible; his being sold for thirty pieces of silver which should be appropriated to buy the Potter’s Field, by Zechariah. It is predicted in the Psalms, that they would “part his raiment and cast lots for his vesture;” and that vinegar would be given him to drink. The very words too which he uttered on the cross, when forsaken of God, are set down in the twenty-second Psalm.
It was also predicted in the Law of Moses, by an expressive type, “that not a bone of him should be broken;” the fulfilment of which was wonderful, since the legs of both those crucified with him were broken. Isaiah foretold tnat ne should make his “grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,” which was literally accomplished when Jesus Christ was suspended on the cross between two thieves, and when he was taken down from the cross by a rich man and buried by him in his own new tomb.
The most of these particulars were fulfilled by the free actions of the enemies of Jesus, who had no idea that they were fulfilling any divine prophecy. It is impossible, that so many circumstances, literally predicted, should have been fulfilled by a mere fortuitous concurrence.
The whole ritual law is in fact d prophecy ol Iesus. Td him the Old Testament dispensation’ had 4”
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reference. The Law, the Psaims, and the Pi opUtti all testify 3f him. As said the angel to St. John, The testimony of zesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Christ himself d ;lirered, while upon earth, many clear and remarlcble prophecies. Most of his parables have a prophetic character and in a striking manner represent the progress of the gospel, the rejection of the Jews, the calling of the Gentiles, and the future condition of the Church. He also foretold, in express words, the treatm.nt which his followers should receive from the world, the treachery of Judas Iscariot, the conduct of Petei in denying him three times in one night, the particular circumstances and exact manner of his own death, and his resurrection on the third day. But I must pss over all these at present, and confine my attentio*y to that astonishing prophecy, which Jesus delivered *.o his disciples on Mount Olivet, concerning the uttnr destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, and of the whole Jewish nation. This prediction was uttered ihout forty years before the events occurred, and was recorded by Matthew, according to the common epinion of early writers, thirty, or at least twenty year’s before it was fulfilled. The same was recorded )^^r Mark and Luke, a few years after the writing nf Matthew’s gospel, but several years before the occurrence oi these prodigious things which are foretold in it The testimony of antiquity is, that both these evangelists were dead before the invasion ot Judea by the Romans. John was the only one of the evangelists, or perhaps of the apostles, who lived to witness the fulfilling of the Lord’s prophecy; and it )s remarkable, that in his gospel this subject is nevev mentioned.
Let it be remembered, that when ibis proptiecv was delivered by our Saviour, there was not thp. least humf!’i probability of such an event, as the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jews were m a state o( profound peace, and the power of the Itotnans was such that it could not have been conjectured, that, one suialJ nation would Ihii k jf rehclhng against them.
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The words of this pirphecy may be read in the twenty-fuurtli cliaptei of the gospel of Matthew; also in the thirteenth chapter of the gospel of Mark; and in the seventeenth and twenty-first chapters cf the gospel of Luke.
1 will first collect iTito one view all the most remarkable pHrticulars of this prophecy, and then show yiow they were fulfilled. The predictions relate, 1. To the signs and precursors of the desolation of the holy city; 2. To the circumstances of its siege and capture; 3. To the consequences of this tremendous catastrophe.
1. The signs and precursors of this event were to De false Christs; seditions and wars; famines, pestilences, ‘Earthquakes, and extraordinary appearances in the heavens; the persecution of Christians; the apostasy of professors, and the great want of charity, and depravation of morals among the people.
2. The circumstances of this tremendous judgment of Heaven, are such as these: that the event should occur before the existing generation had completely passed away; that it should be brought on by a war waged against the Jews, by a heathen nation, bearing idolatrous ensigns; that Jerusalem should be utterly destroyed, and the tempi so completely dem.olisned, that one stone of that sacred edifice should not be left on another; that multitudes should perish by the sword; that great numbers should be carried away captives; that the distress should exceed any thing which had ever occurred in the world; and that the divine wrath should be manifest in all these calamities, as it is called the day of vengeance, and it is said that there should be wrath against the people.
3. The consequences of the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, as predicted by Christ, were to be the dispersion of the Jews through all the nations the total overthrow of the Jewish commonwealth, which is expressed by the prophetic symbols ol “the sun being darkened, the moon not giving her light, and the stars falling from heaven;” the rejec- lion of the Jews and the calling ci the Gentiles; tht?
rising of false prophets and false Messiahs; the es lent and continuance of these judgments on the Jew ish nation; with some intimation of their restoration The escape of the Christians from these calamities is also foretold, and directions given for their flight; and on their account it is promised, that those days should be shortened; and finally, it is predicted that the gospel should be preached among all nations.
Let us now proceed to inquire, in what manner these numerous and extraordinary predictions were accomplished; and we cannot but remark, that i seems to have been ordered specially by Providence that the history of the series of events by which this prophecy was fulfilled, should be written by a man who was not a Christian: and who was an eye-witness of the facts which he records. I allude to the Jewish historian, Josephus, who is an author of high respectability, and whose testimony is of gieat value in the cause of Christianity.
1. In regard to false Christs, of which the prophecy speaks so emphatically, we learn from the historian just mentioned, that impostors and magicians drew multitudes after them into the wilderness, promising to show them signs and wonders, some of whom became insane, and others were punished by Felix, the procurator. One of these impostors was that Egyptian spoken of in the Acts of the Apostles, who drew multitudes of people after him to Mount Olivet, promising that he would cause the walls of Jerusalem to fall down at his word.
Theudas was another who pretended to be a prophet, and gave out that he would divide the waters of Jordan; but he was quickly routed by Cuspius Fadus, and all his followers scattered. The impostor himself was taken alive, and his head cut oti” and brought to Jerusalem. In the reign of Noro, and luring the time that Felix was procurator of Judea, impostors arose in such numbers, that the historian informs us, “many of then were apprehended and ifilled every day.”
There were also, at thifi time, great commction*
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and horrible seditions and wars, in various places, as at Cesarea, Alexandria, and Babylon. There were great contentions between the Jews and Samaritans; and also betwein the Jews and people of other nations who dwelt in the same cities with them. Both Josepluis and Philo give a particular account of these disturbances, in which multitudes of the people were slain.
Famines, pestilences, and ear-hquakes, are mentioned by Suetonius, and by several other profane historians, who are cited by Eusebius, by Josephus, by Tacitus, and by Seneca.
That prodigies were frequent, is expressly asserted by Joseph us and Tacitus. The former declares that a star hang over the city like a sword, for a whole year; that at the ninth hour of the night, a bright light shone round the altar and the temple, so that for the space of half an hour it appeared to be bright day; that the eastern gate of the temple, which it required twenty men to shut, and which was fastened by strong bars and bolts, opened of its own accord; that before sunset, there was seen in the 2louds, the appearance of chariots and armies fighting; that at the feast of Pentecost, while the priests were going into the inner temple, a voice was heard, as of a multitude, saying, “Let us depart hence.” And what affected the people more than any thing else was, that four years after the war began, a countryman came to Jerusalem, at the feast of Tabernacles, and ran up and down crying, day and night, “A voice from the cast, and a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the temple. Wo wo to Jerusalem!” It was in vain that by stripes t nd torture the magistrates attempted to restrain him; he continued crying, especially at the public festivals, for seven years and five months, and yet never grew hoarse nor appeared to be weary, until during the siege, while he was crying on the wall, a stone struck him and killed him instantly. Taci us, the Roman historian, joins his testimony to tha: of Josephuf l(>6 iV’IDENCES OF CHRISTIAMTV.
“Armies,- says he, “were seen engaged .1/ th. ncavens, the glittering of arms was observed; and suddenly the fire from the clouds illuminated the temple; the doors of the inner temple were suddenly thrown open and a voice more than human was heard proclaiming, ‘The gods are departing;’ and at the same time, the motion of their departure was perceived.” Men may form what judgment they please of these narratives; but one thing is certain, that the minds of men were, about this time, much agitated and terrified with what appeared to them to be prodigies. There were •■’ fearful sights and great signs from heaven.”
2. The circumstances attending the siege and capture of the city, were as exactly foretold as the preceding signs. “The abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, was nothing else than the Roman armies, whose ensign was an eagle perched upon a spear, which ensigns were worshipped as divinities. These stood where they ought not, when they were planted not only in the holy land, but on the consecrated spot where the temple had stood. But the Christians had been warned, at the first appearance of this desolating abomination, immediately to betake themselves to flight, which they did, and, instead of going into the city, retired to Pella beyond Jordan.
The distress of the Jews within the city, during the siege, where two or three millions of people were crowded into a narrow space, almost exceeds belief. What with their continual battles with the Romans; what with intestine feuds and tumults; what with famine and pestilence, the sufl’erings which they endured cannot now be conceived. No such distress was ever experienced by any people before or since.
Jerusalem was hemmed in on all sides by the beiieging army, and notwithstanding the great strength of its fortifications, was taken. Although Titus had given express ord n’s that the temple should be preseived, the mouth of the Lord had declared that it should be otherwise; and accordii glv it was br.riU to ilie round, anil the very foundation dug up liy the soldiers with tb.e hope of finding niddeii treasures After the city had been destroyed, Titus ordered the whDle space to be levelled like a field; so that a person apnroaching the place would hardly suspect that t had ever been inhabited.
The number slain in the war has already been nentioncc!.^ to which we may now add that tlx captives amounted to ninety-seven thousand. Jose], bus, in relating these events, adopts a language remarkably similar to that used by Christ in the prophecy. “The calamities of all people,” says he, “from the creation of the world, if they be compared wUh those suffered by the Jews, will be found to be far surpassed by them.” The words of Christ are: “There shall be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.”
That these unparalleled calamities proceeded from the vengeance of heaven against a people whose iniquities were full, was not only acknowledged by Josephus, but by Titus, After taking a survey of the city, the height of its towers and walls, the magnitude of the stones, and the strength of the bands jy which they were held together, he broke out into the following exclamation: “By the help of God, we have brought this war to a conclusion. It was God who drew out the Jews from these fortifications; foi what could the hands or military engines of met avail against such towers as these?” And he refused to be crowned after the victory, saying that he wa> not the author of this achievement, but the anger of God against the Jews, was what put the victory into his hands.
3. Finally, the consequences of this catastrophe were as distinctly predicted, and as accurately fulfilled, as the preceding events. The Jews who survived were dispersed over the world, in which cou= dition they continue till this day. The Christians, availing themselves of the warnings of their Lord, escaped all the calamities of the siege. Jer.isalem 168 EVIDKNCES OF CHKIS’I’IAMTV.
was trodden down of the Gentiles, and continues ic be trodden down until this day.
Jerusalem was rebuilt by Adrian, but not precisely on the old site, and was called TElia, which name it bore until the time of Constantine. The apostate Julian, out of hatred to Christianity, and with the view of defeating the prediction, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,” determined to restore the Jews, and rebuild their temple. Immense sums were appropriated for the work, the superintendence of which was assigned to one of his lieutenants; and the governor of the province to which Jerusalem belonged, assisted in it. But horrible balls of fire, bursting forth from the foundations, rendered the place inaccessible to the workmen, who were often much burnt, so that the enterprise was laid aside. The account now given is attested by Julian himself, and his favourite heathen historian Ammianus. The witnesses are indeed numerous and unexceptionable- “Ammianus Marcellinus, a heathen; Zemach David, a Jew, who confesses that Julian was divinitus impeditus, providentially hindered in his attempt; Nazianzen and Chrysostom among the Greeks; Ambrose and Rufin among the Latins; all of whom flourished at the very time when this wonderful event occurred. Theodoret, Socrates, Sozomen, and Philostorgius, respectable historians, recorded it within fifty years after the event, and while the eye-witnesses of the fact were still surviving.“* That part of the prophecy which relates to the restoration of the Jews, remains to be accomplished, and we hope the accomplishment is not far distant. When this event shall take place, the evidence from this prophecy will be complete and almost irresistible. This shall occur when” the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.” The circumstances of this glorious event are more particularly described by Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans (chap, xi.)” If the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of ‘hern the riches of the GeiUiles, how much more theii
* See Whitby’s General Picfuce to the New Testament.
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fulness? P’or I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved.” The preaching of the gospel to all nations has been considered in another place.
After this concise review of some remarkable pro- ) hec:e.’=’ .ontained in the Bible, is there any one who Crtii pcsuade himself that all these coincidences are avxidental, or that the whole is a cunningly devised tftble? That man must indeed be blind, who cannot Si’e tMs “LIGHT which shineth in a dark place; this s<vRF WORD OP PROPHECY which holy men of God snike as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”