Fifty Prophecies of the Old Testament Which Can Only Be Fulfilled When the Lord Returns

There are hundreds of passages in the Old Testament prophetic Scriptures which are unfulfilled and which cannot be fulfilled till Christ returns. But when He comes back all these prophecies will be accomplished, and as a result the Bible as the inerrant, infallible Word of God will be vindicated. We quote only a small number of these prophecies as to the future, and indicate their coming fulfilment when the King returns to claim His Kingdom. We do not quote the texts in full as we do not want the reader to neglect his Bible in reading this volume. Please take your Bible and look up each passage.

1. Numbers xxiv:17-25. The heathen prophet Balaam, forced to speak what the Spirit of God put into his mouth, in the presence of the heathen king of Moab, predicted that a Star should come out of Jacob and of a Sceptre to arise out of Israel. The Star and the Sceptre are predictions of Christ. His first coming is typified by the Star; His second coming by the Sceptre. The judgment of nations and the overthrow of the enemies of the people of God is announced by Balaam. It awaits His return to reign and rule over the earth.

2. 1 Sam. 11:10. Hannah’s prophecy, uttered in her praise, looks forward to the time when He is King, when the Anointed (Christ) is exalted and when He will judge the ends of the earth.

3. Psalm ti. In this Psalm the revolt against God and against His Christ is predicted. It has not yet come. Then, when the nations of the world are opposing God and Christ, the King will be enthroned upon the hill of Zion and receive the nations of the world for His inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession.

4. Psalm otit. The Son of Man is the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ. All things will be put in subjection under His feet. But we see not yet all things put under Him (Hebr. ii). Only when He returns will this be done.

5. Psalm xxit:27-31. There will be no turning of the ends of the world, nor will there be the worship of all nations, till Christ receives the Kingdom from the hands of God. He will be the Governor among the nations when He returns.

6. Psalm xlvi:5-11. The preceding Psalm reveals the King coming to receive His throne. The results of His coming are given in this Psalm. The nations raged and the kingdoms were moved. Judgment works are then executed by Him. Wars cease unto the end of the earth. The time of universal peace has come. It will not be till He returns.

7. Psalm xlvoit and xloitt. Both of these Psalms are prophecies of the Kingdom to come.

8. Psalm 1:3-6. The coming theophany described in this Psalm of Asaph is a prophetic picture of the Lord’s coming, when He will gather His Saints together and when the heavens shall declare His righteousness.

9, Psalm lxxxix:27, The Firstborn, destined to be higher than the kings of the earth, is Christ. His return will exalt Him above all kings and rulers.

10. Psalm ctt:13, 16. Mercy is promised to Zion, not the Church, but Israel. Zion in both Testaments never means the Church of Jesus Christ, but always the earthly literal Zion. The building of Zion, the restoration of Israel, will not take place till He appears in glory.

11. Psalm cx:1-7. Only the first verse of this prophetic gem is fulfilled. He is still at the right hand of God waiting till it pleases God to send Him back to earth again. Then He will rule in the midst of His enemies, while Israel will be His willing people and the nations will be judged by Him in righteousness.

12. Isaiah 11:2-4. ‘This much quoted prophecy, in spite of all the well meaning efforts to legislate war out of the world, and have universal peace, will not be fulfilled till the Prince of Peace is on the throne. Then nations will learn war no more.

13. Isaiah 11:10-22. This day of the Lord is future. It is the day of His visible and glorious appearing.

14. Isaiah 1:2-6. ‘This is another prophecy of that coming day of His return and of the glorious results which are in store for Israel.

15. Isaiah ix:6-7. The child was born and the Son given, but the seventh verse remains to be fulfilled. He will receive the throne of David and with it the government, when He comes back.

16. Isaiah x1:4-9, Here other results of His return are revealed. Groaning creation will be delivered, and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

17. Isaiah xi:10-14. The restoration of Israel, the regathering of the nation from the ends of the earth and the islands of the sea has never taken place. His return will accomplish it (See Matthew xxv:31).

18. Isaiah xi. This is a prophetic Song which converted and restored Israel will sing “in that day”? when “the Holy One of Israel,”’ Christ, is in their midst.

19, Isaiah x111:9-11. ‘This description of the coming day of the Lord is the same as spoken by Him in Matthew xxv: 29, 30.

20. Isaiah xxiv. The whole chapter and those which follow have been called “‘Isaiah’s little Apocalypse,” because the last book of the New Testament, the Revelation, or, Apocalypse, reveals much of what is contained in these chapters. The judgment announced comes in the day of the Lord.

21. Isaiah xxv:9-12. This will be fulfilled when Israel’s waiting ends and He appears for their deliverance.

22. Isatah xxv1:20-21. The godly remnant of Israel will be kept by the Lord during the days of the coming great tribulation, when judgments are poured out upon the ungodly.

23. Isaiah xxvti:1. This is a prophecy of the future punishment of and complete victory over Satan (See Revelation xx:1).

24. Isatah xxxit:1. ‘The King promised to reign in righteousness is the Lord Jesus Christ.

25. Isaiah xxxii:13-20. The future outpouring of the Spirit will come with His return, when peace and blessing will be given to Israel.

26. Isaiah xxxv. A prophetic picture of the coming kingdom. It necessitates the return of Christ and His personal presence in the midst of His people.

27. Isaiah xl:5. The glory of the Lord is His visible glory. All flesh shall see it in that day.

28. Isatah xlv:23. This is quoted in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians. Only after His return will every knee bow before Him and every tongue confess Him.

29, Isaiah xlix. ‘The entire chapter is prophetic, revealing Christ’s rejection by His own people, their ultimate salvation and the blessings of the kingdom, when He is revealed in His glorious majesty.

30. Isaiah liv. These precious promises made to His afflicted, earthly people and predicting their future glory, and the glory of Jerusalem, will be fulfilled when He returns to earth.

31. Isaiah lix:20, 21. This promise is quoted in the Epistle to the Romans xi:26. It is His second coming, and will result in the conversion and acceptance of the remnant of Israel living in that day.

32. Isaiah lx: The future conversion of the world, following Israel’s conversion, is predicted in this chapter. World conversion in the Old Testament always follows the conversion and restoration of Israel, and these events are the results of the second, visible and glorious coming of Christ.

33. Isatah lxi-lxv1. Each of these closing chapters of Isaiah reveals things to come. ‘They cannot be fulfilled in any other way than by the return of the Lord.

34. Jeremiah xx111:5-8. The reign of the King follows the return of the King, and the blessings promised here and in many other Scriptures will be bestowed upon Israel.

35, Ezekiel xxxvi-xloiu. This entire section of the Prophet Ezekiel concerns the future. Nothing contained in these chapters has ever been fulfilled, nor can these prophecies be fulfilled before His return.

36. Dantel 11; 44-45. ‘The greater portion of Nebuchadnezzar’s prophetic image has passed into history. ‘The smiting stone is future. It is the prophetic symbol of the second coming of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom on earth.

37. Daniel vit:13-14. Of this the Lord spoke when on earth. ‘The vision shows Him in His return to receive dominion, glory and a kingdom.

38. Daniel 1x:24-27. ‘This greatest prophecy in Daniel has also been in greater part fulfilled. The last unfulfilled week is the end of the age, after the true Church has been supernaturally removed from the earth. It remains to be fulfilled, and at the close of the seven years Christ returns.

39. Daniel x1i;1-4. The predicted tribulation is the same as predicted by our Lord in Matthew xxiv. It precedes immediately His return, Matthew xxiv:29.

40. Joel 11 and 111. ‘These events are closely linked with the day of the Lord, when He appears. Note Israel’s tribulation, repentance, restoration, spiritual blessings, the outpouring of the Spirit of God, the judgment of nations, are all future.

41. Amos ix:11-15. This passage in part is quoted by James in Acts xv:13-17. The restoration of the house of David to kingly rule, the subsequent blessings for all the earth, follow His return.

42. Habakkuk iti. This beautiful Ode is a prophecy of His second coming. What precedes His Return, the return itself and what is connected with it, are found in this chapter.

43. Zephaniah 1. ‘The description of the day of the Lord in its majesty, as given by Zephaniah is the same as revealed by Isaiah, Joel and other prophets.

44, Haggai u:6,7. The time when heaven and earth will be shaken comes with His return. He is “the desire of all nations.”

45. Zechariah 11:10-13. The joining of the many nations to the Lord is also future. Though the Gospel has been in the world for nineteen hundred years, there is no nation which is joined unto the Lord. The joining will take place “after the glory” (verse 8), that is, after the Lord has returned.

46. Zechariah v111:6-8. The promised salvation of Israel, His people, from the East and the West, comes with His return. No such salvation for Israel is promised anywhere in Scripture apart from His visible return.

47. Zechariah 1x:9-11. While the Lord Jesus, when on earth, entered Jerusalem as predicted in this prophecy, another coming to Jerusalem is indicated. When that takes place, He will speak peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea. It is at His Second Coming.

48. Zechariah xi1:10. Israel’s conversion is foretold. It takes place when they look upon Him whom they pierced.

49. Zechariah xiv. ‘The whole chapter is prophetic. The predicted siege in the beginning of this chapter has not yet taken place. As we find in other Scriptures, the nations will gather at the very end of the times of the Gentiles against Jerusalem (See Revel. xix:19). Then He will come forth and fight against those nations. His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives in that day. He comes and all His Saints with Him. The rest of the chapter predicts the kingdom which always follows His return.

50. Malachi 1v:1-3. ‘The last chapter in the Old Testament predicts His Second Coming, just as the last chapter of the New Testament does the same. From all this we have learned that the Return of the Lord is a prominent, an outstanding doctrine of the entire Bible. The second coming is as prominently revealed as His first coming; both are of equal importance. If there were no second coming of Christ the whole scheme of redemption would break down. And His Return is the Hope, the one great Hope of all.