A Prophetic Sketch of the Messiah - Part 4: From the Rising of the Sun to its Setting

In the previous parts we have looked at the timing of the coming of the Messiah, some of the accomplishments of his life, and the manner of his death.  Now we will look at what is prophesied concerning the lasting effects of his ministry.  What sort of things would change as a result of the coming of the Messiah?

All Nations Shall Believe:

During the era of the Old Testament, the knowledge of God was primarily concentrated in Israel among the Jews.  One expectations of the Messianic age was that knowledge of the God of Israel would spread to all corners of the earth.

We can see this in the same psalm which described the death of the Messiah, Psalm 22.  Toward the end of the psalm, after describing how God would rescue the suffering servant, the author describes a time when all nations will worship the true God:

“All the ends of the earth will worship and turn to the Lord. All the families of nations will bow low before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, the ruler over the nations. All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God. All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage. And I will live for the Lord, my descendants will serve you. The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.” - Psalm 22:28-32

The same is also described in the writings of Isaiah.  At the very end of the book, the prophet describes a time when all people will declare the glory of God:

“And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory. I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.” – Isaiah 66:18-19

A New Priesthood and Sacrifice:

Right after the prophecy in Isaiah regarding worldwide recognition of God, we see yet another prophecy.  The prophet says that during this time, God would call some people among the gentiles to be priests:

“’Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,’ says the Lord, ‘as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,’ says the Lord.” – Isaiah 66:20-21

If you are going to have a new priesthood, those priests are going to need something to offer.  Thus, there is a prophecy form the prophet Malachi that during this time of worldwide recognition of God, the Gentiles will offer a pure offering:

“’For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the nations,’ says the Lord of hosts.” - Malachi 1:11

Completing our Sketch:

What do we get when assemble all of this into a single composite sketch?

God himself will be born in Bethlehem as a descendant of King David.  He will minister in Galilee in the 30’s AD.  This ministry will include a visit to the Temple in Jerusalem.  He will form a new covenant with humanity and offer a sacrifice which is pleasing to God – which would be himself.

He will not take possession of Jerusalem, but will instead be killed.  He will die in a manner which involves intense beating, whipping, being raised up, and the piercing of his hands and feet.  He will be buried in a rich man’s tomb.  After all this has concluded, an invading army will take possession of Jerusalem and destroy the Temple.

His ministry will bring about an age when the God of Abraham will be known and worshipped throughout the world.  There will also be a new ministerial priesthood which includes people of Gentile parentage, which will offer a sacrifice which is pleasing to God.

And that sounds rather familiar.


Did the Messiah Fail?:

However... there is one last question that ought to be answered.  Many of these prophecies alluded to the Messiah definitively crushing the enemies of Israel.  That was one of the greatest expectations, but it never came to pass.  Jesus was put to death by the Gentiles.

How could Jesus be the Messiah if Israel was not liberated from its enemies?  This was the objection raised by the two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion.  (Luke 24:21).

What they failed to see was that the true enemy of Israel was never the Canaanites, the Assyrians, the Romans, the Babylonians, or the Philistines.  God’s holy people was supposed to be a light to the nations.  The enemy of Israel was sin!

That’s why John the Baptist had it correct when he saw Jesus, the awaited Messiah, and said:

"Behold, the Lamb of God!  He who takes away the sin of the world!”

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Part 1 - Intro
Part 2 - In the Fullness of Time
Part 3 - From the Manger to the Grave