Special Insights No. 3
Second Quarter 2007
“The Bible for Today”
(Produced by the Editorial Board of the 1888 Message Study Committee)
Bible Prophecy Fulfilled
The First Advent Prophecy and Time Fulfillment. Both Isaiah and Daniel prophesied of the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah gives information about the mission of Jesus and. Daniel predicts the very time when He would be anointed by the Holy Spirit for His mission, and also the time of His crucifixion. Predictions from these two books undoubtedly strengthened the faith of Jesus both in the early years of His ministry, and especially during the closing scenes of His life.
Daniel foretold the time of Jesus’ public ministry. Shortly after His baptism in A.D. 27, He began preaching repentance for sin, and faith in the gospel. “The time is fulfilled, and the
Luke Presents the Lord’s
This was preached in Christ’s home church (synagogue) in
In one of this week’s reading assignments (Isa. 52 - 53:12) we consider the opposition and rejection of His mission and message, but also of His victory in death. Not just His own nation was included in the rejection of His message of healing. Without exception every nation and every individual opposes Christ and His righteousness unless conversion from above transforms him.
In Isaiah 52:1-15, the prophet presents in outline form the work of Christ: (1) His ministry on earth; (2) His crucifixion; (3) His resurrection; and (4) His redemption, which startled nations.
Chapter 53 describes the Messiah’s sufferings, prophesied 800 years before “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus died for those who hated Him.
53:6 is of particular interest. The confession given here is both corporate and particular: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Here is portrayed the sinfulness of Adam’s race. However, not only has the race corporately gone away from the Lord, but “every one” with some specific and special aggravation has turned “to his own way.”
This passage is the confession of the individual sinner who has sinned without a single excuse against light particular to himself. There is a giving up of all claims to self-righteousness. The mark of genuine repentance and confession, while it associates with others of the same ilk, is very specific to each one for his or her particular sins of which the Holy Spirit convicts. The next thought is the most wrenching; at the same time the most hopeful for the lost sinner: “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” The very heart and soul of prophecy is contained in this verse.
To summarize: Christ took upon Himself every sin—both personal and corporate—and died (Isa. 53:6,11). Because of this everyone died in His death. Not one is excluded. Verse 6 sheds light on the “all” and the “every”: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” This verse begins with the “all” of condemnation, but ends with the “all” of salvation. Jesus died for each one of us. Every sin of every individual was laid upon Him. This is the very heart of the Gospel—Christ died for Adam’s sin; Christ died for our sins; Christ died for my sins; Christ died for your sins.
Isaiah further prophesied of Christ’s crucifixion. “He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken” (Isa. 53:8). Daniel used similar language: “after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself” (Dan.
Daniel not only deals with the outline prophecies of four empires on earth, he prophesied of the opposition to Christ and to His message. We have space for only one illustration. In chapter two, after going step-by-step through the unfolding history of the four great empires, Daniel writes describing the amalgamation of clay and iron in the feet and toes of the image of which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed . The iron, of course, is bnvthe metal monarchy of
However, the clay becomes “miry clay.” It represents especially Christianity that becomes watered down in the last days of earth’s history as it united to the New Imperial Rome that follows the dismantling of the Republic. All religions must have power to exist. Christianity must have God’s power. His power is centered in the gospel of the cross (Rom.
This union of church and state depicted in the mingling of metal and mineral had a fulfillment in the Medieval church, and in the Protestantism of England. Not until the American Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of this Republic was a separation between church and state the law of the
In the Last Days of Earth’s History. The completion of the amalgamation of iron and clay in Daniel’s prophecy was almost accomplished 119 years ago in
But something happened between those two sessions—
There, when the message of Christ and His righteousness was not accepted by a majority to whom it was given, God had to stop the Blair Sunday Bill. He knew that without the “Loud Cry” of the Third Angel’s Message, His people could not stand under the onslaught awaiting them, should that Bill be enacted into national law.
He now invites all to “come” to Himself that the hatred might be lifted and peace and joy and righteousness fill the heart of those who respond, repent, and believe the “everlasting gospel.”
—Gerald L. Finneman
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