Bible Study - Prophecies (4) - The King Who Reigns Forever - Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:26-33 - December 26, 2021

 

Bible Study – Prophecies (4) – The King Who Reigns Forever – December 26, 2021

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “Irrefutable: Prophecies that Point Us to JESUS.”

Our focal scripture is Isaiah 9:6-7 and Luke 1:26-33.

Spiritual matters must be Spiritually discerned and that is why we need to have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us understand prophecy.

We read the written word and make assumptions about what we read or if the words are spoken, what we hear. The question is, what is the truth of what we read or hear? Let’s explore!

Consider this. When we read the book of Revelation, do we understand it? Do we try to match the things we read to today’s events? Yes! Why? We try to match what we read or hear to the evidence that surrounds us. which may be correct or misleading. The Prophet Isaiah wrote the prophecy of GOD 700 years before it was to take place.

Why did GOD reveal HIS prophecy so early through Isaiah? The people living at the time of Isaiah were living in Spiritual darkness and needed hope. GOD gave them a peek at HIS eternal plan that would come about according to HIS timetable. All who heard and read GOD’S prophesy through Isaiah could count on what they read or were told would take place 100%. The words of GOD through Isaiah were light and hope in the midst of Spiritual darkness.

The same is true for us today when we read GOD’S revelation through the Book of Revelation. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in JESUS, than to trust and obey. JESUS has come and HE is standing and ready to come again with a nod from our FATHER.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote what GOD revealed to him and the apostle John wrote what JESUS revealed to him.

Let’s read Isaiah 9:6-7: (Prophecy – About 700 years before the event.)

⁶ For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

GOD revealed through the prophet Isaiah that HE was going to send a special child, GOD in the flesh, to be born especially for the Israelites but also for all people. The Israelites were GOD’S chosen people to reveal to the world HIS promised Messiah.

The kings and those of nobility tried to make one of their male children this special person. How do we know that JESUS was the male person GOD had revealed through the prophet Isaiah? We have to examine the facts. Waiting on GOD to fulfill HIS promises is often difficult because HIS timing is always perfect and according to HIS plan. Why does GOD reveal and wait? What is HE doing while we wait? HE is working on us and preparing for everything to be in place before HE fulfills HIS promise.

We get impatient and so do others.

What were the attributes GOD revealed about this special child that Isaiah revealed?

⁶ For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,

This child would be a Hebrew male and the government will be on his shoulders.

Because of the statement “the government would be on his shoulders” it would be natural for those reading this to conclude that the government stated would point to an earthly government. We know from further revelation that has been revealed to us through the Book of Revelation, there will be a 1,000-year reign of JESUS upon earth and Spirit-born Christians will reign with HIM. (Revelation Chapter 20.) This has been revealed to us but this was implied through the Prophet Isaiah.

There is Spiritual rule and physical rule. Until a person experiences the Spiritual rule of JESUS within, it is impossible for him or her to understand the physical rule of JESUS upon earth.

The Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah, reveals some of the attributes of this ruler based upon revelation:
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ The dominion will be vast,
and its prosperity will never end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

1 Samuel 17:45:

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.

What is a force greater than any human power? It is the “LORD of Armies,” that heavenly power, if unleased would destroy earth. But the Good News is that GOD has eternal plans and HE plans that present earth will be replaced with a new earth where JESUS reigns.

Revelation 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. ...

None of this could take place without JESUS coming to earth in the flesh. HE had to live as 100% human, yet 100% GOD, without sin in order to be our redeemer. When any person, places his or her faith in JESUS, that person is born into GOD’S Family through the miracle of Spiritual birth. This Spiritual birth in eternal. Rejoice! This is good news that can be accomplished by placing your faith in JESUS.

Now, let’s move on to one of the main events in the annals of time and GOD’S redemptive plan ----

Our next scripture gives us more information to help document the fact that JESUS is truly GOD in the flesh ----

Background and lead-in scripture:

The Angel Gabriel predicts the birth of the forerunner or the herald of JESUS. Kings in that day would have a herald to go before them to announce that the king was coming. This gave the people time to get ready for that king. The priest Zechariah was doing his priestly duties when he encountered the angel, Gabriel. Zechariah was alone when the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Zechariah was frightened. Why was Zechariah frightened? It could mean he was going to be punished or die but no, it was good news. Zechariah and Elizabeth, his barren wife, were going to have a baby. What!!! Yes, never doubt an angel delivering GOD’S message.

Let’s read Luke 1:5-25:

Gabriel Predicts John’s Birth

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

⁸ When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴ There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

¹⁸ “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. ²⁰ Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. ²² When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. ²³ When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

²⁴ After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”

This message was an assurance to Mary that truly what was about to take place in her body was from GOD. The “sixth month” recorded in our next scripture was confirmation to Mary that truly GOD is all powerful and in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy that Mary was chosen to carry GOD’S SON, JESUS.

Let’s read Luke 1:26-31: Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged^[c] to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”^[d] 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰ Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 

GOD gives us milestones to document the birth of JESUS.

Let’s read Luke 1:32-33:

³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

The promise from GOD was fulfilled after some 700 years of waiting.

We wait for the second coming of JESUS and that can happen at any instant. JESUS tells us to be ready because the King is coming. The KING WHO rules eternally!

Are you ready to meet JESUS? If not, why not? Ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart and HE will. You will experience the miracle of Spiritual-birth and become GOD’S Child and receive eternal life. Spiritual-birth is a miracle which takes place within you quicker than the twinkle of your eye. Blessings!!!