CHRISTMAS IN PROPHECY
On first Christmas, when all the Heavenly Hosts were praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men’, few people if any, realized the tremendous prophetic significance of the events taking place.
Some people, like the shepherds and the wise men, as well as Simeon and Anna were aware that prophecy was being unfolded and fulfilled in front of their eyes. They acknowledged the birth of the CHRIST of CHRISTMAS and worshiped the Lord with all they had.
Christmas” has no meaning apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. It was at this time when the Word of God became a man, and reached down from Heaven to you and me. This was and still is a time of celebration for Christ’s entry into the world. It was a season of new beginnings and times of refreshing. It was a time of prophetic fulfillment. It was a time when the angles desired to look into these things and know what the prophets had seen. Peter tells us that the prophets of old who prophesied themselves about this grace that is to be yours, searched and enquired diligently in an attempt to understand the meaning of His birth, life, death and resurrection and the glories that would follow.
Today we have the privilege of having the entire written record, the inspired Word of God and the revelation of the Holy Spirit to help us understand these prophecies and their fulfillment.
Let us remind ourselves that the events taking place in our world today are a direct fulfillment of prophecies and promises made by God concerning His Word becoming flesh, the Birth of Jesus, the out pouring of the Holy Spirit and the return of the Jesus Christ.
The year of the Birth of Jesus, was the most significant year in the history of mankind. And so will the year 2012 will be one of the most important years in our history. There will be exposure to darkness and evil forces and an uprising of anti Christ. There will be an increase of rebellion and irreverence for God. But more than this, we will see Grace abound and increase.
We will see a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blow through the nations. There will be a spiritual awakening in countries that are closed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be divine invasions of the presence of God into dark places and sin will be exposed and many will come to the salvation of Christ. There will be signs and wonders, miracles and healings, glory and anointing like never before. There will be cosmic warfare in the heavinlies like never before and the glorious beautiful church, the bride of Christ will arise.
Some day we will look back and understand fully, but let us discern the signs of the times now. Jesus said: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as they produce leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. In the same way, when you see these things take place, you will know the Kingdom of God is near.”. (Luke 21:29-31).
Below are some of the prophecies and their fulfillment, relating to the birth of the Jesus Christ.
As the seed of the woman.
The Prophecy. Gen. 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and HER SEED; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel”.
The fulfillment. Gal. 4:4 “But When the fullness of the Time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law”.
As the seed of Abraham.
The Prophecy. Gen. 22:18 “And thy seed shall all the nations of the earth are blessed...”
The fulfillment. Gal. 3:16 “Now to Abraham and His seed were the Promises made. He said not, and to seeds, as of many: but as of one, and to THY SEED, which is CHRIST”.
As the seed of Isaac.
The Prophecy. Gen. 21:12 “And God said into Abraham …..For IN ISAAC shall thy seed be called”?
The fulfillment. Matt. 1:2 “Abraham Begat Isaac: and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ”.
As the seed of Jacob.
The Prophecy. Gen. 28:1-4 “And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him…God almighty bless thee… and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee…”
The fulfillment. Luke 3:23, 34 “….Jesus...the son of Joseph... the son of Heli…. (v.34) “which was the son of Jacob….”
As the seed of David.
The Prophecy. 2 Sam. 7:12.16 “…I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish His kingdom… and thane house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever…”
(N.B. Isa. 9:6.7 & Isa. 11:1).
The fulfillment. Acts 13:22, 23 “…David…of this man’s seed hath God according to His Promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus.”
A descendant from the tribe of Judah.
The Prophecy. Gen. 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah…”
The fulfillment. Rev. 5:5 “ And one of the Elders said unto me…behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to lose the seven seals thereof”.
His being born of a virgin.
The Prophecy. Isa. 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son…”
The fulfillment. Matt. 1:18-25 “….and she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His Name JEDUD: for He shall save His People from Their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying, behold a virgin shall be with child….”
His being called Immanuel.
The Prophecy. Isa. 7:14 “…..behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel”.
The fulfillment. Matt. 1:21-23 “and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His Name JESUS…. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying: behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”.
His being born in Bethlehem Judea.
The Prophecy. Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”.
The fulfillment. Matt. 2:1 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…”
His being called out of Egypt.
The Prophecy. Hos. 11:1 “When Israel was a child, and then I loved him, and called My Son out of Egypt”.
The fulfillment. Matt. 2:14,15 “When He (Joseph) arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, he departed into Egypt… that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, out of Egypt have I called MY son”.
His being preceded by John the Baptist.
The Prophecy. Mal. 3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me….”
The fulfillment. Matt. 11:7 – Jesus, speaking of John the Baptist said: “For this is He, of whom it is written, behold me send my messenger before they face, which shall prepare thy way before thee”.
His being Savior of those who believe.
The Prophecy. Isa. 45:22 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
The fulfillment. Acts 4:10-12 “…Jesus Christ of Nazareth…. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”.
We pray that Jesus Christ who is the Living Word of God will be made manifest to you and that you will have clear discernment and understanding of the times we are living in.
We pray that you will have a joyous and God filled Christmas.
We pray that 2013, will be the year that you will be blessed and the Glory of God will be seen in you and through you.
2013 is the of ABUNDANCE
