Some Fulfilled Prophecies
Dozens of biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled, helping to confirm the validity of the Bible and of its prophecies for the future. Here are a few of the fulfilled prophecies and resources that describe them in more detail:
Soon after the kingdom of Israel split from Judah in 928 B.C., God began warning that Israel would be taken into captivity “beyond the River” Euphrates if they didn’t end their idol worship (1 Kings 14:15). God’s patient warnings continued for nearly 200 years through prophets such as Micah (approximately 749-722 B.C.), who foresaw the destruction of the capital, Samaria (Micah 1:6).
These prophecies were fulfilled when Assyria took Israel captive in successive invasions culminating about 722 B.C. (See You Can Understand Bible Prophecy.)
Judah was also warned of impending captivity for their sins. Jeremiah even predicted the length of their captivity. They would “serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11).
Even more amazingly, Isaiah recorded the name of the ruler–Cyrus, king of Persia–who would, many decades in the future, permit the Jews’ return (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4). These prophecies were fulfilled down to the last detail (see You Can Understand Bible Prophecy).
Daniel 11 records the Bible’s most detailed prophecy. Much of the prophecy has already been fulfilled, as can be verified by a study of the Persian and Greek empires. No man could foresee such fine historical detail (see Is the Bible True?).
The Jewish New Testament lists 52 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s birth, life and death as stated in 81 Old Testament passages (pp. xxv-xxix). Some of these include:
He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1).
The price of His betrayal would be 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15).
The 30 pieces of silver would buy a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:3-10).
Wicked people would pierce His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33; 24:38-40). David wrote this some 800 years before the Romans adopted crucifixion as a form of punishment for criminals.
(See You Can Understand Bible Prophecy and Jesus Christ: The Real Story for more details.)
The prophecies that descendants of Abraham through Isaac, Jacob and Joseph would become a great nation and a great company of nations (Genesis 35:11) have been fulfilled, though most do not realize it. The biblical and historical details are presented in the well-researched full-color brochure The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.
The prophecy that humanity would be able to annihilate itself (Matthew 24:21) was not possible with bows and arrows or even automatic weapons, but began to be possible when nuclear weapons were developed in 1945. Thankfully the other part of that prophecy–the promise that the time of tribulation will be cut short and humanity saved by Christ’s return–will also come true!
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