This is the first of 4 in a series of Advent studies covering the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus as the Messiah of Hope. Did you know that there are over 300 prophecies regarding Jesus? Don’t worry, I’m just going to hit on some of them, but if you’ve missed my previous videos, that’s what it’s all about — our Savior Jesus!
Here’s the video of the story…
Long, Long Ago
In 742 BC, there were 2 kingdoms — the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In Judah, there were good kings and bad kings. Our story today starts with King Ahaz of Judah, the son of Jotham, one of the good kings who “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.” Ahaz, who became king at the age of 20, did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done. Instead, he followed the example of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel.
He cast metal images for the worship of Baal. You can read about him in 2 Chronicles 28. We’re going to jump to the Book of Isaiah. Isaiah became a prophet in 740 BC. God sent him to warn the Jews to repent of their sins of idolatry and turn back to Him or face judgment. However, He also preached the hope of a coming Messiah who would bring peace and salvation.
When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.
2 The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.
Isaiah 7:1-2 NLT
Isaiah Meets King Ahaz
7 But this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“This invasion will never happen;
it will never take place;
8 for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus,
and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin.
As for Israel, within sixty-five years
it will be crushed and completely destroyed.
9 Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria,
and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah.
Unless your faith is firm,
I cannot make you stand firm.”10 Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”
12 But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”
Isaiah 7:10-12 NLT
The Sign of Immanuel — the First Advent
Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
Isaiah 7:13-14 NLT
Now, that’s strange enough! Imagine a virgin giving birth!
The Jews Didn’t Listen
Isaiah goes on to warn him because Judah has continued to seek the advice of mediums and demonic spirits, and they fell into darkness. They were given chance after chance to repent and stop sinning against God, but they refused. So, God sent them into exile for 70 years.
However, God, being gracious and merciful, didn’t want to send them out hopeless. I’m sure as the Jews were marched miles away to Babylon, that’s how they felt. Are you living in hopelessness? Jesus is our hope!
Advent: Hope in the Messiah
Yet, the virgin birth of Jesus was a sign to King Ahaz of God’s protection. Jesus wouldn’t be born for another 730 years, but the promise and the manner of the child’s birth was a sign directed towards King Ahaz.
As we will see in the Gospel account of Jesus’ birth, He was called Immanuel — God with us. Imagine Mary and Joseph’s reaction when they were told this. They knew the Old Testament prophecy. Here the child would be not just human, but God.
In chapter 9, Isaiah goes on to prophecy on the coming of the Messiah…
“Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
Isaiah 9:1-7 NLT
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
An interesting note is that this Isaiah 9 passage is the only place in the Old Testament where God is called “Father”. It was not until Christ, His son was born and we became His children when we are born again. He is called “Abba”, Father. We can call him “Daddy” — that’s what “Abba” means. Everlasting Father. Usually in the Old Testament God was referred to as “The Lord.”
How Jesus Was Born
Matthew wrote…
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-24 NLT
Advent Christmas Carols
The Christmas carols that we hear everywhere are songs we learned as children. They are played and sung in stores and malls so that you will be in the “Christmas Spirit” and buy more. But they were written for a different reason. But they were written for a different reason. In olden times, the majority of the people were illiterate, way before the Bible was the best selling book and available in their spoken language. So, pastors and church leaders turned to both stained glass windows and songs/hymns to tell the bible stories.
Knowing the story of King Ahaz and the Prophet Isaiah gives this Christmas Carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, new meaning. Note the lyrics as you listen to this beautiful hymn.
Emmanuel = “God with us”
Our hope lies in the promises of God because of His character and power to save.
Awaiting His Return
Understand this. When Jesus came the first time — during the first Advent — the Jews thought that as the Jewish Messiah — Yeshua Hamashiach — He would come as a conquerer to save them from the Roman Empire’s oppression and start His Kingdom. His disciples even asked Him that directly in Acts 1 before his Ascension. But He said, Go and make more disciples, spread the Good News of His Salvation until He returns.
That’s what we are waiting for — the 2nd Advent — when He will come back to conquer evil and start the Millennial Kingdom here on Earth. Obviously, the part in Isaiah’s prophecy about the Government being on His shoulders is yet to be fulfilled. Same as the Prince of Peace. Where’s the peace? That will be in the Millennial Kingdom. Read Revelation chapters 19-22.
In fact, I’ll end with the words of Revelation 22:20…
“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
Revelation 22:20 NLT
Check out my prior posts and videos on the Difference Between the Last Days and End Times and the Difference Between the Rapture and the 2nd Coming. And as you hear Christmas Carols everywhere, listen carefully to the lyrics as they tell the Gospel Message. Use them to strengthen your faith and help someone else strengthen theirs. Merry Christmas!
Are you ready for the 2nd Advent of Jesus?
This Advent can happen at any moment. The Rapture kicks it off! When Jesus will come and call up His born-again believers. The question is…
Are you saved?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
