Messianic Prophecies

QUESTION: When Were Messianic Prophecies Written?

ANSWER:

The Messianic Prophecies are presented in the Old Testament. The first prophecy is found in Genesis and the last is found in Malachi. It is thought that Moses complied the first five books of the Old Testament in 1450-1410 B.C. The Psalms were recorded over a period that includes the 10th century B.C. and beyond. Isaiah, Hosea, Micah were written in the 8th century B.C., Jeremiah in the 7th century B.C., and Daniel and Zechariah wrote in the 6th century B.C. The Old Testament book of Malachi was written during the 5th century B.C. and following Malachi there were approximately 400 "silent" years when no accepted Scripture was recorded. Therefore, the Messianic Prophecies were written during the whole period of the Old Testament.

The Messianic Prophecies for both the first and second appearing are concentrated in the Old Testament. We also see the first and second coming of the Messiah prophesied in one passage. The "double reference" law of exegesis refers to two prophecies that are separated by a period of time but that are presented in the same Scripture passage without any indication in the text that there is a distinction. We find one such prophecy about the Messiah in Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon Me; because Jehovah hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn" (Isaiah 61:1-2, KJV). The LORD Jesus Christ quoted this passage during His first advent in Luke 4:18-19, however, He left off reading at the word "favor." He did not quote "and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." The last part of this prophecy refers to the second coming.

The nearly 46 prophecies that deal with the first advent of the Messiah were fulfilled to the letter and that is a tremendous indication that the rest of the Old Testament Messianic Prophecies that deal with the triumphant second coming and the Millennial reign of the Messiah here on earth will also come to pass as prophesied.