The First Sunday of Advent, 2016

The Prophecy Candle:
A symbol of hope and expectation.

by Patience Fort

How many Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus Christ? Here are 44 of them – some say there are as many as 353.

Genesis 3:15, Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:18,

Genesis 17:19, Genesis 21:12, Numbers 24:17, Genesis 49:10,

II Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:7, Psalm 45:6-7, Daniel 2:44, Isaiah 7:14,

Hosea 11:1, Jeremiah 31:15, Isaiah 40:3-5, Psalm 69:8, Isaiah 53:3,

Deuteronomy 18:15, Malachi 4:5-6, Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 11:1,

Isaiah 9:1-2, Psalm 78:2-4, Isaiah 6:9-10, Isaiah 61:1-2, Psalm 110:4,
Psalm 2:6, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 8:2, Psalm 41:9, Zechariah 11:12-13,
Psalm 35:11, Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah 50:6, Psalm 35:19, Psalm 69:4,
Isaiah 53:12, Psalm 69:21, Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10, Psalm 22:7-8,
Psalm 22:18, Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 109:4,
Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:9, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15,

Psalm 24:7-10, Psalm 68:18, Psalm 110:1, Isaiah 53:5-12

Needless to say, the Hebrews were REALLY looking forward to the day when the Messiah would arrive!  Prophecies started back in the 3^rd chapter of Genesis looking forward to the King of Kings. He came in God’s perfect time and fulfilled all that God had foretold.

As we enter into the season of Advent today, we celebrate the Prophecy Candle on two counts. First, the prophecies represent the foretelling of Jesus’ life on the earth. Second, these and other prophecies look further into the future to His second coming. On both fronts, the candlelight cuts through the darkness of sin and death to bring hope and expectation for the future King.

LORD, thank you for having a plan from the very beginning for your wayward people. Thank you for the signs you gave which pointed to the sacrificial Lamb born on Christmas Day. Thank you that we have the expectation of heaven as a result of His coming. And thank you that He will come again to take us home in Your appointed time.