{"id":357,"date":"2025-12-24T14:24:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T19:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=357"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:22:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T19:22:58","slug":"prophecy-of-the-birth-of-jesus-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=357","title":{"rendered":"Prophecy of the Birth of Jesus Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Opening \u2013 Review of prophecies, probabilities, what this means to us.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Text: Luke 2:1-14 <\/strong><em>\u201cGloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><u>Prophecy<\/u>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we examine the prophecies of the Old Testament that find fulfillment in the person and life of Jesus Christ, we are confronted not only with theological depth but also with statistical improbability, if viewed merely through our human understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To give you a sense of prophecies, let us consider just a few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Birthplace (Micah 5:2)<\/strong>, that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manner of death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53)<\/strong>, crucifixion, described centuries before Rome employed it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12\u201313)<\/strong>, an explicit detail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Piercing of hands and feet (Psalm 22:16)<\/strong>, again, long before such executions were practiced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Burial among the rich (Isaiah 53:9)<\/strong>, fulfilled when Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, provided his own tomb.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why is this important?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Either Jesus Christ is who He said He is or He is not. Either the prophecies of His birth are true or they\u2019re not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Let\u2019s look first at a few non-scriptural comments on if Jesus existed at all:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Tacitus (Roman historian, c. AD 56\u2013120)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his <em>Annals<\/em> (Book 15, chapter 44), Tacitus speaks of \u201c<strong>Christus<\/strong>,\u201d who suffered under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. He also testifies to the spread of the Christian movement in Rome. These words come from a man known for his disdain toward the Christians, thus unlikely to invent such a figure \u2013 negative testimony about a person or situation is often the hallmark of truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Flavius Josephus (Jewish historian, c. AD 37\u2013100)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>Antiquities of the Jews<\/em> (Book 20), Josephus mentions \u201c<strong>James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ<\/strong>.\u201d Though debates persist over another passage (the <em>Testimonium Flavianum<\/em>), this reference to James is widely accepted by historians as authentic. A Jew would likely not have a positive testimony of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Pliny the Younger (Roman governor, c. AD 61\u2013113)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a letter to Emperor Trajan, Pliny reports that Christians gathered to sing hymns \u201c<strong>to Christ as to a god<\/strong>.\u201d Though not describing Christ directly, Pliny confirms that early Christians worshiped Him as a real historical person, not a mythic invention. A Roman would not have reason to testify to this unless he was giving a historical account in his region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Suetonius (Roman historian, c. AD 69\u2013122)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his <em>Life of Claudius<\/em>, Suetonius mentions disturbances in Rome caused by \u201c<strong>Chrestus<\/strong>,\u201d which many interpret as a confused reference to Christ or His followers. Though vague, it reflects Roman awareness of the Christian movement early in the first century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. The Babylonian Talmud (Jewish rabbinic text)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compilations from later centuries preserve earlier traditions noting a man named <strong>Yeshu<\/strong> who was executed, though described with hostility. Such references, even when antagonistic, show that Jesus was acknowledged by Jewish tradition as an historical person. They hated Him \u2013 not love Him, but they acknowledged His existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Eight <\/strong><strong>Major Old Testament Prophecies Concerning Christ\u2019s Birth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Prophecy<\/th><th>Scripture<\/th><th>Fulfillment in Christ<\/th><th>Approx. Date Written<\/th><th>Probability (estimated by modern statisticians)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1. Messiah born in Bethlehem<\/td><td>Micah 5:2<\/td><td>Matthew 2:1<\/td><td>~700 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 100,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2. Born of a virgin<\/td><td>Isaiah 7:14<\/td><td>Matthew 1:22\u201323<\/td><td>~700 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 1,000,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3. Descendant of Abraham<\/td><td>Genesis 12:3<\/td><td>Matthew 1:1<\/td><td>~2000 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 100<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Of the tribe of Judah<\/td><td>Genesis 49:10<\/td><td>Luke 3:33<\/td><td>~1400 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 1,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. From the line of David<\/td><td>2 Samuel 7:12\u201313<\/td><td>Luke 1:32\u201333<\/td><td>~1000 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 10,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Slaughter of infants after His birth<\/td><td>Jeremiah 31:15<\/td><td>Matthew 2:16\u201318<\/td><td>~600 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 100,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Flight into Egypt<\/td><td>Hosea 11:1<\/td><td>Matthew 2:14\u201315<\/td><td>~750 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 10,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Time of His birth linked to the Roman census (Daniel\u2019s prophecy)<\/td><td>Daniel 9:24\u201326<\/td><td>Luke 2:1\u20132<\/td><td>~500 B.C.<\/td><td>1 in 1,000,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chance of all 8 being fulfilled at the right time by the same person is 1028. A 1 with 28 zeros. One in 100 Quadrillion. There are 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. The Number <\/strong><strong>of <\/strong><strong><u>all 300 prophecies coming true at their specific times<\/u><\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">10200 means: <strong>1 followed by 200 zeros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is:<br>100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This number is so large that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 The total number of atoms in the observable universe is estimated around 10??.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2022 Thus, 10200 is 10120 times greater than the total atoms in all stars, planets, gas, and dust in existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So to speak of a 1 in 10200 chance is to describe something so improbable that, for all practical purposes, it is impossible by random occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So \u2013 what does this mean for me today?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The LORD God \u2013 the same one who condescended and stooped in Eden into the dirt to breathe into the nostrils of Adam (Genesis 2), condescended AGAIN to leave heaven and become a human man.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That a Redeemer is spoken of in the chapter 3 of Genesis, means that not only is God\u2019s creation special, but so is His special redemption plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Secular history reveals Jesus Christ is a real person.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biblical history not only reveals Jesus Christ as a real person, but dozens of prophecies speak of a Redeemer and other historical minute details thousands of years before His birth!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The statistical probability of Christ being a random happening is impossible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since these things are true (and they are), what does that mean to me \u2013 here today? Repent and believe the Gospel. Afterwards, don\u2019t I owe Him my love and obedience?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verses in the Old Testament Order Concerning the Birth and Office of Jesus Christ:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Genesis 3:15 <\/strong><em>\u201cI will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Genesis 12:3 <\/strong><em>\u201cI will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Genesis 17:19 <\/strong><em>\u201cGod said, \u2018No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. Genesis 17:21 <\/strong><em>\u201cBut I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. Genesis 26:4 <\/strong><em>\u201cI will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Genesis 28:14 <\/strong><em>\u201cYour offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Genesis 49:10 <\/strong><em>\u201cThe scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler\u2019s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. Genesis 49:8\u201312<\/strong> <em>\u201cJudah, your brothers shall praise you\u2026 The scepter shall not depart from Judah\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. Numbers 24:17 <\/strong><em>\u201cI see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Deuteronomy 18:15 <\/strong><em>\u201cThe LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers\u2014it is to him you shall listen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11. Psalm 2:7 <\/strong><em>\u201cI will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, \u2018You are my Son; today I have begotten you.\u2019 \u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>12. Psalm 72:10\u201311 <\/strong><em>\u201cMay the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute\u2026 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>13. Hosea 11:1 <\/strong><em>\u201cWhen Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>14. Isaiah 7:14 <\/strong><em>\u201cBehold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>15. Isaiah 9:2 <\/strong><em>\u201cThe people who walked in darkness have seen a great light\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>16. Isaiah 9:6 <\/strong><em>\u201cFor to us a child is born\u2026 and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>17. Isaiah 9:6\u20137 <\/strong><em>\u201cOf the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>18. Isaiah 9:7 Included above <\/strong><em>\u201cto establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>19. Isaiah 11:1 <\/strong><em>\u201cThere shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>20. Isaiah 11:10 <\/strong><em>\u201cIn that day the root of Jesse\u2026 of him shall the nations inquire\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>21. Isaiah 42:1\u20134 <\/strong><em><strong>\u201cBehold my servant\u2026 he will bring forth justice to the nations\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>22. Isaiah 61:1 <\/strong><em>\u201cThe Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me\u2026 to bring good news to the poor\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>23. Jeremiah 23:5 <\/strong><em>\u201cI will raise up for David a righteous Branch\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>24. Jeremiah 31:15 <\/strong><em>\u201cA voice is heard in Ramah\u2026 Rachel is weeping for her children\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>25. Micah 5:2 <\/strong><em>\u201cBut you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah\u2026 from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>26. Malachi 3:1 <\/strong><em>\u201cBehold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opening \u2013 Review of prophecies, probabilities, what this means to us. Text: Luke 2:1-14 \u201cGloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis\u201d Prophecy: When we examine the prophecies of the Old Testament that find fulfillment in the person and life of Jesus Christ, we are confronted not only with theological depth but &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/?p=357\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Prophecy of the Birth of Jesus Christ&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=357"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":366,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357\/revisions\/366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.habersack.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}