Jesus in the Minor Prophets # 1

HOSEA 11:1 … God would call His Son out of Egypt after Herod the Great had died.

1. This prophecy would have presumed reference to the Exodus of Israel out of Egypt under Moses to those reading it before the N.T. record was given (Exodus 4:22-23).
2. However, the N.T. shows a fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus (Matthew 2:13-23), which shows us by divine inspiration that the past tense here was used for a future event.
3. Yet again, it was true literally in the past tense of the young nation coming out of Egypt.
4. For expository preaching of only the main key highlights of this minor prophet … here.

JOEL 2:28-32 … God promised an outpouring of His Spirit with salvation from judgment.

1. Joel also was very early, likely before Isaiah, for he is placed before Amos (Amos 1:1).
2. Joel prophesied to Judah, for he referenced Jerusalem’s temple (Joel 1:9,13-14; 2:1,15).
3. We love and use context of this prophecy for restoration of loss by sin (Joel 2:23-27).
4. Peter declared this prophecy fulfilled at Pentecost by Jesus (Acts 2:16-21,33-40), for He gave great gifts He gained for us by His death on the cross (Isaiah 53:12; Ps 68:18).
5. Some futurists and most Charismatics presume this prophecy is not yet fulfilled by foolishly expecting literal fulfillment, though prophets used similitudes (Hosea 12:10).
   1. Jimmy Swaggart and his kind presume to use the text for themselves (Acts 2:17-18).
   2. Of course, God helped their confusion by the terrible coming day to be Jesus’ return, though they deny anything will happen to the saved for the rapture will remove them.
6. It is easy to find symbolic evidence elsewhere (Isaiah 13:9-13; 34:4-5; Haggai 2:6-9).
7. The great and terrible day of the Lord is 70 AD and desolation of Jerusalem by Rome for killing Jesus (Mal 4:1,5; Matt 3:7-12; 21:41; 22:7; I Thess 2:15-16; Hebrews 10:25).
8. Believers in Jesus were saved from that horrific destruction (Acts 2:40; Matt 24:15-22).

 

AMOS 9:11-12 … God promised to raise up the tabernacle of David or kingdom of God.

1. Our prophet was very early, likely before Isaiah, to Israel under Jeroboam (Amos 1:1).
2. The monarchy of God’s earthly kingdom suffered for centuries until Jesus (Hos 3:4-5).
3. But God promised to restore the kingdom’s glory like old times under David, but the ruler would not be David directly, but far better, the promised Son of David.
4. James at the Council of Jerusalem explained N.T. evangelism among Gentiles to fulfill this prophecy, against the Dispensational Millennialists’ Jewish fables (Acts 15:14-18).
5. And this revived kingdom would incorporate all the elect among the Gentiles back then, who are identified as Edomites and heathen, but called by the name of LORD Jehovah, and these Gentile disciples were also called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26).
6. James went on further to say this had always been His plan, which helps us understand why so much congruent agreement with other prophecies before and after this place.
7. The Dispensationalists, always looking for scriptures to corrupt for their Jewish millennium, say this is their most important passage, but it refutes them. Hallelujah!
8. For much more about the corruption and truth of this text, Dispensationalism … here.

 

MICAH 5:2 … God foretold details of the coming Messiah who is also the eternal God.

1. Micah was later than Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, yet with Isaiah and Hosea (Mic 1:1).
2. His ministry was to both Israel and Judah, the last of the first wave before Israel’s ruin.
3. The prophecy says much without stretching the verses around it for more (Micah 5:2).
   1. God’s great ruler, prophesied since Eden, would be born in Bethlehem Ephratah.
   2. Bethlehem was called Ephratah more than 1000 years before (Genesis 35:19; 48:7).
   3. Jesus of Nazareth (where He grew up) was born in Bethlehem (Matt 2:1; Luke 2:15).
   4. Bethlehem was in Judah, for the ruling King had to come from Judah (Gen 49:10).
   5. The Jewish leaders knew this verse well enough when asked by Herod (Matt 2:1-8).
   6. Part of the humiliation of Jesus Christ was His birth in such an obscure, small place.
   7. Hold the connection of this prophecy on others like it going before of a great Ruler.
4. Jesus could say that He was before Abraham, with the present tense am, since He was and is the everlasting God in His divine nature (John 8:58; 1:1-3; I John 1:1-3; 5:7).
5. Other phrases immediately around this prophecy might fit Jesus, but we will pass over.
6. Micah also has a prophecy comparable to Isaiah about the N.T. (Micah 4:1-4; Is 2:1-5).
7. Micah also has a prophecy that can be applied to the N.T. and miracles (Mic 7:14-20).

 

HAGGAI 2:6-9 … God foretold Messiah would come to the latter temple to comfort Jews.

1. Haggai with Zechariah were third-wave prophets after return from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. The larger context is the error of the people being slow to build God’s house (Hag 1:2).
3. The smaller context is the comparison of Israel’s two temples by God (Haggai 2:1-9).
4. The temple that Solomon built for the Lord was an exceedingly glorious palace for God.
   1. David intended and prepared for it to be exceeding magnifical (I Chron 22:5,14).
   2. Solomon used a large number of workers to build this great house (II Chron 2:1-6).
   3. Note the cherubim which were in the most holy sanctuary (II Chronicles 3:10-13).
   4. Note the altar and brazen bath Solomon made in front of the temple (II Chr 4:1-5).
   5. Note the dedication service for the temple and God’s response (II Chr 5:1-8,13-14).
   6. Note the solemnity of the moment when Solomon dedicated it (II Chronicles 6:1-2).
   7. Note the glory and offerings that were offered at the dedication (II Chron 7:1-6).
   8. Nebuchadnezzar was God’s servant to destroy the temple and city (II Chr 26:17-21).
5. The temple that Zerubbabel built for the LORD was an exceedingly inferior substitute.
   1. God stirred up Cyrus king of Persia to let the Jews return home (II Chron 36:22-23).
   2. Those that gathered in Jerusalem were a fraction of Solomon’s crews (Ezra 2:65).
   3. When this latter house was dedicated there was both joy and sorrow (Ezra 3:10-13).
   4. God made a direct comparison to acknowledge its inferiority to them (Haggai 2:3).
6. However, God promised to give this house more glory than the former (Haggai 2:6-9).
   1. All gold and silver are already His, so it needed more than that to be more glorious.
   2. During the time of this temple, God promised to shake the heavens and the earth.
   3. The Desire of all Nations would come to this temple and fill it with God’s glory.
   4. God promised peace in the very place that appeared so pitiful to Jewish observers.
7. God sent Jesus Christ to this latter temple when He shook the heavens and the earth.
   1. The shaking of heaven and earth describe the great cataclysmic change in religion.
   2. Jesus Christ came specifically to this temple of Zerubbabel (Luke 2:25-47; Matt 12:6; 21:12-16; Mark 12:35-37; John 8:58-59; etc.).
   3. Jesus brought the greater glory to it (John 1:14; II Cor 3:6-12; Col 2:9; Hebrews 1:3).
   4. Jesus gave peace at the second temple by dying and tearing the veil (Matt 27:51; Luke 2:14; Acts 10:36; Romans 5:1; Eph 2:12-18; Colossians 1:20).
   5. Paul told us that this shaking is past and it brought God’s kingdom (Heb 12:25-29).
8. For expository preaching with PowerPoint slides through Haggai’s two chapters … here.

 

ZECHARIAH 3:8-10 … God foretold a Branch that would remove Israel’s sin in one day.

1. Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied to Judah after coming from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. Note that governor and high priest were divided in Joshua and Zerubbabel (Haggai 1:1).
3. The BRANCH is a reference used before of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:15).
4. Joshua and the other priests are asked to consider God’s wonderful plan for the Messiah.
   1. Joshua and priests returned to a Jerusalem temple was a wonder (Psalm 71:7; 126:1).
   2. This word of exhortation is to keep the conditional promises of the verse before.
5. The next verse of exhortation uses an analogy to look forward to the time of Christ.
   1. While Zerubbabel laid a stone (Zech 4:9), God would lay the True Stone (Is 28:16).
   2. This one True Stone would be exceeding special with its seven eyes (I Peter 2:4-8).
   3. The seven eyes are the seven Spirits of God gracing our Lord (Zech 4:10; Rev 5:6).
   4. God Himself engraved this Stone (Matt 3:16-17; John 3:34; Phil 2:9-11; Heb 10:5).
   5. While the completed temple showed God’s forgiveness of Judah (Zech 1:14-17), yet the Stone took away the iniquity of the elect in one day (John 19:30; Heb 10:10-14).
6. Men under vines and fig trees is a similitude for peace (Zech 3:10; Mic 4:1-4; Is 2:1-5).

 

ZECHARIAH 6:9-13 … God foretold about the Branch as King and Priest making peace.

1. Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied to Judah after coming from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. Two crowns were made and put on Joshua as a picture of Jesus the coming King / Priest.
   1. The BRANCH is Jesus, whom we met before (Zech 3:8-10; Is 11:1; Jer 23:5; 33:15).
   2. Jesus grew up out of a place of humility and obscurity (Isaiah 53:1-3; Matt 13:55).
   3. Jesus built the temple of God – His kingdom and church (Mat 16:18; Heb 12:22-24).
   4. Jesus bears all the glory in His temple (Heb 2:9; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 21:23).
   5. He is a ruling King and reigning Priest just like Melchizedek (Psalm 110:1; 110:4).
   6. There is total compatibility between both of His offices, never seen together in Israel.
   7. Jesus is King / Priest with abundant peace (Ps 110; Hag 2:9; Heb 7:1; Col 1:15-20).
3. Note the name of the man with two crowns – Joshua – the O.T. name of our Lord (AT).
   1. The full name is Jehoshua, meaning Jehovah is salvation (Num 13:16; Matt 1:21).
   2. When this name comes through Greek into English, it is Jesus (Acts 7:45; Heb 4:8).

 

ZECHARIAH 9:9-11 … A joyful prophecy of King Messiah entering Jerusalem on an ass.

1. Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied to Judah after coming from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. This prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus entering Jerusalem on an ass (Matthew 21:1-11).
3. Jesus is rightly characterized by this prophecy as being a just King and a lowly Savior.
   1. We have seen repeatedly the prophecy of the righteousness of the Ruler to come.
   2. We have also seen that He would not come with ordinary glory, pomp, and show.
   3. We should be most thankful that He did not come without bringing salvation to us.
4. He would speak peace to the heathen – He called us Gentiles to join His great kingdom.
5. When John sees a prophecy of Jesus coming later, He is on a great horse (Rev 19:11).
6. By the blood of the covenant, God released the Jews from Babylon (see Isaiah 10:27).

 

ZECHARIAH 11:12-13 … God foretold the price at which Messiah was valued by Israel.

1. Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied to Judah after coming from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. Here God magnifies the wickedness of the Jews by their estimation of their Messiah.
3. The Jews and Judas fulfilled this prophecy directly in the betrayal of Jesus the Christ.
   1. They conspired together for the betrayal of Jesus at this price (Matthew 26:14-16).
   2. This price was the value of a common servant – not a goodly price (Ex 21:28-32).
   3. Judas returned it to the priests, who then bought the potter’s field (Matt 27:3-10).
   4. It is this latter passage in Matthew that confirms this prophecy fulfilled by Judas.
   5. Yet, the credit is given to Jeremiah by Matthew, so what do we do (Matthew 27:9).
   6. Jeremiah spoke it; Zechariah wrote it from the former prophets (Zech 1:4; 7:7; 7:12).

 

ZECHARIAH 12:10 … God foretold when Israel would mourn the killing of Jesus Christ.

1. Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied to Judah after coming from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. Since we are told of no future blessings on physical Jerusalem, we must look spiritually.
3. When we look spiritually, we see the prophecy clearly, mightily fulfilled at Pentecost.
   1. The house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem would be God’s elect Israelites.
   2. The Spirit of grace and supplications would be Christ’s great gift of the Holy Spirit.
   3. The mourning and bitterness would be the spirit of repentance by these elect Jews.
   4. God did pour out His Spirit upon chosen Israelites, who responded with repentance for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:17,33,36-38; 3:18-26; Gal 1:23-24).

 

ZECHARIAH 13:7 … God foretold the betrayal of Judas and the capture of Jesus Christ.

1. Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied to Judah after coming from Babylon (Ezra 5:1).
2. Matthew tells us this was fulfilled when the disciples were scattered (Matt 26:31,56).
3. God Himself in prophecy calls the sword of His Justice to work against His Son.
4. God Himself would provide the Hand of mercy and comfort for His little elect ones.

 

MALACHI 3:1-3 … God foretold Jesus Christ coming to His temple after His messenger.

1. Malachi was a third-wave prophet after Haggai and Zechariah, for the temple and priesthood were both functioning, but the nation has again backslid in numerous ways.
2. The first messenger here is our John the Baptist (Mark 1:1-4; Luke 1:76; 7:26-28; etc.).
3. The second Messenger – the Messenger of the covenant – is Jesus Himself (Heb 7:22).
   1. The prophecy mocked scorners – behold twice, suddenly, context (Mal 2:17; 3:2-5).
   2. However, His coming was not going to be a positive event for many (Matt 3:7-12).
   3. Love this glorious prophecy of Jesus Christ as the O.T. closes on a rebellious nation.
   4. Jesus rebuked and purged the Levites and reformed them, making kings and priests of both Jews and Gentiles unto God (I Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6). Hallelujah!
   5. Jesus was sought and desired by only a few looking for redemption (Luke 2:25-38).
4. Modern Bible versions assign Mark’s quotation of Malachi to Isaiah (Mark 1:2; here).
5. For detailed expository preaching through Malachi’s four chapters … here, here, here, here.

 

MALACHI 4:1-6 … God foretold Jesus as Sun of Righteousness and the Day of the Lord.

1. Malachi was a third-wave prophet after Haggai and Zechariah, for the temple and priesthood were both functioning, but the nation has again backslid in numerous ways.
2. This text ends the O.T. scriptures and 4000 years of prophecies since Eden about Jesus.
3. The coming day of fiery judgment was God’s destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Roman legions of Vespasian and Titus (Daniel 9:26-27; Matthew 3:7-12; 22:1-7; Luke 19:41-44; 21:20-33; 23:27-31; Acts 2:40; I Thessalonians 2:15-16).
4. The destruction of Jerusalem created a great division (Matthew 24:15-24; Acts 2:40).
5. Malachi reminded Israel that they once before faced a great choice under their Moses.
6. Elijah the prophet was John the Baptist who would come before the destruction, as in the previous chapter (Mal 3:1-5; Matt 3:7-12; 11:7-15; 17:10-13; Luke 1:13-17; 16:16).
7. For much more about prophecies of the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. … here, here.
8. For detailed expository preaching through Malachi’s four chapters … here, here, here, here.