KNOWING PROPHECY VS LOOKING FOR PROPHECY
Micah 5:1,2 Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (from days of eternity)
This verse is one that the Jews look to in regards to their Messiah. It is one of their litmus tests so to speak. If the person is claiming to be their Messiah is not born in Bethlehem that person can not be the Chosen One. Even when the Magi came to honor Jesus as the new born king of the Jews, King Herod verified the place with the chief priests and teachers of the law as Bethlehem. They reminded King Herod of Micah 5:2, and that the Messiah would be born there. This is why Herod had all the baby boys there killed that were from two years old and younger. Fortunately an angel of the Lord warned Joseph in a dream, so he took Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt until King Herod died and the danger was over.
Another thing we see in Micah 5:1 is they will strike Israel’s ruler on his cheek with a rod while Israel is under siege or occupation. In the days of Jesus, Israel was certainly under occupation by Rome. Pilate the Roman Procurator of Israel acknowledged by a written statement on the cross that Jesus of Nazareth was the king of the Jews, and the Roman soldiers that scourged him and beat his head with a rod, bowed down to him declaring that he was the king of the Jews. Even King Herod put one of his royal robes on him associating Jesus as king of Israel. So whether it was mockery or not, Jesus was declared the king of Israel by the highest ranking Roman official in Israel, Roman soldiers and even King Herod of Israel. So Jesus fulfilled prophecy when he was hit on the head with a rod fulfilling verse 1 as well as verse 2 where he was born in Bethlehem.
Before the Sanhedrin had Pilate crucify Jesus on Calvary’s cross, Jesus fulfilled many other prophecies concerning his being the long promised Messiah through Abraham. One was Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a colt which was prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. Following it Jesus said something remarkable and it is in Lk 19:41,42. It says, “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘ If you, even you, had known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is (hidden) from your eyes.’” The very people that knew the prophecies concerning the coming of their Messiah dropped the ball so to speak.
How could they have missed seeing Jesus fulfill the foretold prophecies that they had waited so many generations to see come to fulfillment? It was kept from them, but not because of God. The apostles believed Jesus to not only be the Messiah, but the ancient of times - the Son of God. The religious leaders had hardened their hearts towards Jesus because he didn’t fit their mold. Jesus ministered the grace of God, and not the law of God that only brought estrangement due to our failure to obey the law. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God making himself God. They believed that this blasphemed God, because their is only one God. Yet they knew very well many times God referred to himself as we, us or our in the plural form. Even as early as Genesis 1:26 it says, “Then God said, ‘Let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness. So what Jesus was telling them and doing in front of them was what they needed to hear, but the hardness of their heart kept them from discerning the very truth that was before them then and even now!
I believe that in the seven years just prior to Jesus’ return to earth on the Mount of Olives, it won’t be just the Jews that will miss all the prophecies regarding Jesus’ return, but the world will for the most part. Much of it might be the deception that the antichrist will present. Daniel 7:25 tells us that he will try to change the set times and laws concerning the Lord's coming. This is why Jesus warns us that the antichrist and false prophet will do signs and wonders to deceive even the elect - if that were possible.
The people will want to believe that he is indeed the Messiah that will save the world of all the problems it is going through. They will see the miracles and want to believe and trust the antichrist and false prophet, rather than prophecy that needed to be fulfilled.
It is important to know prophecy, but simply knowledge without discernment isn’t enough. As I said the religious leaders and teachers of the law knew all that they needed to recognize their long awaited Messiah, but they still missed him.
Jesus gave an illustration of this in the ten virgins of Matthew 25:1-13. Five were ready for the coming of their bridegroom and five were not even though all knew that he was coming. The difference being the foolish virgins didn’t have enough oil. The oil represents the Holy Spirit. Christians that are not baptized in the Holy Spirit will find themselves with only a head knowledge of Jesus. They like the religious leaders and teachers of the law and will not recognize the deception of the antichrist and false prophet. Those Christians that are baptized in the Holy Spirit will since the error and heed the warning.
If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit you really need to. Jesus even told his disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Every Christian can and should receive this. Luke 11:13 says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Holy Spirit will set us free of our carnal nature. (Romans 7:5 & 8:8-11) He will transform us into the the likeness of Jesus and remove the veil over the mind of the old covenant. (II Cor 3:14-18) He will give us gifts or abilities to serve Jesus and help the church to be all it can be for Jesus.
(I Cor 12:1-11) If these are not important Jesus would never have sent the Holy Spirit to bring them to us. Because of our free will it is up to us to receive them or not. Knowledge alone is not enough! If it was the Pharisees would catch on today. They still know the scriptures, maybe even better than some pastors.
James 4:2 says, “We have not because we ask not.” If you want to be ready and not deceived the I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit for his baptism right now.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank you for wanting to help us to be all that we can be for Jesus. Please baptize us now as only you can. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Thank you Holy Spirit!
