A Foundation for Life And the Next

By Timothy Santos

The book is a topical commentary and Bible reference based on the Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments. After the introduction, the first section explains the Messiah's purpose and focuses on the foundations for salvation through the Messiah. The second section focuses on emotional topics and how they affect your relationship with the Messiah. The root of many emotional issues is caused by bitterness, so the causes of bitterness and forgiveness are explained in simple terms easily understood by the reader and how they affect salvation. Next the reader explores love, compassion mercy, pride and humility and how they affect their relationship with God. Digging deeper into the emotional issues the reader learns God's definition for lust and purity of heart. The next section deals with the intangible issues in the reader's life. This includes faith, sanctification, repentance and the importance of total surrender to God. The holy Spirit is explained in detail with an emphasis on His purpose for you. Section four covers some of the symbolism in the Bible and tries to help the reader see things from the cultural view of Jesus time. The desire is to help the reader understand how symbolism points to salvation and the importance of events symbolically. Section five covers almost all the parables of Jesus found in the Gospels. The parables are grouped into broad categories including: "The Kingdom of God," "Service and Obedience," "Prayer," "Humility," "God's Love," "Jesus Return," and "God's Values." The parables are explained in detail using the cultural setting of Jesus time. Section six is a brief overview of biblical history and Israel's history. The next section begins with a discussion about the rapture at Christ's second coming. The various points of view are discussed. Then the anti-Christ and False Prophet are explained. Revelation is covered extensively, but not by analyzing the symbolism. The first article is "Don't fear the book of Revelation," followed by "Revelation: The real Message," These articles explain the purpose and message for Revelation and try to remove the fear factor that most people feel. The final section is designed to challenge your thinking and bring you closer to God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640792562

Book preview

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A FOUNDATION FOR LIFE AND

THE NEXT

English Christian Edition

Timothy J. Santos

ISBN 978-1-64079-255-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64079-256-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Timothy J. Santos

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scriptures taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright ©, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Printed in the United States of America

Preface

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast Spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence

And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

And sustain me with a willing Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

And sinners will be converted to you.

Psalm 51:10–13

Many people believe in God, and some don’t. Those who don’t, justify their own behavior and actions because they don’t want to be accountable to anyone. Some believers accept the part of God’s word that they can live with and discard or distort the rest to conform to their way of life. They are not really changing but putting on a show to blend in with other believers. There are others who claim to be nonbelievers, with their goal being to have an excuse to do whatever they want without feeling guilty. This book has something for everyone who wants to improve their quality of life, whether a believer or nonbeliever. It just requires an open mind with a desire to learn.

God gave you His word, not because He wants to make us slaves but because He is a kind, gentle, and just God, He gives you the freedom to choose the path you want to follow. It is up to each person to make that choice freely, but God’s word makes it clear that there are consequences for bad choices and blessings and rewards for good choices. There is no in-between with God; it is all in or all out.

This book, with God’s help, was designed to show you the truth in God’s word. It was not written to make you feel good about yourself but to help you take an honest look at your inward self and to help you make changes or adjustments to conform to God’s will for you. If you have a closed attitude or mind about God’s plan, then you probably won’t get much out of the book.

It is my hope you want to change and grow in your knowledge of God. God’s word can help you resolve personal issues and form a relationship with Him. Life is so much more fulfilling with God in your life. The book was not written to create controversy or arguments. It is my hope that people will respect others point of view and not bicker over God’s word. Some things are controversial, and I make no apologies for what is written in the book. I don’t expect people to agree with everything written in the book, but it is my hope that the book will help to increase your knowledge about God.

INTRODUCTION

I will extol you, my God, O king,

And I will bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you,

And I will praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,

And His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 145:1–3

The Bible is a blueprint on how to lead your life. The plans of a house give you all the materials and directions you will need to build the house. All you need to do is to learn the skills and gain the knowledge necessary to perform the tasks. The Bible is no different. God has provided you with a blueprint for your life. All you need to do is read the Bible with a willing heart and ask for God’s guidance. The knowledge and skills are there to lead you down the path to righteousness and in living according to God’s will. When you ask God for understanding and wisdom for the right motives, He provides it to you willingly.

I would not presume to say that this is the inspired word of God, but I know that God did inspire me to write this book. I have seen far too much suffering and pain in a short time and have seen people who are hungry for understanding the Lord’s word. I have a strong desire to help those who thirst for knowledge and understanding or seek for a way to a happier life. This book started out to be Bible lessons that would help people understand Gods word and His will on specific issues or topics, but it grew day by day as I saw the problems people were experiencing. I saw the stress and worry in their daily lives and wanted to teach them about God’s solution to their problems. At some point in my writing, I had a revelation from God, and I knew I was writing a book. The book is based on topics, with many Bible verse references for each topic or subject. If your heart is not right with God, you may be hurting people and not even know it. God wants the meek and humble, not the proud and arrogant.

I have also seen people with hardened hearts that don’t care about anyone except themselves. They mock God and poke fun at people. Many people believe they are right with God, but they do things against His will. If you think you are a Christian, then ask yourself some soul-searching questions and then seek the answers from God’s word.

Do you go to church and then forget about God the rest of the week?

Do you embrace or ignore opportunities to help other people?

Do you get angry or lash out at other people?

Do you often complain about other family members?

Are you negative about your life and other’s lives?

Do you slander the character of other people?

Do you have aggressive behavior?

Do you hide your feelings inside, not expressing yourself to others?

Do you take vengeance against other people or harbor bitterness?

Do you get frustrated easily?

God has a solution to all these issues. If you answered yes to some of these questions, then you are probably in need of a relationship with God. It is important to know that God loves you and doesn’t want you to suffer. Your response and attitude toward God has a large impact on how you live your life. Without an open mind, you will gain little from this book. There are a number of proverbs that point out attributes about God’s character. Knowing about God will help you to gain knowledge and understanding that will lead to salvation.

Your salvation is not something you magically get. You cannot sit by passively and get salvation. In Philippians 2:12, the word says you need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is important to remember two things: James 2:24, You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone, and Galatians 5:25, If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. All of these verses use an action verb to indicate you are to take an active part in your salvation. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8, the word says, For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel (body) in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives the Holy Spirit to you.

The Holy Spirit cannot abide in someone who has unrepentant sin. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not force Himself on you. You must willingly and freely want to make changes in your life during the sanctification process. The Holy Spirit will only guide and help you to make changes and teach you God’s ways. Justification is not an option. Jesus is the only one who can justify you before God. If you try and justify God’s word to fit your beliefs and will, then that is self-justification and self-righteousness.

God’s Main Attributes¹

God is omniscient: He knows everything.

God is omnipotent: God is all powerful.

God is omnipresent: He is always available.

God is truthful: He cannot lie.

God is immutable: He cannot change.

God empowers you.

God limits temptation.

God forgives your sin.

Thehe book of Proverb gives characteristics of people that God hates.²

Through wise living, you foster traits that are pleasing to God. These lead to success and a good reputation. You must always remember to live by God’s laws. This leads to the following traits in God’s people:³

Proverb also talks about the traits that prevent our success and cause us to have a bad reputation.

In Proverb 14:3, He tells you that the one who speaks foolishly is storing up punishment while the lips of the wise protect them. In Proverbs 19:9, He goes on to say a false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish. God tells you, in Proverb 23:17–18, not to let your heart envy sinners but to live in the fear of the Lord. By doing this, you are guaranteed a future, and your hope will not be cut off from God.

From these verses in Proverbs, you get a picture of God and what He expects of you. You should adopt an attitude thatwill allow you to learn and gain understanding from God, because you can’t do it on your own. With a willing mind and attitude that you need to change, God will help teach you His way and give you wisdom. No one will agree with everything in this book, and that is okay as long as you grow in the knowledge of God’s word and will for your life. The bottom line is that you need to commit your heart to God and chose to follow His commandments to receive salvation through His son Jesus Christ.

Man’s Religion or God’s

The world has built up a wall of taboo topics. To challenge them is to risk persecution and being excommunicated from your church. These taboo topics include Saturday Sabbath worship, following God’s feasts, celebrating pagan holidays such as Easter, adultery or fornication, homosexuality, women clergy, worshipping idols, and pre-tribulation vs. post-tribulation rapture. There is not enough time to treat each of these topics, but you know your church. Is your church healthy or do they quench debate on controversial subjects? By not allowing healthy discussions, the church is saying that this is our belief and it is not debatable. Often times, they are blinded to God’s truth and are unwilling to see the another person’s point of view and why. This is arrogance and prideful behavior. They become judges and put themselves above God in heaven.

I believe God’s word is inerrant and therefore perfect. If you use enough verses of Scripture, then you will discover the true meaning. God’s word is only contradictory because people justify a single verse instead of seeking the truth. God’s truth never changes, and He doesn’t lie. God’s word is unchanging and does not shift with time or societies’ moral changes. If God were to change His requirements or word, then He would not be Holy. But this is not the case; God’s word is not contradictory.

God established His law so man would know what sin is in His’s eyes. God knew that we could not live up to His law without the Holy Spirit because of our sinful nature from Adam’s original sin. That is why He allowed the sacrifices in the Old Testament and sent His son as a one-time sacrifice. The difference is that Jesus’ sacrifice was once for the entire world so that anyone could be reconciled with God and receive His righteousness. Without the Messiah, man lives by his righteousness which falls short of God’s righteousness because of sin.

In the church today, there are priests who are homosexuals. People today think it is all right to be homosexual. They justify it by saying times have changed. They have created an image of God which is tolerant and allows changes in His word. They use man’s reasoning to justify their behavior regarding God’s word, saying change is acceptable to Him. They twist the word of God, saying He is a tolerant and loving God who saves all who say Jesus died for my sin and was raised from the dead. This has been done throughout the centuries, but all they are doing is creating a religion different from God’s. Many of man’s traditions and celebrations are based on pagan festivals or holidays and not biblical truth.

Whenever man justifies his beliefs by using man’s reasoning or interpretation of the Bible, he is using self-justification which is self-righteousness. This righteousness is not based on faith. If you pray and ask God for understanding, He will guide you to the truth in His word. Sin is still sin in God’s eyes no matter how much man tries to justify it. You cannot justify your actions and behaviors and be righteous with God. Using tolerance as an excuse is just a ploy to cover up the real motive for changing God’s word. Do you lack the courage to confront wrong teaching for fear of persecution or are your fleshly desires for pleasure in this life keeping you from defending God’s word? Bottom line is you need to be right with God to have true righteousness.

Introduction to the Bible

The word Bible means a written document and refers to a number of books considered sacred and canonical among Christians. The Protestant Bible consists of sixty-six books. Thirty-nine books make up the Old Testament and twenty-seven books make up the New Testament. The Roman Catholic Bible has an additional fourteen books often called the Apocryphal books.

The Old Testament is divided into three parts. This is the original Hebraic canon. The three parts are the law, the prophets, and the writings. The law includes the five books of Moses, also called the Torah or Pentateuch. They include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

The prophets are also divided into two groups, the former and the latter prophets. The former prophets are Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings, and the latter prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets from Hosea through Malachi. The writings consist of Ruth, Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. The writings can be broken into three subgroups: the poetic works, Psalms, Job, and Proverbs; the scrolls, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Ester; the third group consists of Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles.

Today’s Bibles are usually arranged by the schema: historical, poetic, and prophetic books. The historic books are considered to be from Genesis through Esther. The poetic books are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. The prophetic books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the twelve minor prophets.

The New Testament is divided into the historical books, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts, and the prophetic books, the epistles, and the Apocalyptic book of Revelation. The epistles are further divided into subgroups: the Pauline letters, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians; the so-called prison letters, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon; the pastoral letters, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews; and the Catholic letters, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude.

When you read the Bible, you must keep in mind the books were written over several centuries and in various geographical locations by different individuals. This means there is overlapping between some of the books. The important thing to remember is the unity of the Bible’s message, and they could only be written with the divine guidance of God.

The authority of the Bible is that it was written with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God in the lives of His people. The teachings are authoritative for faith and action. For many, the Bible is the inerrant and infallible word of God. The importance that Christians put on the Bible is not in the same order that the books are presented. The New Testament is the foundation of the Christians’ beliefs and the new covenant. The Old Testament is important for it validates the New Testament and has all the prophecies about the Messiah and all of God’s laws and ordinances.

The New Testament is the fulfillment of many of the prophecies in the Old Testament. The word of God in the Old Testament is as valid today as it was in Jesus’ time or before. Anyone who attempts to pick which parts of the Bible are important or being selective about what matters is probably attempting to justify their religious beliefs. All of God’s word is important and none of it should be disregarded or discarded as unimportant.

Reading and Studying the Bible

How you approach studying the Bible makes a difference. What you get out of reading the Bible is dependent on your thought processes. Greek thought, which is the way most of the world thinks, is a linear process with only one possible solution or conclusion, but Hebraic thought uses a multilayer interpretation process. That is, they read the Scriptures as if there are up to four meanings for a single verse or phrase.

As an illustration, look at Revelations chapters 3 and 4 where Jesus is admonishing the seven churches. For the Greek interpretation, there is only the literal line-for-line conclusion. This creates controversy, because some people make an assumption about when or who He is talking about. For example, one person might say the verses are talking about the literal churches in the first century, and they would be correct. Another person might say it represents the individual characteristics and attitude of each individual in the church today, and they would be correct. Actually, both are correct, but look a little deeper and you could say that it represents different eras in the church age or that all these churches exist now and both of these would be correct, too. The Hebraic thought process would say all are correct. Hebraic interpretation has four levels of understanding:

Pashat – Is the literal interpretation (simplified line for line), surface level

Remez – Alludes to metaphors, idioms, or parables that lead or refers back to another truth

Darash – Below the surface level to search or seek out what is not plainly seen

Sod – The deeper mysteries, hidden truths, or meanings revealed by Yahweh (God)

It is very easy to just read the Bible, but it takes time and dedication to understand what you are reading. My goal is to break the Bible into small topics to make it easier for you to understand the meaning of the Scriptures. God sacrificed His son for you, so it is a small price for you to dedicate your life to serving Him.

In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus uses several comparisons to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 13:44, he uses a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, and then sells everything he owns to buy the field to illustrate the value of God’s kingdom in heaven. What price do you place on your life? Then, in Matthew 13: 45–46, a merchant is seeking fine pearls when he finds one of great value, so he sells all he has to buy it. The visual image is different, but the message is the same. Both these parables have three deeper meanings below the surface stories. Is your life worth sacrificing to serve God, so you can become part of His kingdom in heaven?

But that is not the end of the story. There is a second, deeper meaning buried in these two stories. God sees you as being precious and of great value. So, God purchased you with His Son’s life. In Jeremiah 31:3, God’s word says, I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness. With God’s love, so faithful and you being precious in His eyes, how can you not trust in His promises? Jesus states in John 15:8, This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Then, God confirms your value in Jeremiah 43:6–7 when He says, I will say to the north give them up! And to the south, ‘Do not hold back!’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made." Do you count yourself valuable? In God’s eyes, you are, and He is calling you! So, seek God and become one of His sons or daughters belonging to His family.

To further illustrate the layered meaning, there is a third meaning to the two parables. The thing of most value to God is His only begotten Son, yet He was willing to sacrifice Him to save His creation, man.

Creation: The Beginning

The Bible starts out in Genesis with God and His creation. The first words in the Bible say, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). It should be noted that heavens is plural, not just one heaven.

The Earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters (Genesis 1:2). In this passage, we know that the Earth did not exist yet, but we also get our first look at God in more than one form. This passage speaks about the Spirit of God. Then God said, Let there be light (Genesis 1:3–5), and God separated the light from the darkness. God named the light day and the darkness night. And there was evening and morning, one day. In these passages, God not only created light out of the waters, but He also defined a day in creation. Many people say, well a day could be a thousand years, and they try to justify their view of creation and evolution in harmony. But God defined a day as one day and night, and the Hebrew language uses a word that means a twenty-four-hour day. The Hebrew language has other words that mean a long time.

On the second day, God created the expanse and separated the waters and He called the expanse heaven (Genesis 1:6–8). Then, On the third day, God gathered the waters below the heavens and the dry land appeared and the seas were formed. Then the Earth sprouted vegetation; plants yielding seed and fruit trees bearing fruit (Genesis 1:9–13).

Then, on the fourth day, God created lights in the heavens. They were to give us signs for the seasons. He also created the sun and the moon and the stars (Genesis 1:14–19). At this point, it is interesting to note that God created the Earth before He created the heavens, but in the evolutionary model, the heavens came before the Earth.

Then God filled the Earth with birds, fish, and other creatures, including sea monsters. He said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ (Genesis 1:24–31). So, the fifth day ended. At this point, there were no animals or humans on the Earth.

On the sixth day, God created animals after their kind, cattle and creeping things and beasts of the Earth. At this point, God put creatures on the Earth that lived on land, lions, bears, cattle, and sheep. After this, God created Man in Our image and in Our likeness, and then He commanded them to rule over all the creatures on the Earth. God then created female and blessed them. God told them to be fruitful and multiply. It is very important to know that God used the plural word Our to describe Him. This is significant because God, the Holy Spirit, and Christ all existed together at creation.

On the seventh day, God rested for His work was completed. Then, God blessed and sanctified the seventh day (Genesis 2:1–3).

It is important to note that the creation is important to Christian beliefs. It is equally important to note that the foundations of our faith and beliefs are based on the New Testament yet are supported by the Scriptures and prophecy from the Old Testament. The entire Bible points to and is about the Messiah.

Now, I need to make a few comments about evolution. Evolutionists teach their hypothesis as a theory. The simple truth is that the facts do not support their claim. The scientific method is a process that scientists use to prove their hypothesis. It takes many years to prove or disprove a hypothesis that is built on assumptions. It has been over one hundred and fifty years and the evolutionists have not proven anything. On the contrary, they have many facts that go directly against their assumptions, but they ignore them. All the facts from science point to intelligent design or God, if you are a Christian. Evolution and Creation are in opposition to each other. You cannot compromise your beliefs and try to justify them whether partially or totally. Any attempt to validate evolution in your mind is detrimental to your faith and God’s word of truth.

I say this because the Bible states that decay and death began with the fall of man when Adam sinned against God. The evolutionary model is based on decay and death from the beginning, so if you believe in evolution, you are saying you don’t believe in Adam’s sin, there is no reason for Christ to have come and saved you from sin. Evolution is another whole topic, so we won’t go any further with this topic.

Before exploring God’s word in detail, you need to have an understanding of God’s plan, the Messiah, and how it impacts you and your salvation.

---

¹ NASB Chart, How God is described in Proverbs Pg. 1077

² NASB Chart, Things God Hates pg. 1061

³ NASB Chart, How to Succeed in God’s Eyes pg. 1083

Section One

Foundational Principles for Your Salvation

Be not far from me, for trouble is near for there is none to help.

Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.

They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax; it is melted within me.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws;

And you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me;

A band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.

I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me;

They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Psalm 22:11–18

The Messiah

This is an attempt to consolidate and emphasize the main prophesies and facts surrounding the Messiah. My hope is that seeing the Scriptures grouped together for each topic will help you grasp the truth about the Messiah and His purpose. I hope to dispel any myths and misconceptions you may have heard. It is truly amazing, to me, that God gave us so much information about the Messiah and the events in His life through prophecy in advance of His coming. If you have an open mind, then any doubts you may have should be eliminated. Your love for God should increase when you think about the sacrifice God made for you. Jesus gave His life for you under great suffering and pain. Hopefully, you will grow to understand this fact.

First you will explore the prophecies about the Messiah and His second coming. Then, you will go through the life and death of Jesus. You will read what Jesus said about the Ten Commandments and gain understanding about His message through His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus also taught you how to pray and gave you prophecies about the future. You will explore the old and new covenants God has with mankind. You will learn about the significance of Jesus sacrifice for you, the crucifixion, and the meaning of the last supper. Finally, you will discover God’s plan and the meaning of God’s grace and salvation through faith in Jesus the Messiah. There is a lot of information that is essential to your understanding of the Messiah and God’s plan.

A covenant is a contract between God and an individual or group of people. When Jesus died on the cross, it became a blood covenant between God and anyone who believes He died on the cross, rose again, and ascended to heaven. This covenant is a free gift of grace from God extended to any sinner who accepts God’s grace, repents, and follows God’s commandments leading a righteous life in God’s eyes. Acceptance of Jesus as your King in your heart is essential to forming a relationship with Him.

There are a lot of Scriptures containing a lot of information about the Messiah. For the new believer or someone just starting to understand the Bible, it can seem overwhelming, so take it slow and don’t try to absorb all the information too fast. So, take it slow, and read the Scripture references. It is not how fast you read the material that is important but the knowledge and understanding you gain. It is important that you understand God’s plan and the importance of the Messiah in His plan. It is not necessary to know everything the first time you read it. Our Lord will feed you the information that is needed for your understanding. To this day, I am still learning new things from the Bible and the Holy Spirit. The Messiah is presented first because it is the foundation of the Christian faith and God’s plan.

The Messiah in Prophecy

There were a group of analysis and scientists that calculated the probability that if just eight prophesies about the Messiah came true, the odds would have been one chance in 10¹⁷, that is ten with seventeen zeros behind it. There are over one hundred prophesies about the Messiah that came true. How amazing is that?

Look at some of the more famous prophesies about Jesus verified by many people in the Bible, starting with His birth. Isaiah 7:14 says the Messiah was to be born of a virgin, fulfilled in Matthew 1:18–25. Then Micah 5:2 says He was to be born in Bethlehem, fulfilled in Luke 2:1–20.

There are many prophesies about the Messiah’s last week alive. The week begins with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Zechariah 9:9 makes three prophesies about the Messiah’s last week. First, he says the Messiah will enter Jerusalem with shouts of praise and triumph by the people; this is fulfilled in John 12:12–16. Today, this is called Palm Sunday because they threw palm branches on the ground in front of Him. This was a tradition to honor kings. Next, he says that He would ride on a young donkey, a colt. The third part of the prophesy tells you that He was endowed with the power of salvation.

In Deuteronomy 18:18, it says that the prophet who will come speaks God’s word and will do all God commanded Him to do. Jesus was definitely a prophet and only spoke God’s word and was obedient to Him. Then, the night before His death, He was to be betrayed by a friend as prophesied in Psalm 41:9, but in Zechariah 11:12 it says, the Messiah would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus was betrayed by Judas in Matthew 26:14–16, and He was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). In Exodus 21:32, it says a dead slave was worth thirty pieces of silver. Jesus said He came as a servant, which is a slave, so Jesus was bought for the price of a dead slave which came true. Furthermore, Zechariah 11:13 says the thirty pieces of silver would be thrown to the potter in the house of the Lord, which was fulfilled according to Matthew 27:5.

The Messiah was to be struck and spat upon by His enemies. He was to be mocked, humiliated, and slandered by the people. All these were prophesied in Isaiah 50:6 and 53:3 and Psalm 22:6–7 and fulfilled in Matthew 27:41 and 44, Mark 15:16–20, and Luke 23:35–39. After He was condemned to death by the chief priest, He was turned over to the Romans and was scourged so that His body was marred more than any man (Isaiah 52:14 and 53:5). This was fulfilled according to Mark 15:15 and Matthew 27:26.

Then, He was pierced in His hands and His feet (Psalm 22:16). This is a description of the Roman crucifixion when He was nailed to the cross (John 20:25–27). They did not even know what a crucifixion was in David’s time, when it was prophesied. During the crucifixion, the Roman guards cast lots for Jesus’ clothing, fulfilled in John 19:23–24. The priests taunted the Messiah, telling Him to have the Lord save Him if He was the Son of God (Psalm 22:8). This was Satan’s last chance to tempt Jesus. All the Messiah’s bones will be out of joint according to Psalm 22:14. In Psalm 69:21, the Messiah was given gall and vinegar for His thirst at the sixth hour which is noon and was fulfilled according to Matthew 27:48. Then, in Amos 8:9, darkness fell on the land at the sixth hour, and it would be dark in broad daylight, which was fulfilled in Luke 23:44.

Then, the Messiah was alone separated from God to bear the sins of the world. Psalm 22:1 states that the Messiah said, My God, My God why have you forsaken Me. And then just before He died, He says, Into your hand I commit my Spirit, which were all prophesied in Psalm 31:5 and fulfilled in Luke 23:46.

In John 19:33–34, it says because the Sabbath was approaching, the priests asked that their legs be broken so they could be taken down before the Sabbath. But when the Romans came to Jesus, He was already dead, so they pierced His side instead of breaking His legs, John 19:34, thus fulfilling the prophecies in Exodus 12:46, Isaiah 3:5, and Zechariah 12:10.

The Messiah died on the cross with two other criminals, yet He was placed in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9), and this was fulfilled in Matthew 27:57–60. Psalm 16:9–10 says the Lord will not abandon His Holy One nor allow His flesh to undergo decay. This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead after three days (Matthew 28:7). In Mark 16:19, it states that He ascended to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God, thus fulfilling the prophecies in Isaiah 53:5–6, 53:8, and 53:10–12.

The amazing thing is that over one hundred prophecies were made, and all of them came true. The odds of this occurring are greater than one in 10⁵⁰. When you reach 10⁵⁰ power, you are at a statistical impossibility, so Jesus defied the impossible odds. At the Messiah’s death, all the disciples were afraid and in hiding. Peter denied He knew Jesus the times on the night of His trial, yet eleven out of the twelve disciples were martyred and died for their belief that Jesus was the Messiah and saw Him ascending into heaven. This kind of transformation does not happen without a powerful experience to strengthen their belief. The only rational conclusion with so many witnesses is that Jesus rose from the dead, is alive, and ascended to heaven.

Unfulfilled Prophecy about the Messiah’s second coming are found in the following:

Psalm 96:13 and 1 Thessalonians 1:10 – He will return to judge the world.

Psalm 72 – Messiah will rule forever.

Isaiah 2:3–5 – Messiah will reign in the last days.

Isaiah 9:2–7 – Messiah will have the government on His shoulders and rule forever.

Isaiah 11:1–10 – Messiah will rule and judge justly.

Isaiah 42:1–6 – Messiah will establish justice on the earth.

Isaiah 49:8 – Messiah to be a covenant to the people.

Isaiah 49:6–7 – Messiah will be a light to the nations and rule over all.

Isaiah 61:1–3 – Messiah will proclaim the year of the Lord and the day of God’s vengeance.

The Coming of the Messiah

In Daniel 9:24–27, the Lord gives Daniel a prophecy about the coming of the Messiah. In it, he talks about the seventy weeks. Each week is seven years, for a total of 490 years. This period was decreed against Israel to finish transgression, put an end to sin, make atonement for inequity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up prophecy, and anoint the most holy place. It states that from the issue of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, the prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks, the prince will be cut off. This part of the prophecy is fulfilled. Christ was crucified exactly 483 years to the day after the decree was issued. Verse 26 says the Messiah will be cut off, leaving one week unfulfilled. The prince to come, Satan, will destroy the city and the sanctuary. These were all fulfilled when the Romans crushed a rebellion in Israel after the Messiah’s death on the cross. Then, the prince to come, Satan, will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week, he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering and then one who makes desolate will come. This week is the future; it is called as the seven-year tribulation today. Most believers think this period is the seven-year tribulation in Revelation.

A Relationship with Jesus

Your salvation is not automatic. You have to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life and reside within you so that you can bear good fruit. If all you bear is bad fruit, then you are not in a relationship with God. Mercy is not given just because you say you believe; it must be expressed through your daily actions. Grace is defined as unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification. God sacrificed His only Son on the cross so that we could be reconciled with Him and be given the Holy Spirit, as a seal and helper that is God’s grace. The goal is to be in righteous in standing with God, so you can continually grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Religion is not a relationship with God.

Personal relationship with God has the following characteristics:

Intimacy – Without intimacy, you will miss God’s ultimate purpose for your life.

Spiritual intimacy – Submit to the Holy Spirit and surrender to God. This includes trusting God, not keeping secrets, practicing openness and transparency, loving God unconditionally, understanding, and experiencing God’s love. Two-way relationship means you must listen to God and make time for God. It requires time and effort to know God. Be thankful to God for each and everything He does for you.

Results – This is how you feel. The stability, security, serenity, sensitivity to other people’s needs, hurts, personhood, and Spiritual understanding of God’s word.

Mercy is compassion, patience, or a blessing that God gives as an act of divine favor. Are you complacent about God, lacking any drive to be active in God’s quest to bring sinners to repentance? If so, then you need to look at your motives for wanting to belong to God’s family. You can’t stand on the sidelines and expect to receive God’s mercy. If you have not been transformed by the Holy Spirit, then you need to examine yourself. Being complacent is not serving God. God does not want anyone to miss the mark and be left behind, thus the purpose for writing this book. Open your minds, ears, eyes, and hearts to God and His word. I hope your desire for understanding God will challenge you to reevaluate your life, whether Christian or not, and make changes to grow closer to God in a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Your life is a journey. I challenge you to seek the good in life by continually growing in the understanding of God’s plan for your life. This journey cannot begin if you are not interested in making changes to your life.

Jesus’ Life and Death Summarized

Throughout Jesus’ life, He never sinned. All He did was to teach and help others in need. He put others’ needs first. The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are historical accounts of Jesus’ life. Jesus spent His life teaching, sometimes in parables, and healing people. His life was dedicated to service as a servant of God. He never exalted Himself above God. He was the perfect example of how God wants you to walk and act personally, while you are on earth. During His life, He fulfilled all the prophecies in the Old Testament about His first coming and death. This fact alone is a testament to the fact Jesus was the Messiah because the odds for one person fulfilling all the prophecies were astronomically impossible. The facts about Jesus’ life are too numerous to list, so I will leave reading the four Gospels to you.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees both opposed Jesus. This was so because they felt threatened by Him. They felt they would lose their religious and political powers if Jesus became too strong. So, they plotted to kill him. Jesus was also rejected by His own people.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas for thirty pieces of silver. He was condemned to death by the Pharisees and turned over to the Romans because it was against the Roman law for a Jew to take a life. Jesus was scourged by the Romans and condemned to die on the cross. Then Jesus was nailed to the cross in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. All the prophecies about His death came true. Jesus rose from the grave on the third day as it was prophesied. Jesus was the temple that was destroyed and rebuilt in three days as He said would be the sign He was God. Because He was rejected by His own people, God turned His back on them as the prophets had prophesied.

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed and the nation of Israel was scattered throughout all the nations. They are still scattered and will remain so until the second coming of Christ on the day of the Lord. After the Lord’s second coming, He will regather His people to Israel and bless them forever. They will have God’s laws written on their hearts. The land will be blessed and will be fruitful. In Revelation 20:4–6, it says there will be a thousand years of peace then will come the end of the earth, and the dead will be judged. God’s people will have everlasting life while the wicked will have everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.

Now that you have an overview of the events in Christ’s life, you can take a closer look at what the Scriptures say about some of these events. You will look at salvation through Jesus’ atoning death and the future resurrection of His church. You will also look at the future events: the day of the Lord, Armageddon, the judgment of the dead, and the new heaven and earth.

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1–12 is called the Sermon on the Mount. This was part of Jesus’ longest recorded sermon. He began it by describing the traits God is looking for in His followers. He called those who lived out these traits in their lives blessed because God has something special in store for them. Each one of the beatitudes is almost a direct contradiction of the worldly view held by society. Jesus says that society in general will be opposed to anyone who seriously puts effort into developing these traits. You must remember these are traits God is looking for in His saints to have on Earth and in heaven. Key Lessons from Sermon on the Mount include the following:⁴

Blessedare the poor in Spirit – The Lord wants those who have humble Spirits, and He says their reward is the kingdom of heaven. This is in opposition to pride and personal independence. An example is in Isaiah 57:15. James 4:7–10 tells you how to develop this attitude.

Blessedare those who mourn – They will