CHRIST WAS PREDICTED BY THE PROPHET ISAIAH IN THE 8th Cent. BC – In 1987-88 the late Israeli archaeologist, Eliat Mazar discovered a small clay bulla (seal) from the southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in her Ophel excavations. The seal was discovered from wet-sifted material that was taken from an Iron Age layer close to bedrock that was near a foundation trench cut for a wall of a Herodian vault. It dates to the 8th Century B.C. (the time of the prophet Isaiah). In 2015 Eliat’s team discovered another intact bulla with the inscription, “of King Hezekiah of Judah” located just 10 ft away from the clay Isaiah bulla. The book of Isaiah records pivotal events in the spiritual and political life of ancient Judah in the 8th Century B.C.. From an archaeological and historical standpoint, it is one of the most well-attested books in the entire Old Testament. Isaiah contains some of the most extensive prophecies about the coming of Israel's Messiah and the nature of His reign on earth.
Isaiah predicted Christ (Israel’s Messiah) 700 years before he was born; that He would suffer and bear the sins of His people; and that He would return to gloriously reign on earth forever.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (“God with us”) - Isa. 7:14
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be on His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice from that time forward and forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. - Isa. 9:6-7
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots, The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equality for the meek of the earth. He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and calf and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them… - Isa. 11:1-6
He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him as stricken, Smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. - Isa. 53:3-6
In Luke 4:17-22, Christ Himself affirmed that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies (cf. Isa. 61).
