The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church
The Witness of the Scriptures to Christ
Having considered Christ’s endorsement of the Old Testament Scriptures, let us now give study to the witness of the ancient writings to Him. Many are the references in the Gospels and also the book of Acts. BSPC 29.4
The apostle Paul, when bearing his testimony before King Agrippa, said: BSPC 29.5
“I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22, 23. BSPC 29.6
Peter, on the day of Pentecost, called David as a witness for Christ the Lord: BSPC 29.7
“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:30-32. BSPC 29.8
Philip, after reviewing the evidences in the Sacred Writings, bore his testimony to Nathanael in the following words: BSPC 29.9
“We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” John 1:45. BSPC 29.10
The apostle Peter, an energetic and faithful servant of God, bore his witness to Christ on many occasions. At the time of his discourse outside the gate of the Temple he declared: BSPC 29.11
“But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he bath so fulfilled.” Acts 3:18. BSPC 29.12
Still later we find him in the house of Cornelius preaching the Jesus who died and who rose from the dead, and then telling his hearers: BSPC 30.1
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43. BSPC 30.2
Then, as we have already seen, we have the witness of Christ Jesus Himself. Observe the following quotations from the Spirit of prophecy: BSPC 30.3
“In every page, whether history, or precept, or prophecy, the Old Testament Scriptures are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God.... To Christ ‘give all the prophets witness.’”—The Desire of Ages, 211. BSPC 30.4
“The Savior is revealed in the Old Testament as clearly as in the New. It is the light from the prophetic past that brings out the life of Christ and the teachings of the New Testament with clearness and beauty.”—The Desire of Ages, 799. BSPC 30.5
This witness from the prophets of old is seen in many important aspects of the life and ministry of the Son of God. Let us seek to gather from the writings of old some of the testimonies borne by the seers of ancient days. BSPC 30.6
1. Related to the First Advent of Christ
The first promise concerning the Savior of mankind is found in Genesis 3:15, which reads as follows: BSPC 30.7
“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel.” BSPC 30.8
Thus in the early days of earth’s history, we behold in outline The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. Here is enmity between the great archenemy and the church of God; here is foretold the conflict between the powers of light and the powers of darkness. Here is the prophecy that Satan will bruise the heel of the Savior; but, thank God, here is also the forecast that the Christ “shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.” The Great Controversy will end in triumph for the kingdom of righteousness, for Satan and all his hosts will ultimately be eliminated, and the powers of evil go down forever in the darkness of the shadow of death. BSPC 30.9
It seems evident from this prophecy given in the Garden of Eden that the Redeemer was to come as the promised seed. The divine pledge concerning this is referred to several times in the New Testament records. In each case it has its application to Christ the Lord. (See Romans 16:20; Hebrews 2:14; Galatians 3:16; Revelation 12:17.) BSPC 30.10
The promise of the Coming Seed was repeated over and over again to the patriarchs and others. It was given to Abraham (Genesis 22:18; Acts 3:25), it was renewed to Isaac (Genesis 26:4), and it was confirmed to Jacob (Genesis 28:14). Notice should be taken, however, of the stress laid by the apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Galatia upon the word “seed” and not “seeds.” The promise of the Lord was made not to “seeds” but to the “seed.” The word given to Eve mentions her “seed.” The word given to Abraham is “so shall thy seed be.” The Twentieth Century translation of this text reads: BSPC 31.1
“Now it was to Abraham that the promises were made, ‘and to his offspring.’ The word ‘offspring’ was not used in the plural, as if many persons were meant, but the words were, ‘to thy offspring,’ showing that one person was meant—and that was Christ.” BSPC 31.2
Word from the Spirit of prophecy on this passage in Genesis reads as follows: BSPC 31.3
“Plain and specific prophecies had been given regarding the appearance of the Promised One. To Adam was given an assurance of the coming of the Redeemer. The sentence pronounced on Satan, ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel,’ was to our first parents a promise of the redemption to be wrought out through Christ.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 222. BSPC 31.4
Other phases of the work of our Savior Jesus Christ as foretold in the writings of the prophets of old will now be reviewed somewhat more or less in tabular form: BSPC 31.5
2. Related to the Birth of Jesus
The time of the Advent. Daniel 9:24, 25; John 1:41; 4:25, 26; Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4. BSPC 31.6
The virgin birth. Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:3; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:26-35. BSPC 31.7
The place of His birth. Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1, 6; Luke 2:4; John 7:42. BSPC 31.8
The flight into Egypt. Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15. BSPC 31.9
The massacre of the innocents. Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:17, 18, BSPC 31.10
3. Related to Christ’s Life and Ministry
Many were the symbols and figures used in ancient days by which the coming Messiah was foreshadowed, but only a few will be referred to: BSPC 32.1
| Shiloh | Genesis 49:10 | The Desire of Ages, 34 |
| The Rock | Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Corinthians 10:4 | The Desire of Ages, 412, 413 |
| The Angel of Jehovah | Exodus 14:19; Acts 7:35, 38 | Mount of Blessing, p. 170 |
| The Branch | Zechariah 6:12; Luke 1:78 | The Desire of Ages, 103 |
| The I Am | Exodus 3:14; John 8:58 | The Desire of Ages, 52 |
| The Cornerstone | Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6 | The Desire of Ages, 600 |
| The Desire of Nations | Haggai 2:7; Hebrews 10:37 | The Desire of Ages, 187 |
Various aspects of the ministry of Jesus were foretold by the ancient prophets. Observe the following: BSPC 32.2
The beginning and nature of His work. Isaiah 61:1, 3; 42:1, 4; Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 9:1, 2; Matthew 4:15, 16. BSPC 32.3
His work as prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15; John 1:45; 6:14; Acts 3:22; 7:37. BSPC 32.4
His purification of the Temple. Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11; John 2:14, 15; Matthew 21:12; Luke 19:45, 46. BSPC 32.5
His rejection by the people. Psalm 2:1; John 6:66; Acts 4:25-27. BSPC 32.6
His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Isaiah 62:11; Matthew 21:1, 10; John 12:14, 16; Zechariah 9:9. BSPC 32.7
4. Relating to His Sufferings and Death
The betrayal. Psalm 41:9; Matthew 26:15; Mark 14:10, 21. BSPC 32.8
The sufferings. Isaiah 52:14; 53:4, 6, 12; Matthew 8:17; Acts 3:18; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 3:18. BSPC 32.9
The piercing of hands and feet. Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; John 20:27. BSPC 32.10
The insult and mocking. Psalm 22:6, 7; 109:25; Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29 BSPC 32.11
The gall and Vinegar. Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34; John 19:29. BSPC 32.12
The lots for vesture. Psalm 22:18; Mark 15:24; John 19:24. BSPC 33.1
Silence in accusation. Psalm 38:13; Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:63; 27:12, 14. BSPC 33.2
Not a bone broken. Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; John 19:36. BSPC 33.3
The crucifixion. Numbers 21:9; Matthew 27:31, 49; Mark 15:22, 37; Luke 23:33-46; John 3:14; John 19:16-39. BSPC 33.4
The death and burial. Isaiah 53:9, 12; Psalm 16:9; 22:1; 31:5; Matthew 27:46, 57, 60; Luke 23:46. BSPC 33.5
“Christ was the medium through which He could pour out His infinite love upon a fallen world. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. God suffered with His Son. In the agony of Gethsemane, the death of Calvary, the heart of Infinite Love paid the price of our redemption.”—Steps to Christ, 15. BSPC 33.6
5. Related to His Resurrection
The following passages of Scripture could be studied with profit: Psalm 2:7; 16:10; Joshua 6:12; Isaiah 55:3 with Acts 2:27-31; 13:34, 35; Matthew 27:63; 28:6. BSPC 33.7
“Under the inspiration of the Almighty, the sweet singer of Israel had testified to the glories of the resurrection morn. ‘My flesh also,’ he joyously proclaimed, ‘shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [the grave]; neither wilt thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.’”—The Acts of the Apostles, 227. BSPC 33.8
6. Related to His Ascension
Psalm 68:18; 110:1 with Ephesians 4:8, 10; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9; Hebrews 1:1 BSPC 33.9
7. Related to His Coming Kingdom
His second coming. Psalm 50:3, 5; 98:8, 9; Acts 3:20, 21. BSPC 33.10
His everlasting kingdom. Daniel 7:13, 14; Luke 1:32, 33; Revelation 11:15. BSPC 33.11