Historical and Messianic Prophecy – Page 3

The Westar Institute claim that Jesus was an exceptional man but not the Son of God. What do you think about their methodology?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Miracles, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: John, have you heard/do you have thoughts about the Westar Institute material? They claim that Jesus was an exceptional man, but not the ‘son of God’. They are very learned and seem less ’emotionally motivated’ than a Bart Ehrman type account. https://www.westarinstitute.org/projects/the-jesus-seminar https://s3.amazonaws.com/tgc-documents/carson/1994_five_gospels_no_Christ_Jesus_Seminar.pdf They are saying, yes Jesus existed, and he said and […]

Is the story of Jesus created from others who claimed to be the Messiah, such as Simon and Judah?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: I recently stumbled upon a theory that the story of Jesus as the Messiah is borrowed from people before him who also claimed to be the Messiah. Two claimants in particular were mentioned. The first one is called Simon, some aspects of his life are extremely similar to those of Christ. The second one […]

When Jesus talked about the fall of Jerusalem, did he also warn the Jews? Is there evidence of the church fleeing to the mountains?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A .

Question: When Jesus said the the Church of Jerusalem will fall, did he advise the Jews about the fall as well, or was it a prophecy and is there evidence of the church fleeing to the mountains? Answer: Actually, it was not the church in Jerusalem which fell in AD 70. It was the Jewish […]

A Rabbi claims on youtube that Psalms 22:16 (they have pierced my hands and feet) actually is a lion surrounded by dogs with paws upraised. Your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: Rabbi Dtovia Singer has a video on youtube saying the church is lying about christology. In this video he says when Isaiah talks about Jesus’ peirced hands it is actually spun by Origen and other church fathers. The Rabbi claims the verse says that King David is like a lion surrounded by dogs with […]

Who is Melchizedek? What is his significance in the Bible?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: Hi Dr. John. I want to have a better understanding about Melchizedek and the relevance of him to Jesus. Based on the text found in Gen 14:18 and Hebrews 7. What is his relevance to Jesus Christ? Thank you! Answer: Good to hear from you. It just so happens that I just published a […]

Some say that good research will tell us that Jesus did not exist. What is your response to this claim?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I have three questions: 1. It is said by some who do a lot of research that Jesus Christ of Nazareth did not exist and all stories about Jesus Christ of Nazareth were retellings of older pagan myths by relatively well educated Greek-speaking (and writing) Christians during the 2nd half of the first century. […]

Scholars say Daniel 9 is a Jewish interpretation of Jeremiah and not a prophecy about Jesus. What is your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

[Editor’s note: This is a rather long question, but the answer is below!] Question: This is on Daniel 9 and what Wiki has been saying about it. First of all, they say this has nothing to do with Jesus and the temple but it is about Jeremiah. As stated here: “The seventy weeks prophecy is […]

Who are the magi who visited baby Jesus? Why are they important enough to be in the Bible?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A .

Question: Who are the magi that visited baby Jesus? Why are they important enough to be in the Bible? What would the people of Jesus’ era and culture have understood about them? Answer; Matthew does not identify the magi, but we know they come from the East. If one is in Bethlehem, to the east […]

My Hindu friend says it is hard to believe in a religion that does not give everyone a chance. What is your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: My friend asks if Jesus is the only parameter to get to heaven. Not everyone gets to know Jesus like some do in their privilege. So she finds it hard to believe in a religion that doesn’t give everyone a chance. When she asks how the people prior to Jesus were saved, she was […]

How to I respond to those who claim that Joseph raped Mary?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Miracles, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: It is said that Matthew and Luke have skirted around the obvious contradiction of Jesus’ conception; that Mary and Joseph were only betrothed and not married. Clearly, Virgin Mary would not have allowed Joseph to have sex until they were married. Thus, he must have raped her. This is covered up by using his […]

Why does God say that he hated Esau in Malachi 1:2-3?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Q & A .

Question: In Malachi 1:2-3, God says he loved Jacob, and hated Esau . Why? Answer: This is a fairly common question. We need to look at the context, both of Malachi and of the whole Old Testament in order to understand what God is talking about when he speaks to his people in this way […]

A Jewish Rabbi says that Christians misinterpret the Old Testament in order to make it apply to Jesus Christ. What is your response to this claim?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: A Jewish Rabbi said that the Hebrew Tanakh (Tanach) and the Christian Old Testament are quite different . It seems Tanakh is not an Old Testament. More so, he said that Catholic Church misinterpreted several important verses (over and over) of the Old Testament to suits New Testament claims in order to make it fit […]

Jehovah Witnesses teach that no one goes to heaven, and use Acts 2:34 where it says David did not go to heaven as a proof text. Can you explain?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A, Resurrection of Jesus .

Question: Jehovah’s witnesses teach that no one goes to heaven after death. In proof of this they cite Acts 2,34 and they say that here Peter denies that David ascended into heaven and so if a man of God like David did not go to heaven it means no one go to heaven. Personally I […]

If Jeremiah 33:15 says that Messiah will sprout up in the days of Israel’s restoration, doesn’t this contradict the time of Christ’s appearance?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: If Jeremiah 33 15 says that Messiah will sprout up in the days of Israel’s restoration doesn’t this contradict the time of Christ’s appearance? Answer: The timing and meaning of a prophecy is determined by the context. Besides, many of the restoration prophecies in both Jeremiah and Ezekiel are what I call “double prophecies.” […]

If Jeremiah 33:15 says that the Messiah will sprout up in the days of Israel’s restoration in the 6th century BC, doesn’t that contradict the time of Christ’s appearance?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Question: If Jeremiah 33 15 says that Messiah will sprout up in the days of Israel’s restoration, doesn’t this contradict the time of Christ’s appearance Answer: The timing and meaning of a prophecy is determined by the context. Besides, many of the restoration prophecies in both Jeremiah and Ezekiel are what I call “double […]

Are there genealogies available today that purport to go back to Jesus’ brothers James or Jude, or Joseph’s other sons?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: One area of Old/New Testament which I’m interested in is the genealogy of Jesus. Now what I’m wanting to find out is whether the genealogy of the line of David (as the Jews know the Messiah must come from his line) is still being recorded to this day? Is there any record of it […]

Hosea 11:1 cannot be a prophecy about the Messiah because it speaks of Israel, not Jesus.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, Bible Interpretation, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Versions of the Bible .

[Editor’s note: I received a long and somewhat rambling set of comments and questions from someone. I asked for a more succinct set of comments and questions so that I could respond. You will see below that the shorter version is still a bit unfocused, but this person asks sufficiently important questions that I felt […]

Why did the Council of Nicaea discuss whether Jesus was God or human?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Questions: 1.Why did the council have to meet to discuss if Jesus was the Son of God or if he was human or a spirit? 2.If God inspired man to write the Bible and he lives in me, why do I need the Bible or Jesus to tell me how to live when I can […]

Did Jesus become the Son of God at his resurrection as Bart Ehrman claims?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Some people think that Jesus was begotten by the father only at his resurrection because the apostle Paul said about Jesus that he was appointed Son of God by His resurrection ( Romans 1 – or the speech of Paul in the Act of the Apostle). I’m currently reading the Bart Erhman’s book “How Jesus […]

Is Zechariah 13:7 a prophecy of the Messiah or of the false shepherd of Zechariah 11:17 or the false prophet of Zechariah 13:1-6?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: Is Zechariah 13:7 talking about the Messiah or is it about the false shepherd whom God strikes in Zechariah 11:17 or perhaps the false prophet in Zechariah 13: 1-6? Answer: The shepherd of Zechariah 13:7 is the Messiah. I know this for sure because in Matthew 26:31 the inspired gospel writer Matthew tells us […]

Could the empty tomb of Jesus be the result of a conspiracy rather than Jesus actually resurrecting?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

[Editor’s note: I am dispersing my answers among the questions. They will be in italics.] Question: I have been a believer of Jesus Christ for more than 10 years. Recently my brother who is an atheist challenged me with many absurd theories he found on the internet. That provoked me to look for solid evidence […]

Who are the sixth and seventh kings in Revelation 10-12? Could they be Vespasian and Titus? Who are the kings who had not yet come?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A .

Question: Doesn’t Revelation 17: 10 show that John got his vision during the sixth king, who is Vespasian? and the seventh king who is to come is Titus, who according to this verse will rule for a short time, and he did, from 79 till 81 AD? If this is true, then John got […]

What evidence is there to oppose what is said about Jesus in the Toledot and by Celsus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: What proof is there against the stories about Jesus in the Talmud (for example in the Toledot) and Celsus? Answer: I am well aware of Celsus and his spurious attacks on Jesus and the Christian faith, but, to be honest, I had not heard of the Toledot before. Technically, the Toledot is not part […]

Is Isaiah 25:6-8 a dual prophecy?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: Is Isaiah 25:6-8 a dual prophecy – of the resurrection of Christ and of the second coming of Christ? The background of the question is the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14. I have read in Kenneth Baileys book “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels” that the Jews believed […]

My Hindu friends tell me that Krishna incarnates in the world to protect the righteous and to destroy evil. How do I respond to this and present Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Other Religions, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Our Hindu friends often quote from the Bhaghavad Gita where Krishna himself says that he would incarnate from age to age in order to protect the righteous and punish the wicked. He came thus to destroy the evil from the world. How shall we give our response and present Jesus as only the true […]

An atheist claimed that all of the evidence for Jesus is “made up”, that Christianity was created in order to exert power over people, and that the NT books were written hundreds of years after Christ. Response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: The other day I overheard an atheist talking to someone about the Bible. I didn’t join in on their conversation, but they were loud enough and close enough for me to hear every word they said. Anyway, the atheist (I know he’s an atheist because I heard him say it) said that all the […]

What would you say to an atheist who is a complete materialist (who believes in only the things he can see) to convince him that Jesus is the truth?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Creation, General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Philosophy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Resurrection of Jesus, Science and the Bible .

Question: What would you say to an atheist who is a complete materialist (who believes in only the things he can see) to convince him that Jesus is the truth? Answer: That would depend on the person. Not every materialist is the same. If the person is even an iota open, I might do a […]

Can you explain the statement in Ezekiel 29 concerning Egypt that “No foot of man shall pass through it”

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I came upon your page while researching some Old Testament Biblical prophecies. I have a couple questions about two of them if you have the time. I’ve read two responses of yours to the Ezekiel prophecy regarding Nebuchadnezzar and Egypt, and found them very enlightening. However, in neither of your responses did I see […]

Could the three kings subdued by Domitian in Daniel 7:24 be a reference to the three kingdoms he subdued?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: I’ve been doing some sermons on Revelation and it obviously intersects with Daniel 7. I’ve been reading some of your Q/A, and I have a few thoughts to offer regarding the following section of Daniel 7. “After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.” We understand this to […]

Can it be proved that Daniel chapter 9 is about Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Can you prove Daniel 9 is about Jesus? Jeff: The word “prove” has a range of meaning. In a mathematics class or in a philosophy class it has the meaning of demonstrating with absolutely certainty that a particular proposition must be true. It is like proving the angles of an equilateral triangle are equal. In […]

Is Al Hsu correct when he claims that Jesus was not forsaken on the cross–that this is a misinterpretation?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: What do you think about the claim below about the cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” by the author Al Hsu below? The Cry of Vindication By Al Hsu When the Jesus film is screened in cultures that have never heard of Jesus, viewers often love the […]

Some say that the supposed messianic prophecies are all ambiguous. For example Isaiah 53:10 when it says that Jesus will have offspring. Your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: Some people say that there are no unambiguous prophecies about Jesus in the OT, hence such verses are open to interpretations. For example, even in one of the strongest prophecy about Jesus, Isaiah 53:10 it says, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord […]

In Daniel 8:26 what date corresponds to “the distant future?” Also, in verse 17 what is “the time of the end” a reference to?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: My wife and I recently were having a conversation about the book of Daniel. She had been reading Daniel 8, and was wondering what it meant, especially about the part with the goat overthrowing the ram. After pondering the imagery for a while, I recalled a few points from your teaching on the subject […]

Is the reliability of the Gospel of John in doubt, and therefore the conclusion that Jesus is God?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I have a question regarding Jesus as being God. It is clearly stated in the Gospel of John, and in some of the epistles that Jesus is God as well as the Son of God. But after some research I found that the reliability of the Gospel of John and of those epistles are […]

When was the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem issued? (Daniel 9:25)

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: When was the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem issued? Answer: This is somewhat debatable, as there are at least three “decrees” in the Book of Ezra. The first is in Ezra 1:1-4. This is a decree of Cyrus that the Jews can go back to Judah and Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. This […]

Can you respond to the claim that Jesus cannot be the Messiah because no one can die for someone else’s sins?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Q & A .

Question: Hello, I was watching a video between a Rabbi and a Pastor recently, where the Rabbi stated Jesus could not be the Messiah because no man can die for another man’s sins. There is also a article on why Jesus could not be the Messiah, I was wondering if you could help me a […]

How do you respond to the claim of Bill Maher that “The Bible was written by men and edited by men as well”?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I recently heard an argument that Bill Maher uses to debunk the authority and authenticity of the Bible. It says, “the Bible was a book written by men and edited by men as well”. How would you respond to this? Answer: My response would be to say that this is true. Maher is right. […]

Why would God hold the Jews at the time of Jesus responsible for all the sins of the Jews–even those in the distant past?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Questions: 1. Why would Jesus charge the blood of all the prophets since Abel on the generation of Jews at the time of Jesus? 2. What is the definition of a prophet according to the Bible? I thought prophet means messenger of God, perhaps much like an angel. If so, why would Abel be called […]

In what sense is Jesus a prophet like Moses?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I wanted to ask about how JESUS OUR LORD fulfilled the prophecy of the PROPHET LIKE MOSES. Did Moses mean he would be like him in life similarities such as his infancy in Egypt, being rejected, etc. or more because of the miracles he worked? Thanks in advance Answer: A good rule of thumb […]

Can you prove that the Shiloh in Genesis 49 is fulfilled by Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy .

Question: Can you prove that Shiloh in Genesis 49 is Christ? Can you prove that this prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus? A Jewish website claims that it wasn’t fulfilled. What’s your comment? https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/the-scepter-of-judah-shiloh-and-the-messiah/ Answer: We cannot “prove” that the Shiloh in Genesis 49 is the Messiah and that it applies to […]

Can we prove that the prince in Daniel 9:27 is not prophesying about Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: Is there proof that the prince in Daniel 9:27 is not Jesus of Nazareth? Is there hard proof that psalm 22 is speaking about the Messiah? Answer: First of all, such things do not lend themselves to “proof.” Anyone who claims he or she has “proved” who the prince in Daniel 9:27 is should […]

Could Daniel 9 be a prophecy about Herod Agrippa II rather than the Messiah?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: I wanted to ask if it is possible Daniel 9 doesn’t refer to the MESSIAH but just refers to a mere king such as Herod Agrippa II. Answer: You know what they say, “Everything is possible.” But in this case, it is not possible that Daniel 9 refers principally to someone like Herod Agrippa. […]

Did the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy of abomination of desolation happen during the time of Antiochus IV. If so, what is Jesus talking about in Matthew 24?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Uncategorized .

Question: I read your book Daniel: A Prophet to the Nations (editor’s note: available at www.ipibooks.com) and enjoyed it very much. I was going over my notes from it and got to the part where you talked about the prophesies in Daniel about Antiochus IV and how he was going to desecrate the temple and […]

Isn’t it reasonable to expect that God will send prophets to us today to help guide his people?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Miracles, Q & A .

Question: About prophets in our present day, the New Testament had prophets like Agabus and Anna. What about our present day? Could God still appoint prophets to guide and direct his church? Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” This gift can be a blessing to the […]

In Jeremiah 46 there is a prophecy about the destruction of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, yet this never happened. What is your response?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: In Jeremiah 45, God says that Egypt will fall and most all the remnant of Judah will be destroyed. How does this work historically? I don’t see where Babylon invaded Egypt at this time in history. Am I incorrect? Thanks for clarifying. Answer: I assume you mean Jeremiah 46. In this prophecy we are […]

What do you think about Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri? Is he right about the return of Jesus?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: What do you think of the Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri? Apparently he was Israel’s leading religious teacher up until 2006 when he died at 108 years. Supposedly during the latter years of his life he focused very intently on the teaching of the coming of the Messiah and how to recognize him. He wrote a […]

Is there a specific prophecy which predicts the resurrection of the Messiah?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Q & A .

Question: I know we have many prophecies of Christ in the OT, but I did not find one that says ‘He will rise from the dead’. Is there any verse that explicitly states this? Or is it as He said to the doubting people the only evidence He will give them is the sign of […]

Who is Melchizedek in the Bible? Is he Shem, the son of Noah?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Q & A, Types .

Question: Who is Melchizedek in the Bible? Is he Shem the son of Noah? I there any evidence about his geneology? Answer: Melchizedek is a somewhat enigmatic figure in the Bible. He only appears in Genesis, Psalms and Hebrews. He was a worshipper of Jehovah, but was not from Abraham’s family and, therefore, by […]

Can you prove Daniel 9 is about Jesus? Jews always criticize this conclusion.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Q & A .

Question: Jews always criticize the Christian explanation of Daniel 9… https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/daniel-9-a-true-biblical-interpretation/ Can you prove that Daniel really spoke about Jesus in Daniel 9? Answer: I cannot “prove” that Daniel is talking about Jesus in Daniel 9. Such things do not allow for mathematical-type proofs. However, I can show sufficient evidence that any open-minded person would […]

What is the meaning of the altar mentioned in Hebrews 13:10? Are Catholics and Orthodox right that it is a Christian altar?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: What is the meaning of the altar mentioned in (Hebrew 13 : 10)? Catholic and Orthodox Churches use this verse to prove that there is an altar in the New Testament–justifying their use of an altar in their worship, and the idea that the Eucharist is a sacrifice. In Arabic translations, the word altar […]