Historical and Messianic Prophecy – Page 4

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 […]

How can we know that the Bible, a collection of many different books over centuries, is from a deity?

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

Question: How do we know the Bible, a collection of books and letters written of centuries, is the word of a deity? Answer: Given the amazing evidence for the inspiration of the Bible, the fact that it is a collection of writings written over many centuries makes it even more impressive. The Bible contains the […]

In Zechariah 12:10, is the translation “look to Me” justified as a reference to God?

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

[Editor’s note: This question is coming from a person responding to Muslim claims that Jesus never claimed to be God] Question: I’d like to ask you 2 questions. 1 What’s your comment on the New World Translation of Zechariah 12:10 “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem […]

Why did Daniel get all of the historical facts wrong in Daniel 11:35-35?

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

Question: I am happy to find your resourceful website and I hope you can help solve my puzzle. Why did the book of Daniel get all the history wrong from verse 11:35 to the end? I tried to find answers in your power point but you list the historical facts just up to 11:35. This […]

What historical events are fulfilled in Revelation–especially in the last chapters of the book?

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

Question: Similar to you, I find preterism [editor’s note: this is the view that the majority of the visions in Revelation involve things which happened in the early period of Christianity] as the best interpretation of Revelation. However, I struggle with interpreting the events (especially the plagues). I also do not know what to do […]

If God’s judgment is based on our actions, then why does he accept a substitute sacrifice instead. Doesn’t it need to be one or the other?

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

Question: If God is just and gives everyone what they deserve according to their actions, then why does he accept a substitute sacrifice on our behalf–whether it be the millions of animal sacrifices in the OT or even Christ himself? Perhaps you will just say it is God’s mercy, but I would appreciate some elucidation. […]

Are Zechariah 3:8-9, 6:11-13 and 12:10-13:3 messianic prophecies? Is Joshua a figure of Jesus?

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

Question: Could you answer a couple questions about Zechariah? Is chapter 2:8-9 referring to Jesus’ sacrifice for all sin? Also, is chapter 6:11-13 referring to Joshua as a Jesus-figure? After all, isn’t Jesus’ real name in Hebrew Yeshua, which is a variant of Joshua? Is it a coincidence that it says his “name” is the […]

Is reincarnation taught in the Bible as my Hindu friends claim, using Matthew 11:14?

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

Question: I live in India where 80% are Hindus and believe in reincarnation. I don’t believe in it but yesterday I checked out a website that has testimonies regarding Near to Death experiences. Some of them have seen Jesus after their death and he told them either to go back or reincarnate to a new […]

Is the claim by Matthew in Mat 2:23 that there was a prophecy that Jesus would be from Nazareth true?

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

Question: Sir, in Matthew 2:23 its written that Joseph was told in a dream to go to Galilee and live in the town of Nazareth just as the prophets said that He will be called a Nazarene. I have heard that this is clear evidence of an error in the New Testament. Can you give […]

How can I convince my friend to reject Postmodernism?

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

Question: A friend of mine who left my church told me that she considers herself a postmodernist, which is why she left. I did some research and got to understand it a bit better. I also watched your video. I was wondering what I can say or ask that can help my friend reconsider this philosophical […]

Did the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah predict that we would worship him?

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

Question: The OT describes the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah. The doubt I have comes from the question, did God the Father command Israel to worship this Messiah? Or on the other hand, did he only predict the coming of a great prophet who will teach Israel his way (like the old prophets […]

Surely God is against human sacrifice, yet he asks Abraham to be willing to commit human sacrifice. Why would he do this?

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

Question: God is, in principle, against human sacrifice: the religious ritual killing of innocents to appease God, or any gods, for that matter. So it would be likewise true that God is, in principle, against anyone’s ever *thinking* that God is ever in favor of such sacrifice. So, if God caused Abraham to think that […]

Your interpretation of Daniel 11:36-45, that it is about Rome and Egypt is problematic.

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

Comment: I’ve been reading your book “Daniel: A Prophet to the Nations” and I’ve been very inspired and overwhelmed by the very specific prophecies. I’m thankful for how God is using you to reveal his word to others. So suffice it to say, while I have a problem with your response to Daniel 11:36-45 my […]

What do you think of the “consensus” that Isaiah has two authors–one after the Babylonian exile?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I’ve been studying out prophecies of the Old Testament and in studying out the prophecies of Isaiah I looked up what Wikipedia had to say about it. According to Wikipedia “The exact relationship between the Book of Isaiah and any such historical Isaiah is complicated. One widespread view sees parts of the first half […]

Can you respond to an article by R. G. Price at rationalevolution.net in which he claims that Jesus was a fictional creation of the writer of Mark?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

[Editor’s Note: I recently answered a question about R. G. Price but, not knowing his middle name, thought the question was about a different critic of Christianity named Robert Price. Interestingly, the positions of the Robert Price and of R. G. Price are actually fairly similar. Nevertheless, I am a bit embarrassed and apologize […]

Could Jesus have been aware of the messianic prophecies and manipulated circumstances to convince his followers of his [false] claim to be the Messiah?

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

Question: Is it possible that your standard Jewish citizen of Roman Judea would have had foreknowledge of the Old Testament Prophecies and planned to have fulfilled them with an intent. Would Jesus have done such a thing to manipulate the prophecies purposely in order to convince his followers and enemies that he was indeed the […]

What proof is there that the Bible is true?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Reliability of the Bible, Science and the Bible .

Question: What proof is there that the Bible is true? Answer: To tell you the truth, this is a rather broad question. My first answer is please just start looking around the web site. We have more than 2500 articles, each of which is intended to answer your question! But you asked, so […]

Can you justify biblically identifying the King of the North in Daniel 11:40 as Rome?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Bible Interpretation, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History .

Question: I read in a question at the web site concerning the prophecies of Daniel 11 in which you said that the Kingdom of the North which were the Seleucids become later identified as the Romans. Why is it that this change seems random as if to accommodate for the fact that Antiochus IV did […]

Can you explain all the unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies listed at RationalWiki?

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

Editor’s note: This is a series of about ten questions. For ease of following the arguments, I will intersperse my answers between the questions. Question: I stumbled upon a website known as “RationalWiki” which lists supposed unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible which deeply trouble me in my understanding of the Bible. The most difficult of […]

Was Daniel written in the 2nd century BC by a person pretending to be Daniel like a Christian friend of mine claimed?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Apocrypha, Archaeology and the Bible, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I am writing to ask you a quick question: a Christian friend of mine shared his conviction that Daniel was not truly written by Daniel, but was written some time in the second century BC. I would like to know what are the arguments for and against this view, and the same for the […]

Is circumcision a prefigure of baptism?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows .

Question: I want to ask whether circumcision is a prefigure of baptism? A passage from the Bible, 1 Peter 3:20-21, seemingly says that the prefigure of baptism were the events in the days of Noah. On the other hand, Colossians 2:11-14 implies that circumcision was a prefigure of baptism. Can it be considered a prefigure […]

Atheists criticize Christianity because God forced Judas to betray Jesus and he had no chance of redemption. Your response?

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

Question: An argument that is used by atheists comes from the situation concerning Pilate, Judas and others associated with condemning Jesus to be crucified. The point that is made is that none of these people had a choice in what they would or would not do. If any of these had changed what they were […]

Help. I am losing my faith based on things I am learning in psychology, suffering, etc.. How can I know for sure Bible is the truth?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: How do you know for sure that the Bible and Jesus is really the truth of God? – I was a Christian for a long time , not just religious. I thought I was a born again and experienced things but nowadays some things (Objective info from psychology, learning about suffering, etc.) brought doubts […]

Acts 4:25 contradicts Psalm 2, which proves that Jesus was not crucified

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

Editor’s note: The comment below comes from a Muslim who does not believe in Jesus. Comment: Acts 4:25 to 27 and psalm 2. God was angry with them because they plotted against his messiah. This means God did not want them to plot against his messiah. This means God did not send his messiah to […]

How do I study with a Hindu who believes in Jesus and in Ganesh?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Resurrection of Jesus .

Question: Hello Dr. Oakes, I am studying the bible with a friend of mine that is Hindu. He is not very devout in his faith (he grew up in America most of his life and has never really grown into his beliefs). He was introduced to Jesus about a year and a half ago as […]

Can you explain Isaiah 11:14? Is it about a restored kingdom of Israel under Jesus?

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

Question: Dr. Oakes, I have a question about Isaiah 11. I understand that the chapter is a messianic prophecy, but how do you interpret verse 14? Is it fair to say that this would conjure up images of a restored kingdom of Israel (God) and is symbolic of the breaking in of the kingdom in the […]

Does the account of the Last Supper as a Passover meal indicate a biblical error and historical unreliability?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Does the account of the Last Supper as a Passover meal indicate biblical errors and historical unreliability? 1. Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, and Luke 22:7-38 call the Last Supper a Passover Meal as described in Deuteronomy 16:5-6, occurring on Thursday Nisan 14, and that Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday.2. John 13:1 […]

If quantum events are random, how can God know who is going to heaven and how can free will exist?

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

Question: Does god play dice? Quantum events are random. So how can God know who is going to heaven? The Bible mentions that those who are saved have been written in the book of life before creation. You also mention the universe has a sort of free will so how does God know about events […]

What is the meaning of the 70 years of rest for the land found in 2 Chronicles 36:21? Is it related to 490 years, found elsewhere in the Bible?

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

Question: In 2 Chronicles 36:21 it says that “70 years this place will be a wasteland and so the earth will have its Sabbath rest.” What does this mean? If 70 years represents the Sabbath, then is it significant that this is 1/7 part of the 490 years? Does this figure in the Bible? Is […]

Is Daniel 2:43 parallel to Daniel 11:6,17? Is it about the Ptolemies and Seleucids?

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

Question: We have met in Berlin. This is a topic that seems to have stuck with me since being a teenager (I am 34 now) and I would be very glad if I could have some exchange with you on this. To equate the first three empires of Daniel 2 as Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece is beyond […]

Do you have a good resource for refuting Calvinism? Also, how to respond to those who believe the Bible is not "perfect?"

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Miracles, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

QUESTION: 1. What is a good resource for learning more about Calvinism and how to refute it. 2. How do you best defend the Word of God with someone who says “the Bible is not perfect.” We obviously know of a few clerical errors but he uses those mistakes and others to justify his own […]

How do you respond to Jewish claims that Isaiah 9:6 (Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) is actually a prophecy about Hezekiah rather than Jesus?

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

Question: Hello Dr. Oakes. I recently have had the desire to study out the biblical support for Jesus being the Messiah and why the Jews don’t consider him to be the Messiah. I listened to a podcast by a Jewish Rabbi on the Trinity. He talks about a few things: he referenced John 10 saying […]

Analysis of a Jewish claim that Jesus failed to fulfill several messianic prophecies.

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

QUESTION: Hello, I have recently been wondering why Judaism seems to reject Jesus as the Messiah. I have found that they have a list of prophecies that they show as evidence of his failure to fulfill the position of Messiah. Do you think you could help explain each of the following prophecies? If they are […]

Who are the beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1 and the beast from the earth in Revelation 13:13?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Daniel, End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History .

QUESTION: Hi Dr J. I have just clipped your interpretations of the four parts of the great statue in Daniel for my study: nice summary. But I have been struggling with the origin of the two beasts in Rev 13:1,11. Antichrist-beast comes from the sea – apparently the disorganised nations (whatever they are); but what […]

Can you give me some evidence about messianic prophecies I can use to convince my atheist/mathematician friend?

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

Question: My brother-in-law is an atheist and mathematician. He has a couple of master’s degrees in “pure math.” He also has completed all his doctoral classes in this area. He challenged me to send him a few of the most compelling prophecies and he would research them. He is contends with great assurance that God […]

Why does God give Jesus a new name and take away his old name? Why not accept another new name, Bahaullah? How did Jesus fulfill the prophecy that all mankind will see God's salvation?

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

[Note: this query comes from a believer who got these questions from a friend who is Bahai. Question: One of my questions was WHY had not God in the Old Testament chosen for himself, the name Jesus the Christ, but many other names ? In addition, Christ Himself also promises that when he returns, he […]

Are "double prophecy fulfillment", such as that done by JWs interpretations always wrong?

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

Question: I am deeply grateful for your research and teaching for brothers and sisters in the faith. Your web-site and publications have been so helpful, insightful and informative. I have been a Christian for over 21 years now, and your works, and those of other teachers, have proven helpful as tools to help deepen my […]

My Jewish friend says that Isaiah 7:14, about the virgin birth is just a Christian interpretation but that "their version" (Hebrew) says something different.

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

Question: I read your article on how to help convert our Jewish friends, the problem is that yes, “our version” the Old Testament mentions things about Jesus, but when you bring that up, they show you in “their version” that is in Hebrew it is different. Where ours says a virgin will give birth…but in their […]

Jesus cannot be the Messiah because of many messianic prophecies he did not fulfill!

Dr. John Oakes wrote in End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Prefigures and Foreshadows, Reliability of the Bible, Types .

Question: I have read some of your articles. I do not see how Jesus meets the criteria given for Messiah in the Tanakh… SITUATION OF HIS BIRTH Christians say he had no biological father. Therefore he had no lineage through Joseph to forebears. Christians then claim that he was ‘adopted’ or that the lineage was through […]

Could you be mistaken in your interpretation of the burnt offering and the grain offering in your book From Shadow to Reality?

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

Question: Thank you so much for writing “From Shadow to Reality.” It has strengthened my faith by seeing how only God could have orchestrated the foreshadowing in the Old Testament. I have learned a lot, and have had theories of my own on foreshadowing confirmed by your explanation of the related Scriptures. One issue […]

If Jesus fulfilled Zechariah 6:11-13, does that mean his body is in the temple?

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

Question: Since you believe Jesus fulfilled Zech.6:11-13, do you also believe the body of Christ is the Temple? Answer: I believe that Zechariah 6:11-13 is really more of a messianic foreshadow than a historical messianic prophecy. In other words, it is a picture, in earthly terms of an equivalent future reality in heaven. The vision […]

Can you respond to a number of criticisms raised by a Rabbi in a debate I saw recently?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Church History, Daniel, End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Other Religions, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Questions: I was listening to a Rabbi debate with a Christian and wanted to ask you about some of the points that the Rabbi made that the Christian didn’t respond to, if i may. 1. Christians had to “make up” the second coming of the Messiah to harmonize why Jesus did not restore peace in […]

When did God change his mind (that the Lord is one) and decide to come to earth as a man? How is it that the world turned the Messiah into God?

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

QUESTION: I have a question regarding the Messiah and his purpose. It seems to me that the Bible is clear that the Hebrews are never to worship any thing or anyone but God Himself and that He is ‘One’ and that there is no other besides Him. When did He change His mind and tell […]

Revelation 22:7,20 says that God will come in judgment quickly. It has been almost 2000 years. How is that quickly?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, End Times, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Reliability of the Bible .

Comment: Shalom, Revelation 22:7 King James Version (KJV) 7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:20 King James Version (KJV) 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. QUICKLY= GREEK TACHU = SWIFT-QUICK. Matthew 28:7 […]

How do we know that Satan did not write or inspire the Bible and what Jesus did?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in General, General Apologetics, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, Miracles, Other Religions, Reliability of the Bible, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

QUESTION: How do we know that Satan didn’t write the Bible? How do we know that the true religion isn’t Buddhism for example and the Old and New Testament are the works of a devil/demon/Satan trying to trick us into doing wrong things like stoning adulteresses and non-believers? Satan could reveal himself as Jesus, claim […]

What is your response to those who say that Obama's Health Care Act is the fulfillment of Revelation 13:15-18?

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

Question: Can you please respond to this chain message I received recently: [editor’s note: I am not going to do what I usually do, which is correct the grammar and sentence structure errors in the message below] 666 = The mark of the Beast President Obama Vs Revelation13:15-18 The US Senate has passed the Obama Health […]

A Muslim argues against Isaiah 7:14 as a messianic prophecy based on the use of alma.

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Reliability of the Bible, Versions of the Bible .

Editor’s Note: This is a series of interactions with a person who is obviously a Muslim making a typical argument against Isaiah 7:14 as a messianic prophecy. See below for further arguments from this person. Question: If you say that the Hebrew word in Isaiah 14 means a virgin and that it is a dual prophecy, […]

Why did the fact that John the Baptist baptized make people think he might be the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet?

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

Question: In John 1:24,25 The pharisees asked John the Baptist why he baptised if he was not the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet. Why did they associate baptism with these 3 figures? Answer: When people saw John preaching and baptizing and that thousands came to hear him, they began to wonder who he was. Might […]

Can you give me some material on prophecies in the Old Testament which are not Messianic, such as about the Assyrians and Babylonians?

Dr. John Oakes wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy .

Questoin: I’m studying the book of Isaiah. When you look at the historical background of Isaiah, there are non-Messianic prophecies that were fulfilled, as the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions of Israel and Judah. Could you please write about these? Response: I have written some about prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled before New Testament times already in my […]