LukeBritt said:
Were the OT prophets looking for the nation to fulfill the promises, or the Redeemer to fulfill the promises?
The Old Testament prophets looked for their Messiah to fulfill all the OT promises to Israel during His first advent.
Romans 16:8 "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.
The OT prophets saw all the particulars of Christ's 1st and 2nd coming, but often preceived them as one event. They did not see that God had a secret purpose which was hidden from all mankind until the appointed time (Eph.3:3-5; Col.1:26).
When Isaiah 9:6 was penned by the OT Pophet he did not see the time delay between the birth and the position that Chirst would later take; which we still wait for today.
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder..."
Also, we have two advents in one view by the same prophet. Notice also, another time delay that us yet unfulfilled.
Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Luke 4
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
You will notice in Luke 4, Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61:1,2
almost in its entirety. When you read the account in Luke 4, pay particular notice where Jesus stopped reading Isaiah 61, and then closed the book.
Had Jesus read on through
"and the day of vengeance of our God," He would not have been able to say, as He did in vs 21,
"This day is this scripture fulfilled in you ears." That particular phrase happens to be the Tribulation period, and it hadn't started yet when Jesus spoke those words in Luke 4.
Even today, it is still the
"acceptable year of the LORD". However,
"the day of vengeance of our God" has not yet been fulfilled. It still awaits future fulfillment.
Yes, it did start in Acts 2:15-20, but was interrupted by this dispensation of grace. This dispensation of grace is a (parenthetical) period within the dispensation of the Law which began with Moses and was interrupted when God set the nation of Israel aside,
"until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in" (Rms11:25), which is the rapture of the Chruch, the Body of Christ.
Even though the dispensation of grace cannot be found in prophesy, I can look back and see a place where it fits in, and can see from where I get my opening remarks.
God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Much and Love The Lord!
