The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ

https://www.newtestamentchristians.com/bible-study-resources/351-old-testament-prophecies-fulfilled-in-jesus-christ/


Prophecy Description Fulfillment
1. Gen 3:15 Seed of a woman (virgin birth) Gal 4:4-5; Matt 1:18
2. Gen 3:15 He will bruise Satan’s head Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8
3. Gen 5:24 The bodily ascension to heaven illustrated Mark 16:19
4. Gen 9:26-27 The God of Shem will be the Son of Shem Luke 3:36
5. Gen 12:3 Seed of Abraham will bless all nations Gal 3:8; Acts 3:25-26
6. Gen 12:7 The Promise made to Abraham’s Seed Gal 3:16
7. Gen 14:18 A priest after the order of Melchizedek Heb 6:20
8. Gen 14:18 King of Peace and Righteousness Heb 7:2
9. Gen 14:18 The Last Supper foreshadowed Matt 26:26-29
10. Gen 17:19 Seed of Isaac (Gen 21:12) Rom 9:7
11. Gen 22:8 The Lamb of God promised John 1:29
12. Gen 22:18 As Isaac’s seed, will bless all nations Gal 3:16
13. Gen 26:2-5 The Seed of Isaac promised as the Redeemer Heb 11:18
14. Gen 28:12 The Bridge to heaven John 1:51
15. Gen 28:14 The Seed of Jacob Luke 3:34
16. Gen 49:10 The time of His coming Luke 2:1-7; Gal 4:4
17. Gen 49:10 The Seed of Judah Luke 3:33
18. Gen 49:10 Called Shiloh or One Sent John 17:3
19. Gen 49:10 Messiah to come before Judah lost identity John 11:47-52
20. Gen 49:10 Unto Him shall the obedience of the people be John 10:16
21. Ex 3:13-15 The Great “I AM” John 4:26; 8:58
22. Ex 12:5 A Lamb without blemish Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:19
23. Ex 12:13 The blood of the Lamb saves from wrath Rom 5:8
24. Ex 12:21-27 Christ is our Passover 1 Cor 5:7
25. Ex 12:46 Not a bone of the Lamb to be broken John 19:31-36
26. Ex 15:2 His exaltation predicted as Yeshua Acts 7:55-56
27. Ex 15:11 His Character-Holiness Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27
28. Ex 17:6 The Spiritual Rock of Israel 1 Cor 10:4
29. Ex 33:19 His Character-Merciful Luke 1:72
30. Lev 1:2-9 His sacrifice a sweet smelling savor unto God Eph 5:2
31. Lev 14:11 The leper cleansed-Sign to priesthood Luke 5:12-14; Acts 6:7
32. Lev 16:15-17 Prefigures Christ’s once-for-all death Heb 9:7-14
33. Lev 16:27 Suffering outside the Camp Matt 27:33; Heb. 13:11-12
34. Lev 17:11 The Blood-the life of the flesh Matt 26:28; Mark 10:45
35. Lev 17:11 It is the blood that makes atonement Rom. 3:23-24; 1 John 1:7
36. Lev 23:36-37 The Drink-offering: “If any man thirst” John 7:37
37. Num 9:12 Not a bone of Him broken John 19:31-36
38. Num 21:9 The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted up John 3:14-18; 12:32
39. Num 24:17 Time: “I shall see him, but not now.” John 1:14; Gal 4:4
40. Deut 18:15 “This is of a truth that prophet” John 6:14
41. Deut 18:15-16 “Had you believed Moses, you would believe me.” John 5:45-47
42. Deut 18:18 Sent by the Father to speak His word John 8:28-29
43. Deut 18:19 Whoever will not hear must bear his sin Acts 3:22-23
44. Deut 21:23 Cursed is he that hangs on a tree Gal 3:10-13
45. Joshua 5:14-15 The Captain of our salvation Heb 2:10
46. Ruth 4:4-10 Christ, our kinsman, has redeemed us Eph 1:3-7
47. 1 Sam 2:35 A Faithful Priest Heb. 2:17; 3:1-3, 6; 7:24-25
48. 1 Sam 2:10 Shall be an anointed King to the Lord Matt 28:18; John 12:15
49. 2 Sam 7:12 David’s Seed Matt 1:1
50. 2 Sam 7:13 His Kingdom is everlasting 2 Pet 1:11
51. 2 Sam 7:14a The Son of God Luke 1:32; Rom 1:3-4
52. 2 Sam 7:16 David’s house established forever Luke 3:31; Rev 22:16
53. 2 Ki 2:11 The bodily ascension to heaven illustrated Luke 24:51
54. 1 Chr 17:11 David’s Seed Matt 1:1; 9:27
55. 1 Chr 17:12-13 To reign on David’s throne forever Luke 1:32-33
56. 1 Chr 17:13 “I will be His Father, He…my Son.” Heb 1:5
57. Job 9:32-33 Mediator between man and God 1 Tim 2:5
58. Job 19:23-27 The Resurrection predicted John 5:24-29
59. Psa 2:1-3 The enmity of kings foreordained Acts 4:25-28
60. Psa 2:2 To own the title, Anointed (Christ) John 1:41; Acts 2:36
61. Psa 2:6 His Character-Holiness John 8:46; Rev 3:7
62. Psa 2:6 To own the title King Matt 2:2
63. Psa 2:7 Declared the Beloved Son Matt 3:17; Rom 1:4
64. Psa 2:7-8 The Crucifixion and Resurrection intimated Acts 13:29-33
65. Psa 2:8-9 Rule the nations with a rod of iron Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15
66. Psa 2:12 Life comes through faith in Him John 20:31
67. Psa 8:2 The mouths of babes perfect His praise Matt 21:16
68. Psa 8:5-6 His humiliation and exaltation Heb 2:5-9
69. Psa 9:7-10 Judge the world in righteousness Acts 17:31
70. Psa 16:10 Was not to see corruption Acts 2:31; 13:35
71. Psa 16:9-11 Was to arise from the dead John 20:9
72. Psa 17:15 The resurrection predicted Luke 24:6
73. Psa 18:2-3 The horn of salvation Luke 1:69-71
74. Psa 22:1 Forsaken because of sins of others 2 Cor 5:21
75. Psa 22:1 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Matt 27:46
76. Psa 22:2 Darkness upon Calvary for three hours Matt 27:45
77. Psa 22:7 They shoot out the lip and shake the head Matt 27:39-44
78. Psa 22:8 “He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him” Matt 27:43
79. Psa 22:9-10 Born the Savior Luke 2:7
80. Psa 22:12-13 They seek His death John 19:6
81. Psa 22:14 His blood poured out when they pierced His side John 19:34
82. Psa 22:14-15 Suffered agony on Calvary Mark 15:34-37
83. Psa 22:15 He thirsted John 19:28
84. Psa 22:16 They pierced His hands and His feet John 19:34-37; 20:27
85. Psa 22:17-18 Stripped Him before the stares of men Luke 23:34-35
86. Psa 22:18 They parted His garments John 19:23-24
87. Psa 22:20-21 He committed Himself to God Luke 23:46
88. Psa 22:20-21 Satanic power bruising the Redeemer’s heel Heb 2:14
89. Psa 22:22 His Resurrection declared John 20:17
90. Psa 22:27-28 He shall be the governor of the nations Col 1:16
91. Psa 22:31 “It is finished” John 19:30; Heb 10:10-12, 14, 18
92. Psa 23:1 “I am the Good Shepherd” John 10:11; 1 Pet 2:25
93. Psa 24:3 His exaltation predicted Acts 1:11; Phil 2:9
94. Psa 30:3 His resurrection predicted Acts 2:32
95. Psa 31:5 “Into Your hands I commit my spirit” Luke 23:46
96. Psa 31:11 His acquaintances fled from Him Mark 14:50
97. Psa 31:13 They took counsel to put Him to death Matt 27:1; John 11:53
98. Psa 31:14-15 “He trusted in God, let Him deliver him” Matt 27:43
99. Psa 34:20 Not a bone of Him broken John 19:31-36
100. Psa 35:11 False witnesses rose up against Him Matt 26:59
101. Psa 35:19 He was hated without a cause John 15:25
102. Psa 38:11 His friends stood afar off Luke 23:49
103. Psa 38:12 Enemies try to entangle Him by craft Mark 14:1; Matt 22:15
104. Psa 38:12-13 Silent before His accusers Matt 27:12-14
105. Psa 38:20 He went about doing good Acts 10:38
106. Psa 40:2-5 The joy of His resurrection predicted John 20:20
107. Psa 40:6-8 His delight-the will of the Father John 4:34; Heb 10:5-10
108. Psa 40:9 He was to preach the Righteousness in Israel Matt 4:17
109. Psa 40:14 Confronted by adversaries in the Garden John 18:4-6
110. Psa 41:9 Betrayed by a familiar friend John 13:18
111. Psa 45:2 Words of Grace come from His lips John 1:17; Luke 4:22
112. Psa 45:6 To own the title, God or Elohim Heb 1:8
113. Psa 45:7 A special anointing by the Holy Spirit Matt 3:16; Heb. 1:9
114. Psa 45:7-8 Called the Christ (Messiah or Anointed) Luke 2:11
115. Psa 45:17 His name remembered forever Eph 1:20-21; Heb. 1:8
116. Psa 55:12-14 Betrayed by a friend, not an enemy John 13:18
117. Psa 55:15 Unrepentant death of the Betrayer Matt 27:3-5; Acts 1:16-19
118. Psa 68:18 To give gifts to men Eph 4:7-16
119. Psa 68:18 Ascended into Heaven Luke 24:51
120. Psa 69:4 Hated without a cause John 15:25
121. Psa 69:8 A stranger to own brethren John 1:11; 7:5
122. Psa 69:9 Zealous for the Lord’s House John 2:17
123. Psa 69:14-20 Messiah’s anguish of soul before crucifixion Matt 26:36-45
124. Psa 69:20 “My soul is exceeding sorrowful” Matt 26:38
125. Psa 69:21 Given vinegar in thirst Matt 27:34
126. Psa 69:26 The Savior given and smitten by God John 17:4; 18:11
127. Psa 72:10-11 Great persons were to visit Him Matt 2:1-11
128. Psa 72:16 The corn of wheat to fall into the Ground John 12:24-25
129. Psa 72:17 Belief on His name will produce offspring John 1:12-13
130. Psa 72:17 All nations shall be blessed by Him Gal 3:8
131. Psa 72:17 All nations shall call Him blessed John 12:13; Rev 5:8-12
132. Psa 78:1-2 He would teach in parables Matt 13:34-35
133. Psa 78:2b To speak the Wisdom of God with authority Matt 7:29
134. Psa 80:17 The Man of God’s right hand Mark 14:61-62
135. Psa 88 The Suffering and Reproach of Calvary Matt 27:26-50
136. Psa 88:8 They stood afar off and watched Luke 23:49
137. Psa 89:27 Firstborn Col 1:15-18
138. Psa 89:27 Emmanuel to be higher than earthly kings Luke 1:32-33
139. Psa 89:35-37 David’s Seed, throne, kingdom endure forever Luke 1:32-33
140. Psa 89:36-37 His character-Faithfulness Rev 1:5; 19:11
141. Psa 90:2 He is from everlasting (Micah 5:2) John 1:1
142. Psa 91:11-12 Identified as Messianic, used to tempt Christ Luke 4:10-11
143. Psa 97:9 His exaltation predicted Acts 1:11; Eph 1:20
144. Psa 100:5 His character-Goodness Matt 19:16-17
145. Psa 102:1-11 The Suffering and Reproach of Calvary John 19:16-30
146. Psa 102:25-27 Messiah is the Preexistent Son Heb 1:10-12
147. Psa 109:25 Ridiculed Matt 27:39
148. Psa 110:1 Son of David Matt 22:42-43
149. Psa 110:1 To ascend to the right-hand of the Father Mark 16:19
150. Psa 110:1 David’s son called Lord Matt 22:44-45
151. Psa 110:4 A priest after Melchizedek’s order Heb 6:20
152. Psa 112:4 His character-Compassionate, Gracious, et al Matt 9:36
153. Psa 118:17-18 Messiah’s Resurrection assured Luke 24:5-7; 1 Cor 15:20
154. Psa 118:22-23 The rejected stone is Head of the corner Matt 21:42-43
155. Psa 118:26a The Blessed One presented to Israel Matt 21:9
156. Psa 118:26b To come while Temple standing Matt 21:12-15
157. Psa 132:11 The Seed of David (the fruit of His Body) Luke 1:32; Act 2:30
158. Psa 129:3 He was scourged Matt 27:26
159. Psa 138:1-6 The supremacy of David’s Seed amazes kings Matt 2:2-6
160. Psa 147:3-6 The earthly ministry of Christ described Luke 4:18
161. Prov 1:23 He will send the Spirit of God John 16:7
162. Prov 8:23 Foreordained from everlasting Rev 13:8; 1 Pet 1:19-20
163. Song 5:16 The altogether lovely One John 1:17
164. Isa 2:3 He shall teach all nations John 4:25
165. Isa 2:4 He shall judge among the nations John 5:22
166. Isa 6:1 When Isaiah saw His glory John 12:40-41
167. Isa 6:8 The One Sent by God John 12:38-45
168. Isa 6:9-10 Parables fall on deaf ears Matt 13:13-15
169. Isa 6:9-12 Blinded to Christ and deaf to His words Acts 28:23-29
170. Isa 7:14 To be born of a virgin Luke 1:35
171. Isa 7:14 To be Emmanuel-God with us Matt 1:18-23; 1 Tim 3:16
172. Isa 8:8 Called Emmanuel Matt 28:20
173. Isa 8:14 A stone of stumbling, a Rock of offense 1 Pet 2:8
174. Isa 9:1-2 His ministry to begin in Galilee Matt 4:12-17
175. Isa 9:6 A child born-Humanity Luke 1:31
176. Isa 9:6 A Son given-Deity Luke 1:32; John 1:14; 1 Tim 3:16
177. Isa 9:6 Declared to be the Son of God with power Rom 1:3-4
178. Isa 9:6 The Wonderful One, Peleh Luke 4:22
179. Isa 9:6 The Counselor, Yaatz Matt 13:54
180. Isa 9:6 The Mighty God, El Gibor 1 Cor 1:24; Titus 2:3
181. Isa 9:6 The Everlasting Father, Avi Adth John 8:58; 10:30
182. Isa 9:6 The Prince of Peace, Sar Shalom John 16:33
183. Isa 9:7 To establish an everlasting kingdom Luke 1:32-33
184. Isa 9:7 His Character-Just John 5:30
185. Isa 9:7 No end to his Government, Throne, and Peace Luke 1:32-33
186. Isa 11:1 Called a Nazarene-the Branch, Netzer Matt 2:23
187. Isa 11:1 A rod out of Jesse-Son of Jesse Luke 3:23-32
188. Isa 11:2 Anointed One by the Spirit Matt 3:16-17; Acts 10:38
189. Isa 11:2 His Character-Wisdom, Knowledge, et al Col 2:3
190. Isa 11:3 He would know their thoughts Luke 6:8; John 2:25
191. Isa 11:4 Judge in righteousness Acts 17:31
192. Isa 11:4 Judges with the sword of His mouth Rev 2:16; 19:11, 15
193. Isa 11:5 Character: Righteous & Faithful Rev 19:11
194. Isa 11:10 The Gentiles seek Him John 12:18-21
195. Isa 12:2 Called Jesus-Yeshua Matt 1:21
196. Isa 22:22 The One given all authority to govern Rev 3:7
197. Isa 25:8 The Resurrection predicted 1 Cor 15:54
198. Isa 26:19 His power of Resurrection predicted Matt 27:50-54
199. Isa 28:16 The Messiah is the precious corner stone Acts 4:11-12
200. Isa 28:16 The Sure Foundation 1 Cor 3:11; Matt 16:18
201. Isa 29:13 He indicated hypocritical obedience to His Word Matt 15:7-9
202. Isa 29:14 The wise are confounded by the Word 1 Cor 1:18-31
203. Isa 32:2 A Refuge-A man shall be a hiding place Matt 23:37
204. Isa 35:4 He will come and save you Matt 1:21
205. Isa 35:5-6 To have a ministry of miracles Matt 11:2-6
206. Isa 40:3-4 Preceded by forerunner John 1:23
207. Isa 40:9 “Behold your God” John 1:36; 19:14
208. Isa 40:10 He will come to reward Rev 22:12
209. Isa 40:11 A shepherd-compassionate life-giver John 10:10-18
210. Isa 42:1-4 The Servant-as a faithful, patient redeemer Matt 12:18-21
211. Isa 42:2 Meek and lowly Matt 11:28-30
212. Isa 42:3 He brings hope for the hopeless John 4
213. Isa 42:4 The nations shall wait on His teachings John 12:20-26
214. Isa 42:6 The Light (salvation) of the Gentiles Luke 2:32
215. Isa 42:1-6 His is a worldwide compassion Matt 28:19-20
216. Isa 42:7 Blind eyes opened John 9:25-38
217. Isa 43:11 He is the only Savior Acts 4:12
218. Isa 44:3 He will send the Spirit of God John 16:7-13
219. Isa 45:21-25 He is Lord and Savior Phil 3:20; Titus 2:13
220. Isa 45:23 He will be the Judge John 5:22; Rom 14:11
221. Isa 46:9-10 Declares things not yet done John 13:19
222. Isa 48:12 The First and the Last John 1:30; Rev 1:8, 17
223. Isa 48:16-17 He came as a Teacher John 3:2
224. Isa 49:1 Called from the womb-His humanity Matt 1:18
225. Isa 49:5 A Servant from the womb Luke 1:31; Phil 2:7
226. Isa 49:6 He will restore Israel Acts 3:19-21; 15:16-17
227. Isa 49:6 He is Salvation for Israel Luke 2:29-32
228. Isa 49:6 He is the Light of the Gentiles John 8:12; Acts 13:47
229. Isa 49:6 He is Salvation unto the ends of the earth Acts 15:7-18
230. Isa 49:7 He is despised of the Nation John 1:11; 8:48-49; 19:14-15
231. Isa 50:3 Heaven is clothed in black at His humiliation Luke 23:44-45
232. Isa 50:4 He is a learned counselor for the weary Matt 7:29; 11:28-29
233. Isa 50:5 The Servant bound willingly to obedience Matt 26:39
234. Isa 50:6a “I gave my back to those who struck Me” Matt 27:26
235. Isa 50:6b He was smitten on the cheeks Matt 26:67
236. Isa 50:6c He was spat upon Matt 27:30
237. Isa 52:7 Published good tidings upon mountains Matt 5:12; 15:29; 28:16
238. Isa 52:13 The Servant exalted Acts 1:8-11; Eph 1:19-22; Phil 2:5-9
239. Isa 52:14 The Servant shockingly abused Luke 18:31-34; Matt 26:67-68
240. Isa 52:15 Nations startled by message of the Servant Luke 18:31-34; Matt 26:67-68
241. Isa 52:15 His blood shed sprinkles nations Heb 9:13-14; Rev 1:5
242. Isa 53:1 His people would not believe Him John 12:37-38
243. Isa 53:2 Appearance of an ordinary man Phil 2:6-8
244. Isa 53:3a Despised Luke 4:28-29
245. Isa 53:3b Rejected Matt 27:21-23
246. Isa 53:3c Great sorrow and grief Matt 26:37-38; Luke 19:41; Heb 4:15
247. Isa 53:3d Men hide from being associated with Him Mark 14:50-52
248. Isa 53:4a He would have a healing ministry Matt 8:16-17
249. Isa 53:4b Thought to be cursed by God Matt 26:66; 27:41-43
250. Isa 53:5a Bears penalty for mankind’s iniquities 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 2:9
251. Isa 53:5b His sacrifice provides peace between man and God Col 1:20
252. Isa 53:5c His sacrifice would heal man of sin 1 Pet 2:24
253. Isa 53:6a He would be the sin-bearer for all mankind 1 John 2:2; 4:10
254. Isa 53:6b God’s will that He bear sin for all mankind Gal 1:4
255. Isa 53:7a Oppressed and afflicted Matt 27:27-31
256. Isa 53:7b Silent before his accusers Matt 27:12-14
257. Isa 53:7c Sacrificial lamb John 1:29; 1 Pet 1:18-19
258. Isa 53:8a Confined and persecuted Matt 26:47-27:31
259. Isa 53:8b He would be judged John 18:13-22
260. Isa 53:8c Killed Matt 27:35
261. Isa 53:8d Dies for the sins of the world 1 John 2:2
262. Isa 53:9a Buried in a rich man’s grave Matt 27:57
263. Isa 53:9b Innocent and had done no violence Luke 23:41; John 18:38
264. Isa 53:9c No deceit in his mouth 1 Pet 2:22
265. Isa 53:10a God’s will that He die for mankind John 18:11
266. Isa 53:10b An offering for sin Matt 20:28; Gal 3:13
267. Isa 53:10c Resurrected and live forever Rom 6:9
268. Isa 53:10d He would prosper John 17:1-5
269. Isa 53:11a God fully satisfied with His suffering John 12:27
270. Isa 53:11b God’s servant would justify man Rom 5:8-9, 18-19
271. Isa 53:11c The sin-bearer for all mankind Heb 9:28
272. Isa 53:12a Exalted by God because of his sacrifice Matt 28:18
273. Isa 53:12b He would give up his life to save mankind Luke 23:46
274. Isa 53:12c Numbered with the transgressors Mark 15:27-28
275. Isa 53:12d Sin-bearer for all mankind 1 Pet 2:24
276. Isa 53:12e Intercede to God in behalf of mankind Luke 23:34; Rom 8:34
277. Isa 55:3 Resurrected by God Acts 13:34
278. Isa 55:4a A witness John 18:37
279. Isa 55:4b He is a leader and commander Heb 2:10
280. Isa 55:5 God would glorify Him Acts 3:13
281. Isa 59:16a Intercessor between man and God Matt 10:32
282. Isa 59:16b He would come to provide salvation John 6:40
283. Isa 59:20 He would come to Zion as their Redeemer Luke 2:38
284. Isa 60:1-3 He would show light to the Gentiles Acts 26:23
285. Isa 61:1a The Spirit of God upon him Matt 3:16-17
286. Isa 61:1b The Messiah would preach the good news Luke 4:16-21
287. Isa 61:1c Provide freedom from the bondage of sin John 8:31-36
288. Isa 61:1-2a Proclaim a period of grace Gal 4:4-5
289. Jer 23:5-6 Descendant of David Luke 3:23-31
290. Jer 23:5-6 The Messiah would be both God and Man John 13:13; 1 Tim 3:16
291. Jer 31:22 Born of a virgin Matt 1:18-20
292. Jer 31:31 The Messiah would be the new covenant Matt 26:28
293. Jer 33:14-15 Descendant of David Luke 3:23-31
294. Ezek 34:23-24 Descendant of David Matt 1:1
295. Ezek 37:24-25 Descendant of David Luke 1:31-33
296. Dan 2:44-45 The Stone that shall break the kingdoms Matt 21:44
297. Dan 7:13-14a He would ascend into heaven Acts 1:9-11
298. Dan 7:13-14b Highly exalted Eph 1:20-22
299. Dan 7:13-14c His dominion would be everlasting Luke 1:31-33
300. Dan 9:24a To make an end to sins Gal 1:3-5
301. Dan 9:24a To make reconciliation for iniquity Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18-21
302. Dan 9:24b He would be holy Luke 1:35
303. Dan 9:25 His announcement John 12:12-13
304. Dan 9:26a Cut off Matt 16:21; 21:38-39
305. Dan 9:26b Die for the sins of the world Heb 2:9
306. Dan 9:26c Killed before the destruction of the temple Matt 27:50-51
307. Dan 10:5-6 Messiah in a glorified state Rev 1:13-16
308. Hos 11:1 He would be called out of Egypt Matt 2:15
309. Hos 13:14 He would defeat death 1 Cor 15:55-57
310. Joel 2:32 Offer salvation to all mankind Rom 10:9-13
311. Jonah 1:17 Death and resurrection of Christ Matt 12:40; 16:4
312. Mic 5:2a Born in Bethlehem Matt 2:1-6
313. Mic 5:2b Ruler in Israel Luke 1:33
314. Mic 5:2c From everlasting John 8:58
315. Hag 2:6-9 He would visit the second Temple Luke 2:27-32
316. Hag 2:23 Descendant of Zerubbabel Luke 2:27-32
317. Zech 3:8 God’s servant John 17:4
318. Zech 6:12-13 Priest and King Heb 8:1
319. Zech 9:9a Greeted with rejoicing in Jerusalem Matt 21:8-10
320. Zech 9:9b Beheld as King John 12:12-13
321. Zech 9:9c The Messiah would be just John 5:30
322. Zech 9:9d The Messiah would bring salvation Luke 19:10
323. Zech 9:9e The Messiah would be humble Matt 11:29
324. Zech 9:9f Presented to Jerusalem riding on a donkey Matt 21:6-9
325. Zech 10:4 The cornerstone Eph 2:20
326. Zech 11:4-6a At His coming, Israel to have unfit leaders Matt 23:1-4
327. Zech 11:4-6b Rejection causes God to remove His protection Luke 19:41-44
328. Zech 11:4-6c Rejected in favor of another king John 19:13-15
329. Zech 11:7 Ministry to “poor,” the believing remnant Matt 9:35-36
330. Zech 11:8a Unbelief forces Messiah to reject them Matt 23:33
331. Zech 11:8b Despised Matt 27:20
332. Zech 11:9 Stops ministering to those who rejected Him Matt 13:10-11
333. Zech 11:10-11a Rejection causes God to remove protection Luke 19:41-44
334. Zech 11:10-11b The Messiah would be God John 14:7
335. Zech 11:12-13a Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver Matt 26:14-15
336. Zech 11:12-13b Rejected Matt 26:14-15
337. Zech 11:12-13c Thirty pieces of silver cast in the house of the Lord Matt 27:3-5
338. Zech 11:12-13d The Messiah would be God John 12:45
339. Zech 12:10a The Messiah’s body would be pierced John 19:34-37
340. Zech 12:10b The Messiah would be both God and man John 10:30
341. Zech 12:10c The Messiah would be rejected John 1:11
342. Zech 13:7a God’s will He die for mankind John 18:11
343. Zech 13:7b A violent death Mark 14:27
344. Zech 13:7c Both God and man John 14:9
345. Zech 13:7d Israel scattered as a result of rejecting Him Matt 26:31-56
346. Zech 14:4 He would return to the Mt. of Olives Acts 1:11-12
347. Mal 3:1a Messenger to prepare the way for Messiah Mark 1:1-8
348. Mal 3:1b Sudden appearance at the temple Mark 11:15-16
349. Mal 3:1c Messenger of the new covenant Luke 4:43
350. Mal 4:5 Forerunner in spirit of Elijah Matt 3:1-3; 11:10-14; 17:11-13
351. Mal 4:6 Forerunner would turn many to righteousness Luke 1:16-17

We serve the greater Anchorage area, Eagle River, Palmer, and JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf / Richardson)

The Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ
http://www.ccg.org/english/s/p243.html#
The question of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ is actually divided into two issues. One is the question of a pre-existence as and with God before the beginning of all creation. In other words, the contention is that he was pre-existent before the spiritual creation. The other aspect is that of Christ being pre-existent as a spiritual being before he became human as the Incarnation. This paper deals with the proposition that he was pre-existent before the physical creation but was not the one true God.


The Bible is clear that there was only one True God and that He sent Jesus Christ (Jn. 17:3). The Bible also declares that no man has ever seen Him or ever can see Him, and He dwells in unapproachable light. He alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16) (see the paper On Immortality (No. 165)). This aspect is further examined below. In this respect, Christ is not pre-existent in the same way God existed. God was alone in His abiding perpetuity. Nevertheless, the Bible is equally specific that Christ had pre-existence as a spiritual being before the foundation of the earth.


The apostle John wrote of Christ and declared, in narrative form, his pre-existence. John 1:1 is rendered by Trinitarians as:


John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (KJV)


We know this to be an incorrect translation from the Peshitta and the way in which the ancient texts were used. The Peshitta shows that to be so, even through Lamsa s translation, which in trying to conform to the Trinitarian position renders the text as:


The Word was in the beginning, and that very Word was with God; and God was that Word.


This shows the different word structure of the last clause. The Concordant Literal New Testament shows the actual literal meaning of the words and their structure from the Greek. The actual words are in bold; the words supplied for the English text are in normal type.


In the beginning was the word and the word was toward God, and God was the word. This was in the beginning toward God.


The text speaks of the relationship and orientation of devotion of Jesus Christ towards God. This text continues in John 1:2.


All came into being through it, and apart from it not even one thing came into being which has come into being


Thus, the first text here speaks of the logos as the word. In biblical times they called it the Memra; logos being a Greek term and memra being the Hebrew term for the word of God, as it was understood from the Old Testament.


Radical Unitarians, i.e. those who deny the pre-existence of Christ beyond Mariam (or Mary) claim that this was not Christ but a notional form of the power of God as His divine utterance.


John chapter 1 however, explains this view in greater detail, which would preclude this interpretation.


John speaks of John the Baptist (quoting again from the Concordant Literal New Testament text) from John 1:6-14.


There came to be a man commissioned by God His name was John. This one came for a testimony, that he should be testifying concerning the light, that all should be believing through it. Not he  was the light, but he came that he should be testifying concerning the light. It was the true light - which is enlightening every man - coming into the world.


In the world, He was, and the world came into being through Him, and the world knew Him not. To his own He came, and those who are His own accepted Him not. Yet whoever obtained Him, to them he gives the right to become children of God, to those who are believing in His name, who were begotten, not of bloods, neither of the will of the flesh, neither of the will of a man, but of God.


And the Word became flesh and tabernacles among us, and we gaze at His glory, a glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.


The logos became flesh and tabernacled among us. We will examine this below.


There is no indefinite article (i.e. a) in the Greek and it must be deduced and applied. This is the problem in the text in John 1:1. Many translators consider it should apply in John 1:1 and translate it and the word was a God. This view has merit as we will see from John 1:18 and other texts. In any case, John 1:1 is incorrect as we see it normally. The correct translation even if the word order is preserved involves the concept of towards and not with as is taught by Trinitarians.





Jesus made it clear that the Old Testament predicted His coming. He said to the religious leaders of His day.



You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me (John 5:39).



The Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled include the following.



1. The Family Line Was Predicted



Jesus fulfilled a number of predictions that have to do with the Messiah's genealogy, or family line. God narrowed down the family line of the Messiah in such a way that eliminated most people who have ever been born.



Prediction: He Will Come From The Family Of Shem



He [Noah] also said, "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. "May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant" (Genesis 9:26,27).



Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth. God eliminated one third of humanity when He said the Messiah would come through the line of Shem.



The Fulfillment Recorded



Luke records the fulfillment.



The son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech (Luke 3:36).



Luke lists the genealogy of Jesus in which he records Jesus was a descendant of Shem.



Prediction: The Christ Will Be A Descendant Of Abraham



Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3).



Now God eliminates all the families of the earth but one-the family of Abraham. Whoever claims to be the Messiah has to be a descendant of Abraham for God told Abraham that one of his descendants will bless all the earth.



The Fulfillment Recorded



The fulfillment is recorded in Matthew.



The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1).



The Testimony Of Paul



The Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, emphasized that God specified one from Abraham's line would be the Christ.



Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to the seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your seed,' who is Christ' (Galatians 3:16).



The Apostle Paul says that God uses the singular rather than the plural to emphasize it will be one particular descendant of Abraham who will bless the world.



Prediction: He Will Be a Descendant Of Isaac



Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. God promised Isaac that the Messiah would be through his family line.



Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. And I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 26:3,4).



The Fulfillment Recorded



Matthew records the fulfillment.



The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Abraham begot Isaac (Matthew 1:1,2).



Jesus was from Isaac's line.



Prediction: The Messiah Will Come From The Family Of Jacob



God also said to him [Jacob], "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you. And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you" (Genesis 35:11,12).



Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Scripture says that the chosen line was through Jacob. This continues to narrow the possible candidates for the Messiah.



The Fulfillment Recorded



Matthew records how this was fulfilled.



The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Isaac begot Jacob (Matthew 1:1,2).



Jesus was also from the line of Jacob.



Prediction: He Will Come From Tribe Of Judah



Jacob had twelve sons. God eliminated 11/12 of the line of Jacob by saying the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah.



The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples (Genesis 49:10).



The Fulfillment Recorded



Jesus descended from the line of Judah.



The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Jacob begot Judah and his brothers . . . and to Judah were born Perez and Zerah by Tamar; and to Perez (Matthew 1:1-3).



Prediction: The Messiah Will Be From Family Line Of Jesse



There were many family lines in the tribe of Judah, but only through the family line of Jesse could the Messiah come. He is the Branch that will bear fruit.



Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1)



The Fulfillment Recorded



Matthew records how this was fulfilled.



The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Obed begot Jesse (Matthew 1:1,5).



Prediction: He Will Descend From The House Of David



God told David the Messiah would be from His line:



When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12).



Jesse had at least eight sons. God eliminated 7/8 of the sons of Jesse when He said the Messiah would be through the line of David. Again, the list of potential candidates gets narrower and narrower.



The Fulfillment Recorded



The very first verse of the New Testament records the fulfillment of this prophecy.



The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1).



When the angel appeared to Mary announcing Jesus' birth he confirmed that Mary's child would be a descendant of David.



You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:31,32).



Fulfilled By Jesus



Consequently whoever the promised Messiah would be, He would have to be a physical descendant of David the king. All other individuals would not qualify. Therefore, from the predictions with respect to the genealogy of the Messiah, the great majority of the people who have ever been born are eliminated from contention. Jesus, however, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the family line of the Messiah being a descendant of David.



2. The Place Of His Coming Predicted



In addition, the exact place of His birth was predicted.



Prediction: He Will Born In Bethlehem



God predicted, through the prophet Micah, the exact city where the Messiah would be born:



But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2).



Every city in the world was eliminated but one-Bethlehem. Thus if someone was a descendant of King David, yet was born in any other city than Bethlehem, he would not qualify as the promised Messiah.



The Fulfillment Recorded



Matthew records this fulfillment.



Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1).



Jesus was not only born in the right family, He was also born at the right place.



3. The Time Of His Coming Predicted



Finally, we have the prediction with respect to the time in history of the Messiah's coming.



Prediction: He Will Be Killed Before The Temple And The City Of Jerusalem Are Destroyed



The Scripture predicted the death of the Messiah.



The Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Daniel 9:26).



We learn three things from this verse:



The Messiah will come on the scene of history.

He will be killed.

After His death, the city of Jerusalem and temple will be destroyed.

The Fulfillment Recorded



When Jesus came to the earth, the temple had not yet been destroyed. Teaching at the temple was an important part of Jesus' ministry. The temple was destroyed in the year A.D. 70, forty years after His death and resurrection.



Therefore, Jesus fulfilled certain prophecies about the coming Messiah.



He was born in the right family line-David's.

He was born at the right place-Bethlehem.

He was born at the right time in history-before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed

Two Important Points Need To Be Noted



These three areas of prophecy we have looked at reveal two startling things:



First, the prophecies were fulfilled literally-exactly as they were written. Jesus was literally a descendant of King David, He was literally born in the city of Bethlehem, and He literally came upon the scene of history and was killed before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.



No Human Manipulation



Second, these three lines of prophecy were all fulfilled without any human manipulation or fulfillment. There is no way Jesus could have deliberately fulfilled them, seeing they were all fulfilled by His birth. Before He gave any sermons, before He did anything miraculous, Jesus supernaturally fulfilled these prophecies. He was born in the right family, at the right place, and at the right time in history. Humanly speaking, there is no way Jesus could control these factors.



Summary



After looking at only three lines of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled at His first coming we can make the following observations. Jesus told the religious leaders to search the Scriptures and discover where they spoke about Him. The coming Messiah was to be born in one particular family. This would be through Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. The New Testament is clear that Jesus was a descendant of David. The Old Testament prophet Micah predicted the Messiah would be born in the small town of Bethlehem. Matthew tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Daniel the prophet said the Messiah would come before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed at that He would also be killed. Jesus came upon the scene of history before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He was crucified about forty years before they were destroyed. The prophecies that Jesus fulfilled were fulfilled literally. He was a literal descendant of David, literally born in Bethlehem, and literally died before the city and temple were destroyed. These three lines of prophecy were fulfilled by Jesus' birth. There is no way, humanly speaking, that He could have deliberately fulfilled them. The coming of the Messiah was predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and, in doing so, has the right to claim to be the promised Messiah.



Return to Don Stewart FAQ List

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.





The use here of capitals for Him etc. are A E Knoch s additions as the uncials were all capitals and so no such distinction is really possible. The text is retained as he translated it.


The Radical Unitarians attempt to place this text as an example of the notional power of God becoming flesh rather than a being becoming flesh. This is the heart of their error.


John the Baptist spoke of Jesus Christ as being before him. There is another alteration to the ancient texts in the Greek Receptus or Received Text of the Reformation, and hence the KJV, as we see from this next section.


John 1:15-18 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (KJV)


John clearly says Christ was before him. Yet John we know was six months older than Christ and it was physically impossible for Christ to have been before him. Thus, John speaks of a pre-existence. This pre-existence was as a god, an elohim, or theoi, as we know from the ancient texts and was altered in the Receptus. The Concordant Literal renders the texts as:


John is testifying concerning Him and has cried, saying, "This was He of Whom I said,  He Who is coming after me, has come to be in front of me,  for He was first before me." for of that which fills him we all obtained, and grace for grace. For the law through Moses was given; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. God no one has ever seen. The only-begotten God, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He unfolds Him.


The text here shows the structure of the text regarding John saying Christ was before him. The text in John 1:18 is actually monogenes theos meaning only born God and this is demonstrated from Marshall s Greek English Interlinear. (It is also seen from the Aramaic of the Peshitta). Dr Hort has written a learned treatise on the occurrence of this term monogenes theos (On Monogenes Theos in Scripture and Tradition; cf. also the paper On Immortality (No. 165)). There is ample evidence that the term is correct. It is simply ignored by mainstream Christianity and the Binitarians who seek to deny the implications of the text.


Ephesians 3:9 might be used to argue pre-existence.


Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (KJV, emphasis added)


However, the words by Jesus Christ do not exist in the ancient texts and are a later insertion in the KJV from the Receptus and do not appear in other Bibles (see the note to v. 9 in the Companion Bible).


Hebrews 1:1 in the KJV makes note of the creation of the world by Christ also.


Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (KJV, emphasis added)


In like fashion, this text has also been mistranslated because the word is aion and means age not the worlds as the English of the KJV tries to imply (cf. Companion Bible note to v. 2). Christ was made a little lower than the angels, but it was not always so. Hebrews 2:17 shows he was made like his brethren so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest.


The Messiah declared his pre-existence also in a number of texts.


In John 5:37 we see that the Father sent Christ and Christ declares that no man has seen God or heard His voice at any time. So, the two witnesses of John declare that no one has seen God, yet the term elohim is used of the being that spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets of the Old Testament. If this being was not the one true God, who was it?


We will see that it could only have been Christ, but it was called consistently and clearly throughout the Old Testament the Angel of Yahovah and we will find evidence in the New Testament of this terminology also.


There is another aspect of being sent that needs examination.


John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; (KJV)


Here the term come from God is argued as being simply that of being begotten as a zygote in Mariam s womb by Radical Unitarians. Conversely, Binitarians argue it as a form of separation from the one true God. This view entered the Christian Church originally as Modalism, coming from the heathen worship of the god Attis. The adherents of the worship of Attis originally held the aspects of Father and Son to be functions of the one God. This doctrine was adopted as Modalism in Rome but it was biblically incoherent and had to be adapted to become Binitarianism from the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and then Trinitarianism in 381 CE from Constantinople. By the third and fourth century the priests of Attis in Rome were complaining that Christianity had stolen its doctrines (cf. the paper The Origins of Christmas and Easter (No. 235)).


John 12:44 shows Christ was sent by God.


John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. (KJV)


This implies a dispatch. Radical Unitarians say it was in a notional sense from the womb. Others vary the relationship trying to accommodate the notion of one true God yet maintain the obvious problematic notion of two beings, one subordinate to the other. However, John 3:17 shows he was sent into the world by the Father thus demonstrating pre-existence.


John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV)


The notion here of sent needs to be examined in the Greek. The word is SGD 649 apostello meaning to set apart or send out on a mission. The concept of dispatch is also involved and is the sense in the Concordant Literal New Testament. The word SGD 3992 pempo is also involved in the texts meaning to dispatch. The concept from the usage and forms conveys the concept to dispatch by orderly motion on a temporary errand.


This is the concept conveyed in the forms used concerning the actions of God in the human field. Christ s incarnation was a temporary errand for God in the ongoing plan of salvation.


There are, however, a number of important texts, which declare the pre-existence of Christ and explain the relationship. A major example is Philippians 2:5-7. It is obscured badly in the KJV for Trinitarian reasons but the RSV appears to be a more honest translation.


Philippians 2:5-10 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (RSV)


The text has express meaning for the text in Hebrews. This is a clear statement that Christ was in the form or morphe of God but did not think equality with God was a thing to be grasped at, or seized by force, as Satan had tried to do (cf. Isa. 14:12-14 and Ezek. 28:6-15). He then humbled (or emptied) himself, became a human, and suffered death on the stake or cross (see the paper The Cross: Its Origin and Significance (No. 39)). This text is a clear statement of the pre-existence of Christ. Another clear text is John 17:5.


John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (KJV)


Thus, Christ claimed pre-existence in glory before the world came into being. Thus, he claimed a pre-existence at least equivalent to the sons of God present at the creation, as we see from Job 38:4-7.


Job 38:4-7 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (KJV)


We know Satan is the Light bearer or Morning Star of the planet and we know Christ is to succeed him as Morning Star. The texts indicate he claims pre-existence on a level with these beings (cf. the paper Lucifer: Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223)).


Christ also said: I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven (Lk. 10:18). Now he either did, or he did not, see him fall. He had not ascended to heaven at that time because he was not yet dead, let alone arisen. Isaiah and Ezekiel record the fall in their work. Thus if Christ did not have pre-existence he could not have seen this fall. It might be argued that it occurred from the trial in the desert but the OT texts regarding the fall itself are in the past tense (cf. Isa. 14:12). This would rank as fanciful imagination if Christ had no pre-existence. The concept that this is related to the King of Babylon as a human, as some modern apologists are advancing, trivialises the power of prophecy.


Christ is also identified as Lord of the Sabbath. The thrust of this text is that he gave us the Law.


Matthew 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. (KJV)


From these texts, we see the implications of pre-existence and a knowledge of the Father.


Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (KJV)


This knowledge also implies pre-existence as we see also from John 17:24.


Christ is identified in the New Testament on a level with the Morning Stars of the angelic Host as we see from Acts. In Acts 7, we see that it was an Angel of the Lord that spoke with Moses and it was this Angel of the Lord that was with Moses in the wilderness (Acts 7:30, 35-39).


In this text, Stephen identifies Christ as the Angel of the Lord at Sinai and with the church in the wilderness.


The concept of God s right hand in Exodus 15:6 is that Christ as he acted, is the Old Testament Angel of Yahovah. We see that Christ sits on God s right hand.


The Septuagint of Isaiah 9:6 clearly states he was the Angel of Great Counsel and the New Testament applies this text to Christ.


Paul claims he was received as an angel of God even as Christ Jesus (Gal. 4:14).


Paul clearly states that Christ was in the wilderness with Israel in the Exodus.


1Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (KJV)


To suggest that Christ was there only as a notion in the mind of God, whom no one saw anyway, trivialises the use of language and metaphor in the Bible.


Job 33:23-26 refers to the Angel of the One Thousand who ransoms men from the pit.


Job 33:23-26 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. (KJV)


Once again, the KJV has been altered in this sense as it is only Christ who is mediator and ransom. The RSV is more consistent.


Job 33:23-26 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him; 24 and he is gracious to him, and says, `Deliver him from going down into the Pit, I have found a ransom; 25 let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor'; 26 then man prays to God, and he accepts him, he comes into his presence with joy. He recounts to men his salvation, (RSV)


Genesis 48:15-16 also shows the elohim or God of Jacob was the Angel of Redemption.


Genesis 48:15-16 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. (KJV)


The function of Redemption is the prerogative of Christ. Messiah is the certain candidate for this function. Messiah would thus pre-exist as the Angel of Redemption and the elohim of Jacob or Israel (cf. Ps. 45:6-7 and Heb. 1:8-9). Whoever this elohim was it was not Eloah.


In Genesis 7:16, we see that the elohim commanded Moses. Also Yahovah shut Noah and his family in the ark. It was Yahovah elohim that spoke with Adam in Genesis 3:8.


Deuteronomy 32:8-9 shows that Israel was allotted by the Most High God to Yahovah as his portion. This text was altered by rabbinical Judaism in the Masoretic Text some time after the first century. The alteration is seen in the KJV which reads:


Deuteronomy 32:8-9 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. (KJV)


The Septuagint (LXX), Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) and the First Epistle of Clement show that it was originally according to the sons of God, rendered angels of God in the Greek. The RSV renders the text on the ancient manuscripts as:


Deuteronomy 32:8-9 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of men, he fixed the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 9 For the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. (RSV)


The Lord here from the Hebrew is Yahovah and he was allotted Israel as his portion by the Most High God.


We have thus established beyond doubt that the New Testament holds from the words of Christ and the apostles from John the Baptist onwards that Christ was pre-existent. In fact, he said (Jn. 8:58) before Abraham was I Am. This was a declaration of his pre-existence. It was also taken to be a declaration of his divinity. Was he God or was he an angel or was he both? The answer is that he was both as we shall see. If he was both, how is that possible?


As we will see the problem lies in the English and not in the Hebrew. English has only one word for God. Hebrew has a number of names. The problem also lies in the theology of the Trinitarians, which comes from ancient heathen theology. Also the word angel is simply a word meaning messenger. He was a son of God of which there were many who were organised under Morning Stars (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4-7).


Moreover, we know that some texts are simple forgeries by the Trinitarians. Examples are 1Timothy 3:16; 1John 5:7; and also the additions to the early Alpha and Omega texts in the book of Revelation (cf. the paper Arche of the Creation of God as Alpha and Omega (No. 229) and the notes to the texts in the Companion Bible).


We know from the Old Testament that the God Most High was the one true God. He was called Yahovah of Hosts. He was known as Eloah. Thus, Eloah was the singular name for God in the Hebrew which had no plurality whatsoever. We know that Eloah, as singular one true God, was the object of worship in the Temple. From Job 33:26 we see Eloah was the object of prayer.


This distinction was seen as being very important in the days of the last restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah. The Book of Ezra is at pains to show the function and place of the God of the Bible. The name of the one true God is Eloah and this was the name by which he was known when the Pentateuch was written as Eloah occurs on multiple occasions in the book of Job. Job was seemingly written by Moses as perhaps one of the first books of the Bible.


Proverbs shows that the name of the one true God is Eloah from Proverbs 30:4-5. It asks a rhetorical question about the name and makes the son distinct from this being in the same text. The name Eloah is supplied in the next verse.


Ezra shows Eloah is the God of the Temple. From Ezra 4:23 to Ezra 7:26 we are shown the function and the relationship of God to His Temple. The Temple is the House of Eloah and not of Elohim. The elohim ARE the house of Eloah and this is the purpose and symbolic representation of the Temple (cf. 1Cor. 3:17). The prophets prophesied in the name of the Eloah of Israel (Ezra 5:1). Zerubbabel rose and built the House of Eloah with the prophets of Eloah helping him (Ezra 5:2). He is the great Eloah (Ezra 5:8). He is the Eloah of heaven and earth and we are his servants (Ezra 5:11). Our fathers provoked the Eloah of heaven to wrath (Ezra 5:12).


The vessels are those of the House of Eloah (Ezra 5:14), which is in Jerusalem (Ezra 5:15, 17; 6:3). The vessels of Solomon s Temple were also those of Eloah and they were taken by Nebuchadnezzar and restored to the Second Temple (Ezra 6:5) which was built in its place (Ezra 6:7). The burnt offerings were made to the Eloah of heaven by His priests (Ezra 6:9-10). Eloah has caused His name to dwell there (Ezra 6:12). From Ezra 6:13-22 we see that the House of Eloah was built to Him. The feast of Unleavened Bread was kept there to Him and the priests were set in their division to serve Him as it was written in the book of Moses (Ezra 6:18). They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month (Ezra 6:19). The Law is the Law of Eloah (Ezra 7:14) and Ezra was a scribe of the Law of Eloah (Ezra 7:12). The offerings and requests are also made to Eloah (Ezra 7:14-16).


It is His will, the Will of Eloah that prevails (Ezra 7:18) as Eloah of heaven (Ezra 7:21). It is the Eloah of heaven who commands (Ezra 7:23). The magistrates are set in his name and judge according to His laws and those who do not obey let judgment be speedily executed on them (Ezra 7:25-26).


For this reason those who act in his name as his judges, spiritual or physical, are called elohim because they are plural as a group acting under the will of Eloah. It is written: Thou shalt not revile the gods [elohim] or the ruler of thy people (Ex. 22:28).


These texts show us the relationship between Eloah and His elohim. He is Father and they are all His sons (Job 1:6; 2:1) including Satan. It was because of this law that Michael would not make a railing accusation against Satan when struggling for the body of Moses but said: May the Lord rebuke you (cf. Jude 9)


The terms father and sons are predicated upon a relationship where one group springs from the other, which is singular in its relationship. This fact was understood by the ancient world. This relationship is one of a family. That is why Messiah then can be made an everlasting father from Isaiah 9:6 as the Angel of Great Counsel (LXX). There are many fatherhoods or families in heaven and earth (Eph. 3:15). Thus to say the Bible does not imply God is a family of beings as elohim is grossly misleading. The entire structure of the Bible is based on the family relationship and the entire structure of the law from the first to the tenth commandments is based on the Family of God. Have we not all one Father, did not one God create us all (Mal. 2:10).


The Shema is based on Yahovah Elohenu. God said and it was given to Moses that: I will be what I will become (Ex. 3:14 cf. fn. to Oxford Annotated RSV). Eloah is becoming elohim. He is becoming all in all (Eph. 4:6). This distinction was also seen in the Chaldee. Eloah is Elahh in the Chaldee. Elohim is Elahhin. The term Elahh became the basis of the Arabic term Allah h. This is the fundamental issue at stake in the first confession of the faith in Islam: There is no Allah h [Eloah] but Allah h [Eloah]. The elohim, all of them, derive from Eloah who alone is the Great Eloah of heaven the Elyon or Most High. The term Allah h is used in Islam only because it admits of no plurality whatsoever, excluding Christ and the elohim Host from the position of one true God.


The angel of Yahovah was an elohim being appointed by Eloah. We are all to become elohim as the Angel of Yahovah at our head (Zech. 12:8). This fact was understood by the early church that declared the pre-existence of Christ and stated that we will become theoi. Paul said there were many gods or theoi (theoi polloi) and many Lords, whether in heaven or on earth (1Cor. 8:5). (This is where the English term the hoi polloi came from). As the fallen host had all been confined to earth when Paul said this he must logically have been speaking about the loyal Angelic Host. The word theoi is the Greek plural of the word theos or God. This is the Eloah/elohim distinction but in the Greek there is another problem introduced in the grammar. Thus the definite article or the accusative case came to be used of God and theos alone was used of a singular elohim, namely Jesus Christ or Satan etc. (cf. Paul refers to Satan as the theos of this world meaning elohim of this world (2Cor. 4:4). The view that there is a distinction between the elohim or theos references in the Bible (and also that we would, all become theoi) was carried from John to Polycarp, Polycrates and the disciples to Europe with Irenaeus (cf. the paper Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127)).


The church understood this concept in the Reformation and reference is made to this argument and the so-called Socinians in the footnote to the 1851 Heydock Commentary to the Douay Catholic Bible for release in the UK and the English speaking world generally. Only the Ha Elohim or the Ho Theos was the one true God.


It is thus from this singular Eloah that we get the word elohim. The plural word elohim applied to a council as we see in the Psalms (cf. the structure in the Statement of Beliefs of the Christian Faith (No. A1) CCG, 4th ed., 1996, pp. 2-6,12,27; and also the paper Joshua, the Messiah, the Son of God (No. 134)).


The Bible is clear that the subordinate elohim of Psalm 45:6-7 was Jesus Christ (cf. Heb. 1:8-9). Hosea is clear that this elohim was the angel that wrestled with Jacob (Hos. 12:3-4). We know also that this angel is the elohim at the head of the household of David (Zech. 12:8) (cf. the paper The Elect as Elohim (No. 1)). We know that he is called Yahovah and was sent to Israel by Yahovah of Hosts who is God Most High (cf. Zech. 2:3-11).


Thus, we have two Yahovahs one of whom is a subordinate being appointed by the other and both are elohim. We also see from Zechariah 12:8 that we shall become elohim as we see from Psalm 82:6. The logic here is straightforward. There are multiple elohim but one Eloah from which the word elohim is derived. The word elohim is clearly held to apply to a being that is termed the Angel of the Lord who wrestled with Jacob or the Angel of the Presence who was at Sinai and who spoke with Moses. The Angel of the Lord was the elohim who spoke with Abraham in Genesis 22:1-11.


We know also that the term Yahovah was applied to more than one being as we see from the greetings from Abraham to the angels who came to deal with Sodom (Gen. 18:2 ff.). Here the three beings, rendered as men in the English, were elohim. The text in the Hebrew actually says: and lo three men [ enowshim or mortals] were standing by him. He ran to them and addressed them as adoni (Gen. 18:2-3; cf. Green s Interlinear Bible). The Bible clearly identifies these three beings as adoni which is a term that can be applied to others simply as Lord (such as from Sarah to Abraham). All were angels and none of whom were God the Father, whom no man has ever seen. The original texts however also show them as being addressed as Yahovah in Genesis 18:27,30,32 which was three of the 134 places in the OT where the Sopherim altered the text to read Adonai.


One of these beings was probably Jesus Christ but the other two were also divine beings. The beings are all identified as Yahovah and hence elohim as we will see and this is deliberately misidentified by Trinitarians and rabbinical Judaism in the Masoretic Text (MT) and hence the KJV to obscure the point.


The entire structure of this Angel of Yahovah is examined in the paper The Angel of YHVH (No. 24).


The Shema is also misused as it is Shema Y isroel Yahovah Elohenu Yahovah Echad. The word elohenu is rendered and claimed to be Elohim, again by Trinitarians or Binitarians based on the same faulty reasoning as found in the application of the other texts. For the same reason the  echad here is taken to mean united instead of the ordinal first, meaning alone or altogether in relation to a number of entities (cf. Strongs HD No. 259, see also the paper Joshua, the Messiah, the Son of God (No. 134)).


The Bible is quite clear that there is one true God who is the God Most High   He is Yahovah of Hosts referred to also as Yahovih (SHD 3069). Yahovah is the subordinate elohim of Israel who is the Angel of the Lord.


Elohim is a plural word which is applied to the sons of God to extend the capacity of being God to His sons. In this way we become elohim but we can never be the singular Eloah. There are at least three beings referred to as Yahovah in the Old Testament at the same time, and none of whom was Eloah or God Most High. These three were also referred to as angels in the destruction of Sodom. When they were spoken to by Abraham and Lot, they were also all addressed as Yahovah and the Sopherim altered the texts in Genesis 18:27, 30,32 and 19:18, 24 (and 134 places in total) from Yahovah to Adonai to disguise the fact that there were also multiple Yahovahs. These angels were identified as Yahovah and Adonai, and elohim and angels, all at the same time by the patriarchs and prophets. Genesis 19:24 shows the term Yahovah being used in reference to two Yahovahs where the text says:


Then Yahovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstrone and fire from the Yahovah out of heaven (cf. we from v 13).


The logic of the Bible is simple. There is one true God and He sent Jesus Christ (Jn. 17:3). The one true God alone is God. He dwells in unapproachable light. No man has seen Him or ever can see Him, or has even heard His voice at any time (Jn. 1:18; 5:37 1Tim. 6:16). The only born god (monogenes theos or elohi (cf.. Marshall s Interlinear and the Aramaic text in the Peshitta)) declared (or spoke; the word Him has been added to the English text). It follows therefore that Christ and the apostles said that no man has seen or heard Eloah (or Ha Elohim) ever and that whatever appeared to the prophets could not have been the being referred to as Eloah or the one true God.


The being known as Yahovah-elohim, however, did appear to men and spoke with them from the Garden of Eden onwards. He also spoke in the plural to the elohim (cf. The Doctrine of Original Sin Part I The Garden of Eden (No. 246))


It follows as a matter of irrefutable logic that this being cannot have been the God Most High (Elyon) or Eloah. The name of this being Yahovah-elohim also carries this plural concept elohim. Now unless Moses, the Psalmists, Christ, John and Paul were complete liars, there must be multiple elohim. This fact we also know from the Hebrew texts where elohim is a generic plural term. These beings were not the one true God.


It appears beyond dispute that Christ is identified as the Angel of the Lord or the Angel of the Presence who spoke with Moses and who gave the law at Sinai. He also was the angel as elohim who wrestled with Jacob and saved Hagar as the God who sees (cf.. Gen. 21:17; Gen. 16:7-13). He was the Angel of Redemption of Genesis 48:15-16 and the Ransom and Mediator of Job 33:23-26. In like manner, this being was the God of the House of God or the El Bethel. It is also beyond dispute that the terms elohim, yahovah and adonai are plural and apply to multiple beings who are not the one true God and who are also described as angels. The logic is also irrefutable that, if Christ is not one of these beings, the term applies to even more beings and not less. It appears, however, impossible for Christ not to be one of the angels of the Old Testament on the repetitive testimony of the New Testament text.


He is sent by Yahovah of Hosts to save Zion. The angel delivering prophecy to Zechariah says clearly that he is the one sent by the Lord of Hosts to redeem Zion and the one sent to the nations to spoil them. This activity, from Revelation and the Gospels, vests in Messiah. This being speaking under orders from the Lord of Hosts can only be the pre-existent Messiah or there are two beings given this responsibility when Revelation seems to allocate it to Messiah.


Similarly the Captain of the Host or Captain of the Armies of the Lord that spoke with Joshua is in the position we allot to Christ and the entire story of the Fall of Jericho relates forward to the return of the Messiah and the restoration and subjugation of the nations under Messiah as we see in the story of Revelation (cf. the paper The Fall of Jericho (No. 142)).


Christ was thus not only pre-existent, he was and is the elohim or Elohi of Israel, as Yahovah, sent by Yahovih or Yahovah of Hosts, the Elyon or God Most High. This being, the one true God, is Eloah. He is the object of worship of the Temple as HaElohim or The Elohim or God. Christ is not the one true God. Only this being, Eloah (Elahh to the Chaldeans and Allah h to Islam) stood alone in abiding perpetuity having nothing coeval or co-existing with Himself (cf. the paper Early Theology of the Godhead (No. 127)). Ha Elohim (or The Elohim) was Eloah. He was Messiah s God and he appointed Messiah and anointed him as elohim with the oil of gladness above his partners (cf. Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8-9) and Christ was faithful to the one who made him (cf. Heb. 3:2 Marshall s Greek English Interlinear RSV).


The statement of belief of the early church is best embodied in this simple Creed of Ulfilas bishop of the Goths (341-381). These people held this belief long before Nicaea and this belief was held by the early church from John to Irenaeus (cf. Against Heresies ANF vol. 1). It explains exactly what Thomas said.


The Creed [381] of Ulfilas, Bishop of the Goths, 341-81


From A, Hahn, Symbole, 3 198


I, Ulfilas, bishop and confessor, have always thus believed, and in this one and true faith I make my testament before my Lord: I believe there is one God, the Father, alone unbegotten and invisible, and I believe in His Only begotten Son, our Lord and God, Creator and Maker of the whole creation, not having any like unto Him-therefore there is one God of all, who is also God of our God-and in one Holy Spirit, an enlightening and sanctifying power-(as Christ says for warning to His Apostles: "Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but do ye dwell in the city of Jerusalem until ye be clothed with power from on high." And again; "And ye shall receive power coming upon you by the Holy Spirit")-neither [King, but] subjected and obedient in all things to [His] God and Father...through Christ ...in the Holy Spirit.- C.A.A. Scott, Ulfilas, 109


Unfortunately errors were intruding into the faith even here and Ulfilas seemingly edited the Bible and removed the book of Kings because it was too warlike (cf. B. Lehane, Early Celtic Christianity, Constable London, 1994, p. 176).


This creed is based on the theology expressed in Psalm 45:6-7 and Hebrew 1:8-9. It was held by the early apologists such as Irenaeus at Lyons in the second century. This theology was held by the Goths, Vandals, Alans, Suevi, Heruli, Britons, Lombards, Germans, and all the northern tribes commencing from the teachings of theologians and disciples of the apostles that were already centuries old before the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, where many of these bishops were present. The heresy of Binitarianism was commenced from this Council. In 381 the Trinity was declared at Constantinople from the theology of the Cappadocians Basil, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus. The destruction of the faith by the Greeks and Romans had begun to take effect. Trinitarians incorrectly and dishonestly label the creed as Arianism to give the impression that their doctrine is older and this doctrine originated with Arius in the fourth century. The Trinitarians then alternately label the subordinationist Unitarian doctrine after Arius (Arianism) and then Eusebius of Nicomedia (Eusebianism) and other bishops much senior to Arius (who was not even present at Nicaea, only being summoned there for advice on logic), of holding that the Spirit was a creation of the son when in fact that is the doctrine of Filioque advanced from the Council of Toledo by the Catholics themselves in the sixth century. Even the Greeks rejected that view. People who label this view as Arian are either being deliberately dishonest or do not understand enough to know what they are saying.


Our people in the church have held this ancient creed for two thousand years and many have died for that belief and truth (cf. the paper The Role of the Fourth Commandment in the Historical Sabbath-keeping Churches of God (No. 170)).


We have been attacked and compromised because of it but never so much as in the twentieth century. Church after church, in every instance, at the behest of its ministry, has compromised the faith without any real persecution and seemingly for social acceptance.


To the church, the pre-existent Christ is not the One True God. Dr. Samuel Kohn says:


The original doctrine of Sabbatarianism proceeds from the Jewish and/or Unitarian proclamation of belief in the one God only:


The first and highest principle of true faith is


That you adhere to one God only (Die Sabbatharier in Siebenburgen ch.10, p. [77]).


This work has now been translated into English (see The Sabbatarians of Transylvania, CCG Publishing 1998), and is recommended reading to show the history of the church position. The denial of the doctrine of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ does not appear to have ever been a doctrine of the central Sabbath-keeping churches over the centuries.


Philosophical and logical basis of the Pre-existence of Christ


The denial of the pre-existence of Christ, as strange as it may seem, is actually another aspect of the heathen doctrines of the worship of the god Attis, in its Binitarian form, where the son is simply an aspect of the god in apposition to the aspect as Father. It is simply a modification of the doctrines, which led to Trinitarianism in the first place, even though it appears much more distinctly opposed to it.


The biblical position is that Christ, as one of the elohim host, emptied himself and returned to God, who then placed him in a womb in human form.


Satan and the entire Host could have done this, but Satan chose to attempt to seize equality with God instead of being obedient. It became necessary for Christ to demonstrate the logic of the plan of God in direct form.


The demons asserted the Trinity from the beginning, in the worship of the Triune God. They denied that Christ was other than an aspect of God, because it was necessary to cover their own error. The deception is centred round our own destiny. We are to become elohim as the angel of Yahovah at our head (Zech 12:8). To demonstrate this fact, Christ as Angel of Yahovah, willingly returned to God and assumed human form at His direction. This act was to also demonstrate the way we will return to God, and be given new form in the Resurrection, yet remain the same entity in effect. This aspect, by itself, demonstrates the power of God.


In the same way the demons will be taken down to the pit and die, and return to God and be resurrected as human beings in the second resurrection, where they will be retrained. The denial of the capacity for the angelic host to be brought down to the pit and die like any man (cf. Isa. ch. 14 and Ezek. ch. 28) is a limitation on the Omnipotence of God. It is a demonic lie. The Trinity is a lie designed to counter the capacity of the elect to become elohim or gods as Christ did. The denial of Christ s pre-existence is designed to cover the same lie from the other point of view, as a demonic plea in the alternative in the court of human reason. It leads to Buddhism and modern Process Theology, where we all as notional aspects in the mind of God are immortal as God, which is in everything.


The mechanism by which Christ relinquished his divine form and became man, is the same mechanism under the power of God, that we will be resurrected and become elohim or theoi, in other words subordinate gods, as sons of the one true God Eloah.


To deny the pre-existence of Christ is to seek to deny the capacity of the host to be brought down to the pit and to be resurrected. It seeks to place Christ on a separate level and effectively deny the position of humans to become co-heirs with Christ, and for God to become all in all.


The argument that Christ had to be God to atone for the sins of men is philosophical nonsense, based on a linguistic limitation in ancient classical Greek, which had no word for agape as the love of God, and borrowed a Hebrew word (cf. the paper The Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160)).


Christ had to demonstrate that he was worthy to become the High Priest of the Host by his selfless sacrifice. Christ had to be one of the host to do this. Men die selflessly for each other all the time. If Christ was not a pre-existent member of the Host, then the role would have had to have been done by another of the host, such as Gabriel. That was one of the premises on which Satan was judged by the trial in the wilderness, after Christ s baptism.


Christ became a man in the similar process and sequence as we are to become gods. He came down, died, was resurrected and went back again in total obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Omnipotence and Omniscience of Almighty God, Eloah, our Father, and one True God.


(Copyright ã 1998 Wade Cox)


This paper may be freely copied and distributed provided it is copied in total with no alterations or deletions. The publisher s name and address and the copyright notice must be included. No charge may be levied on recipients of distributed copies. Brief quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching copyright.


This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org