When the Apostles were first preaching Christ, what three kinds of things did they mention in order to prove His Deity and Messiahship? His miracles. On the day of Pentecost Peter preached: “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” His resurrection. Acts 1:22 – “Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. Acts 4:33 – “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Paul said that he was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” His fulfilment of prophecy.

These are still tools available to us today. And every skilled craftsman knows that some of the best tools for the job have been around a very long time.

How many prophesies of the first-coming of Christ were made during the Old Testament? (Over 300) Over how many years did the writing of the Old Testament take place? (About 1,000 years.) Was it written by one man and who could therefore create an intellectual or religious conspiracy about Christ? How many years were there between the completion of the Old Testament and the coming of Christ? (About 400) How can we prove that? (The Septuagint was translated into Greek in about 250 BC.) How is it possible that so many prophesies written hundreds of year ahead of time could be so completely and literally fulfilled?

Prophesies contained in the Jewish Feasts.
Let’s read Leviticus 23.

The Feast of the Passover was all about what? Exodus 12: When did Christ Jesus die? What was the divine purpose for the death of Christ? I Corinthians 5:7 – “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” John 1:36 – “And (John) looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”

The Feast of the Passover concluded what seven or eight day feast? (Unleavened Bread). What did the Hebrew women do to prepare for that feast? (Cleaned house.) What should the person enjoying the Christian Passover do with his life? I Corinthians 5:7-8 – “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” What feast occurred fifty days after the Passover? (Pentecost or the First Fruits.) What did Israel celebrate with the First Fruits? (The outpouring of the Lord’s blessings – Spring Harvest.) What do Christians celebrate in that feast? (The outpouring of the Holy Spirit.)

What three feasts occurred in the Fall (September or October)? (Trumpets, Tabernacles and Atonement.) What did Israel do to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets? (Numbers 29:1-6.) What roll did trumpets play in the life of Israel? (Communication.) What was the Feast of Trumpets all about? (The gathering or re-gathering of Israel.) What has that got to do with Christ Jesus? Matthew 24:29-31 – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

What did the Hebrews celebrate in the Feast of Tabernacles? (Coming home.) How did they observe that Feast? (Living in booths for a week.) Ezra 3:1-5.

What was the significance of the Hebrew Day of Atonement? How did they observe that day? Which New Testament Apostle used the Day of Atonement to teach about Christ? Hebrews 9.