The Promise (The Prophets)

 The Old Testament prophets cover a period of time from approximately 760 B.C. to 450 B.C. From pre-exilic, exilic, and post-exilic periods, under various kings and even various oppressors, the prophets delivered God’s message of sin, judgment, and restoration to the nation of Israel and even unto the world. The prophets cried against sin to warn the nation to repent or face the wrath of God as consequence for breaking the Mosaic covenant that was established between the Lord and His people. Their various messages were definitely meant for modern application to the troubles of the day; however, the main message of sin, judgment, repentance, and salvation is the basis of the Genesis 3:15 promise. Although sin entered the world and God passed judgment, there is salvation and restoration through the promised seed of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.


Pictures of Christ can be seen in the messages of the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament. Pictures can be seen of the promised seed to come. Hints and scenes are given to prophesy the fulfillment of God’s promise.

 Isaiah

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins” (Isaiah 11:1-5).

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

 Jeremiah

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

 Micah

“Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:1-2).

 Zechariah

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).





 Hosea

“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight” (Hosea 6:2).

The prophets delivered messages and foreshadows of the promised seed that would break the bondage of sin. Foreshadows of the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior to mankind, who came to seek and save that which is lost. The fulfillment of God’s promise is the Lord Jesus Christ. So many years before the birth of Christ, depending on which prophecy was being preached, God was informing His people that He has not forgotten the original promise. The prophets preached the coming Jesus Christ as the crowning point of the promised seed. The promise never flickered, wavered, or changed from God’s intent. God’s plan is never revised because He is omniscient and therefore knows the end even before the beginning is ignited.