The prophetic anticipation of a forerunner to the Messiah is a significant theme in the Old Testament, finding its fulfillment in the New Testament with the ministry of John the Baptist. This entry explores the prophetic declarations concerning this forerunner and their fulfillment as recorded in the Scriptures.

Old Testament Prophecies

1. Isaiah 40:3 · The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of a voice that would prepare the way for the Lord: "A voice of one calling: 'Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.'" This prophecy speaks of a herald who would announce the coming of the Lord, preparing the hearts of the people for His arrival.

2. Malachi 3:1 · Malachi prophesied about a messenger who would precede the Lord: "Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming, says the LORD of Hosts." This passage emphasizes the role of the messenger in preparing the way for the Lord's coming.

3. Malachi 4:5-6 · Further, Malachi speaks of Elijah's return: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse." This prophecy is understood to refer to one who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah.

New Testament Fulfillment

1. Matthew 3:1-3 · The Gospel of Matthew identifies John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.' This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."'"

2. Mark 1:2-4 · Mark's Gospel also affirms John's role as the prophesied messenger: "As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: 'Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.' 'A voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."' John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

3. Luke 1:17 · The angel Gabriel, speaking to Zechariah, explicitly connects John the Baptist with the prophecy of Malachi: "And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

4. John 1:23 · John the Baptist himself identifies as the voice in the wilderness: "John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Make straight the way for the Lord."'"

The New Testament consistently presents John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the forerunner to the Messiah. His ministry of repentance and preparation set the stage for the public ministry of Jesus Christ, affirming the continuity and reliability of the prophetic word.Matthew 3:1,3
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 1:17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Sibylline Oracles.
... This concludes the oracular utterances respecting Rome. ... After some other prophecies
we come to the mention of ... passes on to the advent of Christ, His life, death ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

Genuineness of the Gospel Narratives.
... In citing the prophecies of the Old Testament in an ... who does not confess that Jesus
Christ has come ... Respecting the gospel of John in particular, Irenaeus says ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ii genuineness of the.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... impelled to these or like conclusions respecting it, the ... the vast majority of the
prophecies are acknowledged ... themselves in the spirit of Christ; therefore, in ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

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Prophecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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