Messiah in the Old Testament Prophets

Messiah would be set apart for His ministry and named by God while in His   mother’s womb (Isa. 49:1, 5).

Messiah would be a child born (humanity) through a virgin birth (Isa. 7:14; 9:6).

Messiah would be a descendant of Jesse (Isa. 11:1) and David (Jer. 23:5).

Messiah would be eternal in nature but born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2).

Messiah would be named Immanuel (“God with us,” deity) [Isa. 7:14].

God’s Spirit would enable Messiah to do His work (Isa. 61:1–2a).

Messiah would be God’s spiritual light and Savior to Jews and Gentiles (Isa. 9:2; 42:6; 49:5–6; 56:8).

In the 30s A.D., Messiah would officially present Himself to Israel as its Prince by riding humbly into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey (Dan. 9:25–26; Zech. 9:9).

Because of Messiah’s humble background and appearance, Israel and its leaders would regard Him as undesirable and of no significance and would despise and reject Him as their Shepherd, but Gentile rulers would honor and worship Him (Isa. 49:7; 53:1–3; Zech. 11:4–14).

Messiah would be sold for 30 pieces of silver, which would be thrown down in the Temple to be given to a potter (Zech. 11:12–13).

Messiah would be accused falsely, but God would prove Him right (Isa. 50:7–9).

Messiah’s back would be whipped, His beard plucked, and His face beaten and spit upon. As a result, He would be so disfigured that He would not resemble a man (Isa. 50:6; 52:14; 53:5).

Messiah would be pierced and crushed, and, in fulfillment of God’s plan, He would die as a sacrificial offering for man’s sin, thereby providing justification for sinful man (Isa. 53:4–12; Dan. 9:26; Zech. 12:10).

In His death, Messiah would be identified with criminals (Isa. 53:12).

Messiah’s executors would plan to bury Him with the wicked, but He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb because of His innocence (Isa. 53:9).

As a result of His rejection and death, Messiah would turn Israel over to division, scattering, and death starvation, pestilence, war, and cannibalism (Zech. 11:4–14; 13:7).

As a result of Messiah’s rejection, God would send Israel a false shepherd (Antichrist), who would try to destroy Israel (Dan. 9:27; Zech. 11:12–16).

In Israel’s darkest hour (when the armies of all nations would be gathered against it), the Jews would recognize their true Messiah, whom their nation had “pierced,” and would go into great mourning (repentance, a genuine change of mind about Him) [Zech. 12:10].

When Messiah comes with the clouds of Heaven as the Son of Man, God will give Him all the peoples and nations of the world to rule over as King (Dan. 7:13–14).

Messiah would come to crush all the Gentile nations gathered against Israel and Jerusalem, save the repentant remnant of Israel, and provide security for Israel (Isa. 59:18–21; 63:1–6; Joel 3; Mic. 5:4–9; Zech. 14:12).

Messiah would rule and instruct all nations from David’s throne in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1–4; 9:6–7; Jer. 23:5–6; Mic. 4:1–8; Zech. 14:9).

Messiah would combine the offices of King and Priest in Himself (Zech. 6:9–15).

Messiah would be glorious, the delight of the repentant Jews who survive the Tribulation, and the world’s center of attraction (Isa. 4:2; 11:10).

God’s Spirit would empower Messiah to be a righteous, faithful Judge and King (Isa. 11:2–5; 42:1–9).

Messiah’s government would be characterized by justice and peace (Isa. 9:7).

During Messiah’s reign, all animals would be tame and vegetarian in diet (Isa. 11:6–9; 65:25).