In Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about the events of the end time. The real question for a non-believer is "is Jesus really the son of God"?.

I would like you to consider the following:

In 1948 a sheephearder was looking for a lost sheep in the hills outside of Jerusalem. He threw a rock into a cave to try and scare out the sheep if it was in the cave. Instead, he heard a breaking noise. After investigating, he found some clay vessels that contained the dead sea scrolls. Also contained in the pots was the oldest know copy of the book of Isaiah. It was written in 700 BC.
The amazing thing was that the same book that we have today is 99% exact with a "the" and "a" misplaced once in a while. So, we have great evidence that this book was written over 2500 years ago.

There are 300 predictions of the coming of the Messiah in the old testiment, many were in Isaiah. I would like to look at only a few of these.

1. What would be the odds that a person would be born in Bethlehem? Micah 5:2 predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The minimum odds would be 1 in 2000.

2. Isaiah 40:3 predicted that the Messiah would be preceded by a messenger. We know according to the Bible that messenger is John the Baptist. The odds? Maybe 1 in 20.

3. Zechariah 9:9 predicted that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem "riding on a donkey".
Someone who wanted to be king, would not have done that! Odds? Maybe 1-50.

4. Psalms 22:16 predicted that the messiah would be betrayed by a friend. The romans should have killed Him just for talking about building a new kingdom. Odds? 1 in 100.

5. Isaiah 53:5 predicted that He would be pierced for our transgressions. If you were crucified back then, your legs were broke to make sure you died from the weight of the body prohibiting you from breathing. Jesus was pierced in the side to make sure He was dead. I WILL BE TELLING YOU A GREAT REVELATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT THIS. Odds?
1 in 10.

6. Zechariah 11:12 predicted that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. That is the price that they would pay for a slave. The price should have been much higher for someone that was considered a threat to Rome. Odds? Maybe 1in 50.

7. Isaiah 50:6 "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard, I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting" Prediction of His treatment before His
death. Odds? 1 in 10

8. Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and afflicted yet He did not open His mouth," Prediction of His silence before His accusers. Odds? 1 in 100.

9. Psalms 22:16 predicted that He would be pierced in the hands and the feet. Since crucifixion didn't even exist until 600 years later, this one is pretty big. However, we will give it a 1 in 100 odds.

10. Psalms 22:18 predicted that "they divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing". Odds? 1 in 100>

11. Psalms 34:20 predicted "He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken." Odds?
1-20.

12. Isaiah 53:9, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." This one is pretty incredible, because Jesus had no money and was suppose to be buried with the poor in the potter's field, instead at the last minute and rich man offered his grave that had never been used which was very close to the crucification site. Odds? 1 in 1000

If you look at just the 48 major prophecies about the Messiah and see how they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the odds? 1 in 48 billion that anyone could have fulfilled them all. There are 300.
The odds? No chance.

Please understand that much of what you see today in churches have very little to do with faith in Christ. The Bible says, If you believe in your heart and profess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior, you will be saved. I know that He is the Son of God, He was sent to the earth to die for man's sins, and He is coming back to claim all of those who truly believe in Him(not necessarily the one's who go to church).

Next time, we can go to Matthew 24 which will help us open up the book of Revelation.

God bless, Dean