Predicted in the OT, Pictured in the NT
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Nothing profane will ever enter it…” Revelation 21:23-27 HCSB
It is often said, that the “Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” The Bible contains God’s plan of redemption throughout its pages. When Jesus walked with the disciples traveling to Emmaus we read, “Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophet.” (Luke 24:27 CEV) In other passages we see Jesus referring to the testimony of the Psalm about the coming Messiah.
I like fashion we see in the Old Testament prophets predicting not only events related to Christ coming as Messiah, but Christ’s “Second Coming.” The verses above from the end of Revelation reveal a connection to the words of Isaiah the prophet.
For example, “You won’t need the light of the sun or the moon. I, the Lord your God, will be your eternal light  and bring you honor. Your sun will never set or your moon go down. I, the Lord, will be your everlasting light,and your days of sorrow will come to an end.” (Isaiah 60:19,20 CEV)
“Nations and kings will come to the light of your dawning day.” (Isaiah 60:3 CEV)
“Your gates will be open day and night to let the rulers of nations lead their people to you with all their treasures.” (Isaiah 60:11 CEV)
“And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.” (Isaiah 35:8 ESV)
The significance of these and other examples point to the consistency and verification of the words of the prophets. The Bible refers to this concept in exercising “judgment.” “…[Let]Â every matter…be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:16 NIV)
This reveals a God outside of time. While God works in the confines of time, He exists outside of time. He can view into the future and reveal His plans and purposes to His prophets in the Old Testament and the New; even those events yet to come far into God’s divine time line.
God’s Word can be trust as valid and true. What the Lord says He will do, He will do. What He says will take place, will take place. This calls us to faith and perseverance. It challenges us to be on guard against the attitude of the “mockers” that Peter warns will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4 ESV)
God is still at work in the world today. Of that we can be certain.
Prayer for today…Â Lord, thank You for the wonders of Your Word and the promises that You reveal concerning Your ultimate redemption of this world. Allow us to take heart, to have greater confidence and faith in You as we live each day.