This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

1 Peter 1:10-12

Patrina read the verses above in preparation for her weekly Bible study. The question revolved around the words of the Old Testament prophets and how their prophecies were delivered both for their day and how some of their prophecies pointed to the promised Messiah.

One example is Isaiah who prophesied against the spiritual adultery of the people of Judah and Israel in his day, but also predicted details of the coming Messiah. Here’s a couple of examples –

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14

For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9: 6

So Isaiah and the other prophets were longing for the appearance of the Messiah and wondering when these events would happled but Peter tells us they knew their message was for the future. And here we are.

We’ve seen many of those Old Testament prophecies fulfilled, but as Christian’s in the 21st Century, we are still waiting for the return of Christ and I think most of us are “eagerly watching” just like the prophets and even the angels mentioned by Peter.

How do we live for what Paul calls this our blessed hope?

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14