The prophetic scriptures of the Old Testament contain numerous references to the Messiah, foretelling various aspects of His life, mission, and the opposition He would face. Among these prophecies is the prediction that both Jews and Gentiles would unite in opposition against the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This theme is woven throughout the biblical narrative, highlighting the universal nature of the rejection He would endure.

Psalm 2:1-2
The second Psalm provides a vivid portrayal of the nations conspiring against the Lord's Anointed. It states: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One" . This passage prophetically anticipates the coalition of both Jewish and Gentile authorities in their opposition to Christ. The "nations" and "peoples" symbolize the Gentiles, while the "kings of the earth" and "rulers" can be seen as representing both Jewish and Roman leaders.

Isaiah 53:3
Isaiah's profound depiction of the Suffering Servant also alludes to the widespread rejection of the Messiah: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not" . This rejection is not limited to a single group but encompasses humanity at large, including both Jews and Gentiles.

New Testament Fulfillment
The New Testament records the fulfillment of these prophecies in the events leading up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Gospels detail how Jewish leaders, including the chief priests and Pharisees, conspired to arrest and kill Jesus (Matthew 26:3-4). Meanwhile, the Roman authorities, represented by Pontius Pilate, played a crucial role in His execution, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Gentile involvement (John 18:28-31).

Acts 4:27-28
The early church recognized the fulfillment of these prophecies in their prayers, as recorded in the book of Acts: "In fact, in this city Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen" . This passage explicitly acknowledges the collaboration between Jewish and Gentile authorities in the opposition to Christ, affirming the prophetic scriptures.

Significance
The unification of Jews and Gentiles against Christ underscores the pervasive nature of sin and the universal need for redemption. It highlights the fulfillment of God's sovereign plan, as even the opposition to Christ was foreseen and woven into the divine narrative. This opposition, paradoxically, served to advance God's redemptive purposes, culminating in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, which opened the way for salvation to all people, both Jew and Gentile alike.Psalm 2:1,2
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Extracts No. Ix.
... much towards corroborating the truth of all the other prophecies. ... make no exception
of this man Christ Jesus ... of the prophesy of Jesus respecting the destruction ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no ix.htm

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

An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists.
... So is their affirmation that Scripture prophecies about the ... on the part of the Donatists
respecting the restriction ... the Church, as the body of Christ was not ...
/.../chapter ii name analysis of.htm

The Gospels in General
... clear teaching contained in this Gospel respecting the divinity ... of time, showing
how all the prophecies that pointed ... towards the end of his life Christ says to ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the gospels in general.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... finds himself impelled to these or like conclusions respecting it, the ... 17] Of prophecies
in the ... Hittite is improved by making David represent Christ, and Uriah ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm

On the Interpretation of Scripture
... such a use of the words of Christ which he ... about the authorship, as, for example,
that respecting St ... those who maintain that the roll of prophecies is completed ...
/.../on the interpretation of scripture.htm

part ii
... Thy Mother." [741] In order that we should not doubt ... Eternal, Divine Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ, has solved ... Forgive them that trespass against you with joy, as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

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Prophecies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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