SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH FROM THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 975 B.C. TO MALACHI 397 B.C.

daughter of the lineage of Aaron, Luke 1:5. The miraculous birth of John was foretold by an angel sent from God, Luke 113. John was born six months before Jesus, and was ordained to be a Nazarite from his birth. He dwelled by himself in the wilderness westward of the Dead Sea. Here he prepared himself for the Divinely work which he had been called. He dressed as a prophet, his food was locust and wild honey. He was the Elijah that was to come, Malachi 4:5. The question the disciples asked Jesus, about the prophecy of Malachi, was answered by Jesus in Matthew 17:10-13. When John was asked by the Priest and Levites from Jerusalem, “Who art thou? Art thou Elias,” and he said, “No, Art thou one of the prophets?” “No, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight,” Luke 1:4,5. John declared himself to be the Friend of the Bridegroom. John came as a forerunner of Jesus. John began his ministry 26 A.D. and baptized Jesus, 26 AD., was imprisoned 28 A.D. and beheaded in 29 AD.

40. THE BIRTH OF JESUS THE CHRIST

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, 4 B.C., and was baptized by John the

Baptist in Jordan, 26 A.D., age 30 years. Jesus began his ministry, 26 AD., and finished 30 A.D., 3-1/2 years. His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, 30 A.D. All are recorded in the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary,” (Luke 1:26,27).

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS,” (Luke 1:30,31).

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,” (Luke 1:34,35).

The “Virgin Birth” of Jesus Christ constitutes the whole and full redemptive work of salvation. In Jesus Christ we have God and man and only in that aspect could He have been the Savior of the world. This is set forth in Revelation 5:1-14, “1 ¶ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. S And one of the elders saith unto me,

Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, bath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof 6 ¶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a

Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven

Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the