Course 1, Chapter 43: Messiah foretold — Prophecies of Aggens, Zacharias and Malachias. (A. C. 538-454.)

1. By whom were the Jews delivered from the captivity of Babylon?

The Jews were delivered from the captivity of Babylon by Cyrus. At the solicitation of Daniel, this great prince permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem, and re-build the temple.

2. What was their first care on arriving in their country?

Their first care on arriving in their country was to labor at the construction of the new temple; but" the old men, who, seventy years before, had seen the temple of Solomon, could not restrain their tears on seeing how inferior the new temple was to the old one.

3. What did the Lord do to console them?

To console them, the Lord sent the prophet Aggeus, who announced to them that the glory of the new temple would infinitely surpass that of the old; because the Messiah would enter it in person, and there announce the reconciliation of man with God.

4. W^hat does this prophecy prove?

This prophecy proves that the Messiah has long since come; for the prophet announced that the Messiah "would enter the second temple, which was destroyed in the seventieth year of the Christian era.

5. What does it further prove?

It proves that Christ is truly the Messiah, since the Messiah foretold by Aggeus was to be the minister of the reconciliation of man with God; and Christ alone has reconciled man with God, by expiating his sins on the cross, and by drawing him out of idolatry. This is the ninth prophecy respecting the Redeemer,

6. What event, near at hand, did the prophet Aggeus announce?

To show the Jews that what he said of the Messiah was true, the prophet Aggeus announced an event near at hand, viz: the sudden ceasing of the sterility which had lasted nearly ten years.

7. What is the tenth prophecy concerning the Redeemer?

It is that of Zacharias. This prophet was a contemporary of Aggeus. He announced that the Messiah would be a king, full of justice, mildness and humility; that he would enter Jerusalem amidst acclamations, seated upon an ass, followed by its foal; that he would be sold for thirty pieces of silver; that this money would be brought back into the temple, and given to a potter; that he would have his hands pierced, and mat he would convert the nations. In Christ alone are verified all these traits of this prophecy; he is, therefore, the Messiah foretold by Zacharias.

8. What event, near at hand, did Zacharias foretell?

To give credit to his predictions concerning the Messiah, Zacharias foretold an event near at hand, but at that time very improbable, viz: that Jerusalem would become a very flourishing city.

9. What is the eleventh prophecy regarding the Redeemer?

It is that of Malachias. A second colony of Jews had returned from Babylon, under the conduct of Esdras, who put the finishing stroke to the building of the temple. It was at this time the Lord spoke byMalachias.

10. What did the prophet say?

lie said to the Jews that the sacrifices they were beginning to offer again in the new temple, would cease to be acceptable to the Lord; that these sacrifices would be replaced by a sacrifice, one, holy, offered throughout the world from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof, and which would render the name of the Lord great. He announced also that the Messiah would have a precursor, endowed witli the spirit and virtue of Elias, to recall the Jews to the faith of Abra-

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ham, Isaac and Jacob, and prepare them to hear the Desired of nations.

11. What does this prophecy prove?

This prophecy proves, 1 st, that the sacrifice foretold by Malachias and destined to replace all the ancient sacrifices, is the sacrifice of our altars, since this sacrifice alone is holy, universal, and capable of honor ing the Lord, to whom a God is offered as the victim. 2d, it proves that he who instituted this sacrifice, viz: the Messiah, is truly our Lord Jesus Christ, since it was he who established this august sacrifice, and was preceded by a precursor, John the Baptist, clothed with the spirit and virtue of Elias, in order to render the Jews mindful of his coming and docile to his instructions.