The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger

Bible passage: Isaiah 40:1-5,9
Prophet: Isaiah
Written: Between 701-681 BC

In Isaiah 40:3, the prophet writes about a person in the desert who prepares the way for the Lord. This prophecy foreshadowed the life of John the Baptist, who played an important role in preparing the groundwork for the ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born shortly after John the Baptist about 2000 years ago.

The New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John include details about John the Baptist. In Matthew 3, for example, we are told that John the Baptist preached in the desert of Judea and that he baptized Jesus. In John 1:29-34, John the Baptist announced that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Isaiah lived about 2,700 years ago, about 700 years before the time of Jesus.

There is a similar prophecy in Malachi 3:1-5, that also is viewed as being a prophecy about a forerunner, a messenger, who would prepare the way for the Messiah and announce the Messiah.

- Research and commentary is based on the book 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies. © Ray Konig and AboutBibleProphecy.com.

Here is Isaiah 40:1-5,9:

1 Comfort, comfort my people,

says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and proclaim to her

that her hard service has been completed,

that her sin has been paid for,

that she has received from the LORD's hand

double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:

"In the desert prepare

the way for the LORD;

make straight in the wilderness

a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be raised up,

every mountain and hill made low;

the rough ground shall become level,

the rugged places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

and all mankind together will see it.

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

9 . . . say to the towns of Judah,

"Here is your God!"

(New International Version translation)