Jesus is walking with two of His disciples toward the village of Emmaus and is talking about the things that happened to Jesus in His trial and execution at the hands of the Jews and the Romans. He assured them that these things had to happen.
25 He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in ALL that the prophets have spoken! 26 Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27 Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Lk 24:25-27 WEB
It does almost seem to speak as if Jesus had by then (early in the first century AD) fulfilled all Old Testament prophecy concerning himself. And a similar point seems to also be made by Peter in Acts 3.
“But
the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that
Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.”
Acts 3:18 WEB
Similarly, one might initially think that Peter also was saying that Jesus had fulfilled all Old Testament prophecy. But then Peter goes on further says,
“ “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,” ” Acts 3:19 WEB
Well, why Peter, why repent? Peter says it is so “times of refreshing” might come from the Lord. So there are times of refreshing which are still yet to come! Well Peter, who will bring those “times of refreshing”?
“ “and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before” ,” Acts 3:20
So how long must Jesus stay in heaven?
“ “whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.” ” Acts 3:21 WEB
So how long must Jesus stay in heaven? Until what is now called “the times of restoration of all things.” Then Peter says something else in the same verse. These future things, “the times of restoration of all things,” and the “times of refreshing,” were spoken of long ago by the mouth of God’s holy prophets. Then Peter speaks even more explicitly.
“ “Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.” ” Acts 3:24 WEB
So all the prophets from Samuel forward spoke of these future days.
So looking back, Jesus in Luke 24, and Peter in Acts 3:18 are merely saying that Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming. And also clearly, there are some Old Testament prophecies which are yet to be fulfilled.
Also, this is not counting the many Old Testament prophecies of Judgement Day and the Second Coming of Christ. It is beyond me how anyone can so twist Isaiah 24 so that it turns into anything more than the final destruction of this present universe.
WEB
is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the
original ASV American Standard Version 1901