What are some prophecies in the Bible that have been fulfilled?

The claims that certain events were foretold long before they happened lend the Bible a unique sense of authority and mystery. While the interpretation and verification of fulfilled prophecies can be complex and sometimes controversial, many examples are widely cited within both religious traditions and historical studies.

The Prophecy of Cyrus and the Return from Exile

One of the most remarkable prophecies in the Old Testament is found in the book of Isaiah, where a figure named Cyrus is mentioned by name as the one who would enable the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1–4, written over a century before Cyrus the Great became king of Persia, declare:

"[God] says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid.’’"

This prophecy is seen as precisely fulfilled in 538 BCE, when King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return home from Babylon. The decree, recorded in Ezra 1:1–4, marks a pivotal moment in Jewish history and is corroborated by the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient Persian artifact. The specificity of naming Cyrus and the circumstances of the Jewish return have long been cited as a clear example of fulfilled prophecy.

The Destruction of Nineveh

The fall of the ancient city of Nineveh, capital of the Assyrian Empire, is predicted in vivid detail by the prophets Nahum and Zephaniah. Nahum 1–3 describes the coming judgment on Nineveh, promising total destruction for its violence and idolatry. Zephaniah 2:13–15 echoes this decree.

Historically, Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BCE by a coalition of Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians. The city was so thoroughly sacked that its ruins remained hidden for centuries, only rediscovered by archaeologists in the 19th century. The detailed prophecies about Nineveh’s downfall and the city’s subsequent obliteration are often cited as another fulfilled prophecy.

The Fall of Babylon

In Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 51, the prophets foretell the downfall of Babylon, predicting that the city would be conquered and left desolate. Jeremiah 51:26 states, “No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation, for you will be desolate forever.”

Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians under Cyrus in 539 BCE. Over time, the city declined, and today, only ruins remain in modern-day Iraq. The accuracy of the prophets in foreseeing both the conquest and the subsequent desolation of Babylon is often referenced as a striking example of biblical prophecy fulfilled.

The Destruction of Tyre

The prophet Ezekiel, in chapters 26–28, predicts the destruction of the Phoenician city of Tyre. He foretells that many nations will come against Tyre, that its walls and towers will be broken down, and that its debris will be thrown into the sea.

Historically, Tyre was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and later by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. Alexander’s forces built a causeway using the ruins of the old city, literally throwing debris into the sea to reach the island stronghold. The details of Ezekiel’s prophecy—especially the reference to debris in the sea—are seen by many as remarkably fulfilled.

The Dispersion and Regathering of Israel

Numerous Old Testament passages predict both the scattering of the Israelites among the nations and their eventual regathering to their homeland. Deuteronomy 28:64 declares, “The Lord will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other.” Yet, passages like Isaiah 11:11 and Ezekiel 37:21 promise a future restoration:

“He will assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

The destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE led to a long period of Jewish dispersion (the Diaspora). The regathering has been seen, by many, as being fulfilled in the modern era with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the ongoing return of Jews from around the world. While interpretations differ, the remarkable survival and return of the Jewish people to their ancient land is often cited as a fulfillment of these ancient prophecies.

The Coming of the Messiah: Jesus in Prophecy

For Christians, the most significant fulfilled prophecies are those they believe point to the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. The Old Testament contains numerous passages that Christians interpret as predictions of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Some of the most frequently cited include:

• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14): “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
• Birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2): “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah... out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.”
• Suffering servant (Isaiah 53): This chapter describes a figure who is “pierced for our transgressions” and “by his wounds we are healed.”
• Entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9): “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.”
• Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13): “So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.”

The New Testament writers frequently reference these and other prophecies, presenting the events of Jesus’ life as fulfillments. Jewish interpretations, however, often differ, seeing these texts as referring to other figures or as symbolic. Nonetheless, the convergence of these predictions and the gospel narratives forms a central pillar of Christian faith in fulfilled prophecy.

The Destruction of the Second Temple

Jesus himself is recorded as predicting the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. In Matthew 24:1–2, he declares, “Do you see all these things? ... Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 CE when the Romans, under Titus, sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, an event that radically transformed Judaism and reverberates in Jewish history to this day.

The Rise and Fall of Empires in Daniel

The book of Daniel contains a series of visions and prophecies that predict the rise and fall of empires. Daniel 2, for example, describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue made of various materials, representing successive kingdoms: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Daniel 8 and 11 provide further details, including references to the conquests of Alexander the Great and the division of his empire.

Other Notable Fulfilled Prophecies

• The fate of Edom (Obadiah 1:18): The prophecy that Edom would be laid waste and its people destroyed has been linked to the disappearance of Edom as a nation.
• Egypt’s decline (Ezekiel 29:15): Ezekiel predicts Egypt will become “the lowliest of kingdoms,” never again to rule over other nations. Egypt, once a superpower, never regained its former dominance.
• The fate of Jerusalem (Micah 3:12): “Zion will be plowed like a field,” predicting the destruction and desolation that befell Jerusalem.