The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) contain several key prophecies that foretell the resurrection of the Messiah, which the New Testament explicitly states were fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
The Holy One Will Not See Decay
“Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” Psalm 16:10
This prophecy is explicitly claimed as fulfilled by Jesus' resurrection in two separate sermons in the Book of Acts.
“The Apostle Peter quotes this Psalm and explains that King David died and was buried, so he was not speaking of himself, but "seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” Acts 2:25–32
“The Apostle Paul also utilises this verse, stating, "So it is also stated elsewhere: ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep... But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.” Acts 13:35–37
2. The Suffering Servant Will Prolong His Days
Isaiah 53 predicts the "Suffering Servant" who will be killed as a guilt offering for sins, but will afterward live again and be exalted.
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied . . .” Isaiah 53:10–11
The New Testament applies the sacrifice and subsequent vindication of the Servant directly to Jesus. He clarified the message of the Old Testament to His disciples, saying,
“This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. . . “ Luke 24:46
Paul links the death and life of Jesus directly to this servant theology, writing,
“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”Romans 4:25
3. The Rebuilding of the Rejected Stone
This prophecy says that the Messiah will ultimately after being completely rejected.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22
Peter spoke boldly to the Sanhedrin, stating,
"It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead... Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Acts 4:10–11:
4. The Sign of Jonah
The New Testament treats historical events in the Old Testament as prophetic models (‘types’) that point to the Messiah's timeline.
“Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17
Jesus explicitly calls this a prophecy of His upcoming resurrection.
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40
