What is a prophesy? A prophesy is a declaration that something will happen in the future, before it happens. The Old Testament is full of prophesies, especially foretelling of a coming Messiah. Messiah means “anointed” or “anointed one”. The Greek equivalent is Khristos or Christ. The Jews were waiting for a coming Messiah, a deliverer, an anointed one to save them. Many Jews hoped in a future Messiah to help them when Rome took Israel captive. Those that knew their Old Testament scripture knew that there would be signs.