Matthew 4:12-17
12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 But instead of going to Nazareth, he went to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy: 15 "In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River – in Galilee where so many Gentiles live – 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." 17 From then on, Jesus began to preach, "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near. "
vs Isaiah 9:1-2
Isaiah 9:1-7
9:1
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
9:2
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.
9:3
Israel will again be great, and its people will rejoice as people rejoice at harvesttime. They will shout with joy like warriors dividing the plunder.
9:4
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the army of Midian with Gideon's little band.
9:5
In that day of peace, battle gear will no longer be issued. Never again will uniforms be bloodstained by war. All such equipment will be burned.
9:6
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
9:7
His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!
The only fulfilled part of this prophecy is that Jesus went to Galilee - so what? To really fulfil the prophecy Israel would have to be great, its people would rejoice, God would've broken the chains that bound his people, battle gear will no longer be issued, uniforms will never again be bloodstained by war. Jesus would have to be sitting in a REAL throne managing a REAL expanding, peaceful government that never ends. The cop out that 'this will happen in the future' just verifies the fact that this prophecy hasn't been fulfilled yet and therefore cannot be used to prove ANYTHING! The cop out that 'this is spiritual' makes no sense either... why would there no longer be 'uniforms bloodied by war' in the spiritual realm?