There are three ways prophecy is presented.
Direct Prophecy.
In Type.
By Biography.
(1) Direct Prophecy.—This includes all direct statements as to future events. One instance out of many must suffice.
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth to me that shall be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).
Over three hundred direct prophecies as to the incarnation, life, death, resurrection and future glory of our Lord Jesus Christ’s lie scattered over the pages of the Old Testament scriptures. The fulfilment of prophecy (save that which is still future—“the glory that should follow,” 1 Peter 1:11) is the strongest proof of the divine origin and inspiration of the Bible. It is as if three hundred rays of light had been shot across the centuries, and lit up the face of the babe in Bethlehem’s manger; illuminated the form of Him who went about doing good; shone with heavenly glory on the form, more marred than any man’s, hanging on the cross of Calvary; disclosing the emptiness of the tomb, attesting the triumph of His work; and lighting Him up with their divine rays, who sits upon the throne of God, till we exclaim in adoring worship it is Jesus our Saviour, High Priest, Shepherd, King.
Volumes might be written on this subject, but we must forbear.
(2) In Type.—All types are prophetic in character. Take the first instance in Scripture, Adam cast into a deep sleep, Eve formed out of a rib taken from his side, type of the church formed as the result of the death of Christ. Ephesians 5:25-32 brings this out so clearly that there can be no mistake as to its meaning. Marriage was not a convenient illustration of Christ and the church, but was indeed instituted of design that it might be a type of it. Thus, on this little planet running its little day between two infinite eternities, if we may use such an expression, God has been pleased to illustrate that which filled His heart in purpose from eternity, and which can alone find its answer in Christ and the church in eternity.
The tabernacle and its service formed a typical system illustrating God’s relation to men, Christ, His deity, His humanity, His life, His death, His resurrection, His glories, the various approach to God and the saint’s ability to draw near in worship.
The passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, the lifting up of the brazen serpent, the passage of the Jordan, and many other things were typical and therefore prophetic. What a vast field for delightful study is thus opened out to the diligent student of God’s Word.
(3) By Biography.—The Bible biographies of Adam, Isaac, Joseph, David, Solomon and many others are in certain details typical of Christ, and therefore in that respect prophetic. Adam, the head of the first creation, is typical of Christ, the Head of the new creation.
“Adam… is the figure of Him that was to come” (Rom. 5:14).
Isaac is the type of the heavenly Christ. The first mention of love in the Bible is where God said to Abraham:
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee there into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains that I will tell thee of” (Gen. 22:2).
Does this not illustrate most beautifully the love of God the Father to His well-beloved Son, and bring before us that great sacrifice that righteousness demanded and love provided?
Isaac marrying Rebekah provides the second mention of love in the Bible (see Gen. 24:67), typical of Christ and the church.
Joseph furnishes a type of Christ in death, resurrection, exaltation and in millennial glory. This is seen in his being sold into Egypt, brought out of prison and being set next to Pharaoh on the throne.
David is typical of Christ in His rejection, and in His triumph over the devil who had the power of death.
Solomon is typical of Christ in His glory. Together they bring out “the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11).
The Psalms, which are in part auto-biographical of the feelings of the writers, are clearly in this as in other details, prophetic.
Psalm 22 will suffice as an outstanding example. In it the sufferings of Christ are detailed in a most wonderful way. You can see, as it were, the mocking crowds: “All that see me laugh me to scorn” (v. 7); the nails being driven into His hands and feet: “They pierced My hands and My feet” (v. 16); the soldier-robbers gambling for His clothes, and casting lots for His vesture: “They part My garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture” (v. 18).
And then the triumph of it all in the outburst, “I will declare Thy name among my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee” (v. 22), quoted in Hebrews 2:12, proves its prophetic value.
This short article might be expanded into a whole library, so great and interesting is the wealth of materials at our disposal on this interesting theme. What is written is merely suggestive.