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Creative Bible Study
The New Testament interprets many of the prophecies of the Old Testament because much of the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament. For example, compare this Old Testament prophecy and the New Testament fulfillment:
. . . and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23)
Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
And it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. (Romans 9:24-26)
Fulfilled prophecy in the New Testament includes many Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
THREE: THE RULE OF DOUBLE REFERENCE
Another key to understanding Bible prophecy is the "rule of double reference." This rule for interpreting Bible prophecy states that a prophecy of immediate fulfillment is made as a means of teaching a deeper truth or foretelling an event to be fulfilled farther in the future.
Many times in the Bible a prophecy was fulfilled immediately after it was given, but the same prophecy applied not only to the event which was fulfilled immediately, but also to a second fulfillment farther in the future.
For example, there is a prophecy given in Ezekiel 28:1-19 which is addressed to Ethbaal who was then the king of Tyre. He was a wicked king. He was a type of the Antichrist who will arise during the end of the world. By saying Ethbaal is a "type" we mean that in nature and actions he was like the Antichrist which will come in the future. (You will learn more about "types" in the next chapter.) When God spoke in prophecy through Ezekiel, it was fulfilled in the immediate future in the life of Ethbaal. But there is a future event, as yet unfulfilled, where the same prophecy applies to the evil end time ruler called the Antichrist.
As you study Bible prophecy remember this rule of double reference. Ask yourself two questions:
1. What did this prophecy mean at the time it was given for the people to whom it was given? 2. Is there a future double reference in this prophecy?
Asking these questions will help you interpret prophecy to the full extent of its meaning.