CONTENTS Introduction
Abomination of Desolation REVELATION The Prophecies of Revelation.. Past or Future?
The Prophecies of Revelation.. A Final Fulfillment? The Plagues of Egypt
Joshua and The Seven Trumpets OTHER Elijah and John The Baptist
The Seven Feasts of Israel
Out Of Egypt
The Virgin Shall Conceive
Isaac and Moses Prefigured Christ Matthew 10
Acts 2:15-21
Matthew 24
The Angel and the Tomb.
Paul Scriptural Patterns or Christian Inventions
Classification and Definition of Biblical Types Also See
An Overview of Daniel's First Vision (Daniel 7) Introduction Predictive Prophecy: A Scriptural type and Predictive Prophecy are the same in substance, but differ in form. Typology typically looks backward… to the time of the original type. Predictive prophecy, on the other hand, looks forward, is expressly verbal and usually very specific, although it may go from a distant future event to one much closer away and then back to the distant event, all within the same paragraph. [One of the clearest examples of this occurs when Jesus read from Isaiah 61 and proclaimed the fulfillment of verse 1 and the first half of 2 (Luke 4:18-19). However He stopped in the middle of verse two, which was not for the time in which He was speaking… the remainder of the prophecy [verse 2 and 3] is yet to be fulfilled!] Typology: The word typology has several distinct uses, but in Christian theology it is a representation by one thing of another. While a type is a factual happening in history Divinely ordained to be a prophetic picture [or a glimpse] of one or more actual events yet to come, the futuristic significance of typology is not always apparent. While the mere resemblance between two persons or events does not automatically make something a type, a Biblical event, person, or institution which serves as an example or pattern for other events, persons, or institutions does. The subsequent happenings are called the antitype, which usually are more intense and/or more important than the original type. For example, if David is the 'type' and Messiah the 'antitype', the Messiah would be "greater than" David. In Romans 5:14 Paul asserts that Adam “is a figure (tupos) of him that was to come”, i.e., Christ. However we tend to assume that all types (and prophecy) in the Old Testament were fulfilled in the New, but this is far from the truth. Jewish people in the time of Jesus did not interpret Scripture the way we do. Our Western concepts of allegory and typology are basically Western repackaging, since we use Greek methods of interpretation to try to understand a Jewish book. Jesus was first century Jewish rabbi and taught the same way other rabbis did making it imperative that we try and understand the way Jews thought about the Bible. Western Protestants interpret prophecy in one of four different ways: Preterism, Historicism, Idealism, or Futurism. These basic four or five schools of thought have lent themselves to several offshoots (especially regarding the book of Revelation). Four Schools of Thought Preterism The term preterism comes from the Latin praeter, meaning "past". It holds that some or all of the biblical prophecies concerning the Last Days (or End Times) refer to events which actually happened in the first century after Christ's birth. Preterism is the belief that holds that the Tribulation prophecies occurred in the first century, thus are already passed. Liberals (Christians or otherwise), who do not believe in a supernatural knowledge of the future often embrace preterism. Therefore, when Isaiah predicted events concerning King Cyrus 200 years before their occurrence, in their minds it proves automatically - prima facie - that Isaiah actually wrote it after the fact, that he was a historian not a prophet. Or that the book of Isaiah was not written by Isaiah, but by someone after the captivity. Their basis for this is that Isaiah could not possibly have known about King Cyrus 200 years ahead of time. [Also See The Menace of Radical Preterism]
Historicism, apparently made much of by the reformers, teaches that the Book of Revelation is a pre-written history of the Church from the time of its writing to the future Second Advent of Christ… the Church Age and the Tribulation are the same. Historicists believe that the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments are being, or have been, fulfilled by different events which have taken place throughout Church history. In other words, one of the seal judgments may have been the rise of Islam and their attempt to conquer Christianity. Or, one of the trumpet judgments may have been the rise of Napoleon and his conquest of Europe. This view is subscribed to by Kingdom Now advocates.. [See Section Dominion Theology] Idealism says: The contents of the book of Revelation are not seen to relate to any historical events at all, but is only given to symbolize the ongoing struggle between good and evil during the church age until Christ returns. It reminds Christians of the glory to come and the judgment of their persecutors, and is thus designed to encourage them during times of persecution. However apocalyptic writing like Revelation generally describe actual events in history. Also the clear language of the text says that Jesus will show him (the writer) what must take place next (4:1). Futurism states that these things are going to happen in the Last Days. The seal, trumpets and bowl judgments all occur in the last 3.5 years of the seven year period of Daniel's 70th week. The end result of this Great Tribulation is the destruction of ecclesiastical and political Babylon. Then Christ will return with the church and set up his kingdom To a Western Gentile mind, one of these four methods, (or a derivative of) is the correct view of all Biblical prophecy. A Jew in the first century, however, would have been all four simultaneously, as Jesus was Himself. Western ideas of prophecy involve prediction and fulfillment. The Hebrew idea of prophecy is a pattern that is repeated, multiple fulfillments with one ultimate fulfillment. Each of the multiple fulfillments is both a type of, and a lesson on, the ultimate fulfillment. Take, as an example, Jesus’ teaching on the Abomination of Desolation
Abomination of Desolation In Matthew 24:15-33 Jesus says that when you see the Abomination of Desolations spoken of by the prophet Daniel, then you will know the End is near. When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand), Mat 24:15 .. ..even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. Mat 24:33
The difficulty is that the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, had already occurred about 200 years prior to Jesus mentioning it. (Jesus celebrated Hanukah, the Feast of Dedication, in John 10) In 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes thought he had solved the "Jewish problem." His troops leveled the walls of Jerusalem, and he erected a huge fortress, known as Acra, in the Temple area for the use of his Greek troops. The Temple itself was rededicated to the Greek god Zeus, with Antiochus erecting a statue of Zeus with his own likeness in the sanctuary. He also desecrated the Temple and its altar of worship by slaughtering a swine on the altar. Hanukah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees triumphed over the powerful Greek armies in 165 B.C.E. and the following miracle of a one day supply of oil lasting eight days. However Jesus took that event and prophesied that it would happen again. He took a past event and spoke about it in the future tense. Then there were other Abominations of Desolation, with one continuing into the present day all of which are part of an escalating pattern… The Christians who were in Jerusalem at the time recognized the A.D. 66 assault upon the city by Cestius Gallus as the fulfillment of the words of our Lord . The mere presence of the Roman army in the "holy city" was an abomination, standing where it ought not. After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the town was still mostly a heap of ruins when sixty years later, Hadrian built a new city on the ancient ground. Called Aelia Capitolina, it was crowned by a temple of Jupiter, on the site of the ruined Temple. Julian the Apostate (called so because of his rejection of Christianity) in keeping with his effort to foster religions other than Christianity, ordered the Temple rebuilt at an extravagant expense, and committed this task to Alypius of Antioch. Alypius set vigorously to work, … when fearful balls of fire, breaking out near the foundations, continued their attacks, till the workmen, after being repeatedly scorched, could approach no more: and he gave up the attempt. Today on the Temple Mount, we have the Mosque of Omar, the Dome of the Rock. Inscribed on the outside of it, around its periphery, is a quotation from a Sura in the Koran, which is translated: "God has no son". This too can be counted as an Abomination.
All of these preceding Abominations of Desolation typify the one that is yet to come. Most Bible prophesy interpreters believe that Jesus was referring to the antichrist, who’s actions are likely to mirror those of Antiochus Epiphanes in some way. Bolstering this opinion is the fact that not all that Daniel prophesied [Daniel 9:27] took place in 167 B.C…. Antiochus did not confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years, therefore it is likely to be the antichrist who, in the end times, will establish a covenant with Israel for seven years and then break it. Note however, that the corresponding verse in Mark 13:14 refers to the Abomination of Desolation as an it: But when you shall see the abomination of desolation, which is described by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that are in Judea flee to the mountains; [Emphasis Added].
The Prophecies of Revelation.. Past or Future? Again much controversy has swirled around the prophecies of Revelation.. with many [Preterists] believing that most or all of the prophecies were fulfilled in the first century with the destruction of the Temple and the devastation of Jerusalem. Other believe [Futurists] that most or all of the prophecies are yet to be fulfilled. This totally ignores the twofold nature of Hebrew prophecy… which is not a one time event but a pattern that repeats itself over and over again, until it’s ultimate fulfillment. It is impossible for all of Revelation to have already come to pass in 70 AD. since among other details, Revelation 3:10 tells us that future time of trial will come upon all the world. [Also See Revelation 13:7,8,12,14,16] Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
In the Jewish war, God used the Romans as His instrument of judgment against the nation Israel who had rejected their Messiah. It was a time of great trouble for Israel, but did not particularly affect the other nations of the world and certainly does not match the descriptions of the great tribulation which point to a world-wide time of distress. The Bible repeatedly states that the great tribulation is a unique time of trouble such as has never been before and such as will never be in the future. Consider the following verses.. "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be"; [Matthew 24:21] "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time"; Daniel 12:1 "for that day was great, so that none is like it." Jeremiah 30:7
In any case 70 A.D. was probably not the worst time of trouble that Israel has ever experienced. The slaughtering of many millions of Jews by Hitler during World War II was perhaps even more atrocious. Additionally Revelation 13 tells us about a political leader so powerful that no one can make war with him (v.4), the forced worship of this man by all those who dwell on the earth (v.8), a required mark received on the right hand or in the forehead (v.16), those not having this mark unable to buy and sell. None of these things have been fulfilled yet. Yet in both the beginning and the end of Revelation there are statements that indicate impending fulfillment. Among others … Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; [Emphasis added] Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angels to show unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass. [Emphasis added]
The Prophecies of Revelation.. A Final Fulfillment? Revelation 12:1-6 appears to be a re-telling of events already passed.. Herod's attempt to assassinate the child Jesus by killing all male children under two years of age and the child taken up to God. Additionally Matthew 24, which has always been a very difficult chapter for many people to understand, contains an overlap of two different events.. the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the world. Much of the confusion in interpreting the predictions of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24 [and the parallel passages] arises from the failure to see that the disciples asked and Jesus answered two questions: one, concerning the fall of Jerusalem; the other, concerning His second coming. [See This Generation] Can this bring us to the conclusion that there is a fairly straightforward division of Matthew 24. That the events of Matthew 24:4-34 have to do with the “generation” that was contemporary with the Lord and the destruction of Jerusalem, while verses 35-51 allude to the end of days? Unfortunately not! The earlier verses in Matthew are typical Hebrew prophecy with an immediate fulfillment as well as a distant fulfillment... One of the most fascinating features of the Olivet Discourse [from verses 5-29] is that they exactly parallel the Seven Seals. Jesus' description of the "beginning of sorrows," the "great tribulation," and His post-tribulation coming, complete with the cosmic sign, are fulfilled in the same sequence in Revelation 6. [See The Seven Seals] Therefore [in Matthew 24:4-34] Jesus was not merely referring to the terrible destruction of Jerusalem which took place a few years later. He was warning about the fall of the Holy City, not only for the terrible event it was, but also as a shadow of what was to come, an even more catastrophic event.... the great tribulation. This is further reinforced by the fact that Revelation 6:16 and Luke 23:30 describe people’s reaction to the terrors around them in almost identical language. Revelation 6:16 and Luke 23:30 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [Revelation 6:16] But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. [Luke 23:28-30.
The Plagues of Egypt
The same judgments that take place in the book of Exodus are replayed in the book of Revelation. In both books we hear of water turned to blood, terrible locusts and body sores, of darkness and lightning and thunder and hailstorms. Yet, in both cases, the oppressors will not repent and acknowledge God or his people (Exodus 8:15,19 and Revelation 9:20 and 16:9). As Pharaoh's magicians were able to counterfeit the miracles of Moses and Aaron, the antichrist and his false prophet will be able to counterfeit the miracles of Jesus and His witnesses. The song of Miriam ('I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously - the horse and the rider are thrown into the sea!") is sung in Revelation 15:3. Just as The Israelites brought Joseph's bones with them out of Egypt, at the front of the procession, The Scriptures tell us in I Thessalonians 4:16-17 "the dead in Christ will rise first".
Joshua and The Seven Trumpets Joshua 6 and Revelation 10 and 11 both contain the same numerical pattern. In Joshua 6:8, seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns marched around Jericho once every day for six days, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant followed them. On the seventh day they marched around the city as before, except they marched around the city not once, but seven times. At the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city”. When the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they shouted with a great shout, and the walls fell down flat. And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. Joshua 6:3-4 This same numerical pattern is present in Revelation. Jesus opened the book of seven seals (5:1), the seventh seal starts the process of the seven Trumpets (8:1-2). As the seventh trumpet sounded (11:15), the ark of the covenant appeared in heaven (11:19), and there were loud voices in heaven crying out, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ!" (11:15). In one hour Great Babylon, the wicked city fell (18:2). All the city was burned with fire (18:8).
Elijah and John The Baptist Elijah was undoubtedly, one of Israel's greatest prophets. He completely changed the weather over Israel for several years in a row, he called down fire from heaven, raised the dead and, skipping death himself, was borne off to heaven in a whirlwind. John the Baptist was, very clearly a type of Elijah. John’s life and message bore many similarities to that of Elijah. He appeared on the scene suddenly, sought to turn people back to God as Elijah did in his day and even dressed like Elijah. Therefore it is hardly surprising that the Jews wondered if he might be the promised figure of Elijah. (The Jews did not seem to understand that the promise of Elijah did not necessarily mean the literal, historical Elijah, but simply someone who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah and performs a similar ministry). John the Baptist was the only prophet who was the fulfillment of a distinct prophecy given by Malachi, who was in turn using the words of Isaiah... Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. [Malachi 3:1] The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God. [Isaiah 40:3].
Jesus verified the Malachi prophecy as applying to John the Baptist, saying.. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee. [Matthew 11:10]
The angel told Zacharias before John's birth.. And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. [Luke 1:17]
But Malachi seems to blend, as both Joel and Jesus did, the first and second coming of our Lord. After the Transfiguration the three disciples and Jesus were coming down from the mountain and had the following conversation: And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: but I say into you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them. Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. [Mat 17:10-13] (Emphasis Added)
In the above discussion Jesus seems to switch time frames in mid sentence and speak both of an Elijah that had already come [John the Baptist] and one that had yet to come, which could tie in with both the verses in Malachi that speak of Elijah [3:1 and 4:5], especially Malachi 4:5, where the Lord promised Israel that He would send them Elijah the prophet before "the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord". Perhaps another “voice of one crying in the wilderness” Many commentators believe that one of the two witnesses mentioned in Rev. 11:3 may be "Elijah". As in the case of John the Baptist, this does not necessarily mean the literal, historical Elijah, but simply someone who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah and performs a similar function. Perhaps the most significant of the types are the
The Seven Feasts of Israel The most complete description of the feasts is found in Leviticus 23. In order to understand the significance of the Jewish feasts, it is imperative to comprehend their purpose and timing. Each of the feasts have both a historic and prophetic significance. They celebrate a historical event in Israel's past, but also are a prophecy of future events which have been, or will be, fulfilled. The first four feasts were fulfilled by Jesus Christ during His life on earth and when He sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The last three will be fulfilled at His second coming. [Details] Out of Egypt When Matthew writes his nativity narrative, he says of Jesus, "Out of Egypt I have called My Son," (Matt. 2:15) quoting from Hosea chapter 11:1. However even a cursory glance at Hosea 11.1 tells us that Hosea was talking about the Exodus, when the children of Israel left Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Yet Matthew takes this verse, seemingly out of all context, and applies it to Jesus. However, the problem is not that Matthew took it out of context, nor, as some have charged, that he was manipulating the Scriptures to suit his purpose, but that the Western church has taken a Jewish book and constructed its own rules of context. Matthew thought in a way that we usually do not; Matthew thought of prophecy as a pattern, not a single event. He looked at a concrete historical event and saw in it a foreshadowing of another event. This pattern originated many centuries ago with Abraham. God judged Pharaoh, and Abraham (the archetype, the father of all who believe) came out of Egypt along with his descendants. (Genesis 12:14-13:2) Then, in Exodus, God again judges Pharaoh, and the descendants of Abraham's come out of Egypt. Just as Abraham received money from Pharaoh, so the Israelites plundered the Egyptians in Exodus. Next, Jesus comes out of Egypt, after, once again, the wicked king (Herod this time) is judged. Jesus id often alluded to in Scripture as "Israel My glory, Israel My first-born son". Jesus, the embodiment of Israel, also comes out of Egypt. Then, in I Corinthians 10, we come out of Egypt ourselves! Egypt is a figure of this world; Pharaoh is a figure of the devil, who is the god of this world. Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, through the water, and into the Promised Land. Jesus leads us out of the world, through baptism, and into Heaven. One is a type of the other; we all have an Exodus experience.
But the ultimate meaning is the resurrection and rapture of the church.
The Virgin Shall Conceive
Isaiah was instructed to say the following to King Ahaz -- "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" [Isaiah 7:14, NKJV]. There are a few things to note. First, some biblical translations (such as the NKJV, which is here quoted) have done some interpretation as well as translation of this particular passage. The words "Son" and "His," by way of example, are capitalized, signifying the belief that this child is the Messiah. Although that is probably a correct assumption, at least on one level of fulfillment, it is nevertheless still a matter of interpretation, and such personal assumptions, even though they may be correct, should not be imposed upon a biblical text by those entrusted with the task of translation. Second, it should be noted that the NKJV has correctly rendered the text to read "the virgin." The definite article (which is present in the original -- Hebrew: ha almah) has been totally ignored by some translations and versions (thus rendering the passage: "a virgin"). Isaiah clearly had a specific person in mind. There has been great difficulty over the years in seeking to interpret the significance of this prophecy. "Few prophecies have been the subject of so much controversy, or called forth such a variety of exegesis, as this prophecy of Immanuel" [Pulpit Commentary, vol. 10, p. 129]. "This one verse has received more discussion than any other passage in the OT, yet without any consensus emerging among commentators. While Christians agree that it refers ultimately to the birth of Christ, they remain divided about its original and primary meaning" [International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 4, p. 990] It should be noted that this child was to be called "Immanuel." This is a word meaning "God with us." An angel told Joseph, with regard to the pregnancy of Mary, his betrothed, "That which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a son; and you shall call his name Jesus" [Matt. 1:20-21]. "Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us'" [Matt. 1:22-23]. Thus, we clearly have a Messianic fulfillment to the passage, as declared in the gospel account of Matthew. Isaiah 7:14, "like many other prophecies, had a double (both a typical and a true) fulfillment. The first was in the reign of Ahaz, a sign concerning a temporal deliverance, but the higher reference is to the spiritual Deliverer of the world" [Read Article in It’s Entirety]
Isaac and Moses Prefigured Christ Two of the most outstanding personal types in Scripture are Isaac and Moses. Isaac: There were remarkable similarities between the births of Isaac and of Jesus Christ. Both births had been announced beforehand (Genesis 17:16 and Luke 1:31) and both were miraculous. Sarah conceived at the age of 89 and Isaac was born when she was ninety (Gen 17:17) and Mary was yet a virgin when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:34). The announcement of the births to Sarah and Mary raised questions in the minds of both women. Sarah laughed and said, "This thing cannot be. It is beyond belief." And Mary asked, "How can this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34). Both Isaac and Jesus were named before their births. Abraham and Sarah were told that they were going to have a son and that they were to name him Isaac. (Gen 17:19) The angel said to Joseph, thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Both Isaac and Jesus' births occurred at God's appointed time and not before. Genesis 21:2 states that at the set time which God had spoken to them of, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Regarding the birth of Jesus, Paul says, "but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (Gal. 4:4). Both Isaac and Jesus were obedient to their fathers even unto death. In Genesis 22 Isaac is offered up as a blood sacrifice. Though the Lord stayed Abraham's hand, at the time Abraham believed the Lord would raise Isaac up again (cf. Heb. 11:19) which was itself a foreshadow of the resurrection of Jesus Christ who was also obedient to the Father unto death (Phil. 2:8).
Moses: In one of his most specific predictions, Moses declared that God would raise up another Jewish prophet in the future whose life would closely resemble his. He explicitly declared that he would be a 'type/pattern' for another prophet to come, which is perhaps the most compelling of all Messianic Prophecy. [Details].
Matthew 10 In Matthew 10, Jesus sends the apostles out in pairs, telling them about certain events that will happen to them, however none of them do, at least not immediately. [Similarly, in Acts 2, Peter describes what is happening, but none of it actually happens]. However if one realizes that all Hebrew prophecy was a recurring pattern with an ultimate fulfillment, then one is forced to look further and more deeply.. “But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another.
Jesus sent out the apostles in pairs, telling them they will be brought before governors and kings, they will be persecuted, the Holy Spirit will give them utterance, and they will be betrayed by their families, but to persevere to the end and they will be saved. But none of it happened. They were not brought before governors and kings for His name's sake. The Holy Spirit did not give them utterance when they were on trial. Brother did not deliver up brother and parents did not deliver up their children. They were not hated by all nations for His name's sake when He sent them out in pairs. None of it happened. This prophecy is repeated in Luke 21:12, with one notable addition.. Luke says 'before all these things: "'But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls."
While none of the situations predicted in Matthew 10 immediately happened to the apostles, every one of them first happened to Jesus. Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor. Mat 27:1 -2. Which was a fulfillment of Psalm 2 Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed…” [Psalm 2:1-2]
However in the early chapters of Acts, these things do happen to the apostles. "So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.' So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." (Acts 4:18-23)
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. [Act 5:40-41]. So, as prophesized by Jesus, the were apostles brought before governors and kings, scourged in the synagogue and given utterance by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:15-21 Similarly in Acts 2:15-20, Peter quotes from Joel chapter 2, saying "'For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: (18) Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (19) And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day. Act 2:17-20
While the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was accompanied by some remarkable signs and wonders, there were no prophecies made on the day of Pentecost. – There were no great signs in heaven or on earth. No blood, fire, or vapor of smoke. The sun did not turn to darkness nor the moon to blood.. Therefore the events in Acts were only a partial fulfillment of the prophecy made by Joel. The rest is yet to come. It is not until the ‘Day of The Lord’ that the Sun and moon will be darkened… And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Revelation 6:12-13. [Emphasis Added]
The early church experienced a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, corresponding to the spring rains, but Acts 2:16-21 predicts that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Last Days will also be accompanied by signs and wonders, by prophecy and visions. The book of Acts not only tells us about past history but in the true spirit of Jewish prophecy tells us what is yet to come. The early church experienced a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, corresponding to the spring rains but the latter rain is yet to come. There was a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early church, and there will be again on the church of the last days. Jesus fulfilled the Spring Feasts of Israel during His first coming. He fulfilled Passover as the Passover lamb that was slain, He fulfilled First fruits as the first fruit of the Resurrection, and He fulfilled Pentecost when He sent the Holy Spirit. Those are the spring holidays, when the spring rains come and prepare the harvest. The long, hot summer corresponds to the age of the Gentile church, but then the rainy season begins again in the autumn, and another harvest comes. Matthew 24 In verses one through four Jesus begins by talking about the destruction of the Temple, an event which happened in the lifetimes of some of the apostles. However Jesus once again does here what He did in Matthew 10 - He changes the time-frame in the middle of a conversation. He begins talking about 70 AD, but then He switches time-frame and talks about the end of the world. In the words of R.C. Foster: “Much of the confusion in interpreting the predictions of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24 and the parallel passages arises from the failure to see that the disciples asked and Jesus answered two questions: one, concerning the fall of Jerusalem; the other, concerning His second coming”
The disciples probably assumed that the destruction of the temple, and the end of the world, would occur at the same time. Jesus sought to correct that impression, first, by discussing the Roman invasion, and then by commenting regarding his final coming. That much of the Olivet discourse refers to the end of time is known from the fact that it exactly parallels the seven seals. Jesus' description of the "beginning of sorrows," the "great tribulation," and His post-tribulation coming, complete with the cosmic signs, are fulfilled in the same sequence in Revelation 6. The Angel and the Tomb. Then the pattern is built on even further. In Matthew 27:65 and 28:2-4 we are told that Pilate set a guard over Jesus’ tomb, [which proved no obstacle to the angel that rolled the stone away and terrified the guards out of their minds].. "Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard."
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. Matthew 28:2-4. The pattern is repeated with the apostles in Acts 5. But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward. But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said, Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life. Act 5:17-20.
Just as an angel made the way for Jesus to emerge from the tomb, so also an angel also led the apostles out of prison. Paul Additionally the ministry of Paul and his last days replayed the events that transpired in Jesus’ last days. The rabbis make false charges against Jesus to the Roman authorities in John 9:4 & 6. however, Pontius Pilate wants no part in judging Jesus. (John 19:4-6) False charges were made by the rabbis against Paul to the Roman authorities, but the Roman governor wanted no part of judging Paul either, (Acts 18:12-18). Prior to His arrest, Jesus met with His disciples at Passover in an upper room to break bread (Mark 14:12-15). Paul met with his disciples in an upper room to break bread before he was arrested (Acts 20:6-8,) Jesus predicted His death to His followers, accepting it as God's will for His life (John 10:15 and Mark 10:32-34). Paul does the very same things in Acts 20:24, 25 In John 18:11, Jesus' disciples attempted to convince Him to avoid this death, not to go to Judea in order to spare His life. In Acts 21:11-13, Paul's disciples also try to persuade him not to go to Jerusalem in order to save his neck. Matthew 7:15, 24:11, Mark 13:6, and Luke 21:8 contain warnings from Jesus about wolves that would come to devour the sheep once He left, and He did this at the end of His three-year relationship with them. Acts 20:29,30 shows Paul at the end of three years warning his disciples about false prophets who would come in among them. Mark 15:12-15, John 19:15, Luke 23:21, and Matt. 27:21-23 record that the multitudes cried out for the death of Jesus, having been incited by the rabbis. In Acts 21:36 and 22:22 we find the multitude demanding Paul's death after having been incited by the rabbis. Matthew 26:59-61 shows the rabbis trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus; He was falsely accused of teaching against the Torah and the Temple. Acts 21:28 records the same thing happening to Paul - the rabbis falsely accused him of teaching against the Torah and the Temple. In Luke 23:8 we see how Jesus aroused curiosity, then intrigue, with the civil Roman government; in Acts 22:30 we find that Paul, too, aroused curiosity and then intrigue with the civil Roman government. In John 19 and Matthew 27 the Roman government tried to release Jesus, but then turned the entire affair over to the rabbinic authorities once they were unable to free Him, knowing He was innocent. In Acts 22:30 and 18:15 it happened to Paul. Matthew 27:24 reveals that the Roman authorities were forced to re-intervene in the case of Jesus in order to prevent rioting; Acts 23:10, 21:34-36 records that the Roman government also had to intervene in Paul's case to prevent rioting. The Roman governor in Matthew 26:4 came from Caesarea to Jerusalem to judge Jesus when the rabbis formed their conspiracy to kill Him; the Roman proconsul came from Caesarea to Jerusalem to judge Paul under the same circumstances, in Acts 23:12, 21. Jesus was delivered by His Jewish brothers into the hands of Gentiles and the governor in fulfillment of a specific prophecy, as seen in Luke 23:1, Matthew 27:2, Luke 18:32. In Acts 10:18 Paul underwent the same ordeal, again in fulfillment of a specific prophecy. John 18:22 tells of Jesus being struck for the way He spoke to the high priest; Acts 23:2 tells of Paul also being struck for the same reason. In Matthew 23:27 Jesus called the religious hypocrites 'whitewashed tombs', alluding to the whitewashing of sepulchers for the Pesach. In Acts 23:3 Paul calls the priest a 'whitewashed wall'. Jesus used the Resurrection to counter-manipulate the Pharisees and Sadducees against each other when they had come together against Him, in Luke 20:26-40. In Acts 23:9, Paul uses the same strategy.
So Matthew 10 did not happen at the time Jesus spoke, but it did happen to Him, then to the apostles, and then to Paul, in unmistakable detail.
Scriptural Patterns or Christian Inventions
(From christian-thinktank.com) For those that argue that most of the examples given above are simply a Christian invention, Scripture itself used typology in numerous places. Take, for example, Exodus 20:8 where the creation week is used as a pattern for the Sabbath. "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
Additionally the account of Joshua taking the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land [Joshua 3-5] seems to be explicitly set up to correspond to Moses and the Exodus. Compare the Details: Josh 3.7: "I will be with you (Joshua) as I was with Moses" Both the waters of the Jordan and the waters of the Sea of Reeds split and stood up straight in a ‘heap’ Joshua 3:13 And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap. Exodus 15:8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were piled up, The floods stood upright as a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. Josh 3.17 tells us that the people passed over on dry ground (See Exodus 14.21) Josh 4.14 says that: the people feared Joshua 'as they feared Moses' Joshua 4.22-24 says For Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over; Both Joshua and Moses are visited by an Angel of The Lord, who in each case said exactly the same words. Joshua 5:15 And the prince of Jehovah's host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. Exodus 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
One very fascinating and impressive example of typology regards the Babylonians destruction of the first Temple on Tisha ba'v, [roughly the 9th of August on the Hebrew calendar] in 586 B.C. Under what were nearly identical military circumstances, Rome destroyed the second Temple on the same date, Tisha ba'v. [One reason why the early Christians began identifying Rome with Babylon]
Footnote Classification of Biblical Types “It is somewhat difficult to give a satisfactory classification of Biblical types, but broadly they may be distributed under three heads: (1) Personal types, by which are meant those personages of Scripture whose lives and experiences illustrate some principle or truth of redemption. Such are Adam, who is expressly described as the "figure of him that was to come" (Romans 5:14), Melchizedek, Abraham, Aaron, Joseph, Jonah, etc. (2) Historical types, in which are included the great historical events that under Providence became striking foreshadowings of good things to come, e.g. the Deliverance from the Bondage of Egypt; the Wilderness Journey; the Conquest of Canaan; the Call of Abraham; Deliverances by the Judges, etc. (3) Ritual types, such as the Altar, the Offerings, the Priesthood, the Tabernacle and its furniture”. [William G. Moorehead] Definition of Biblical Types “The word "type" is derived from a Greek term (tupos), which occurs 16 times in the New Testament. It is variously translated in the King James Version, e.g. twice "print" (John 20:25); twice "figure" (Acts 7:43; Romans 5:14); twice "pattern" (Titus 2:7; Hebrews 8:5); once "fashion" (Acts 7:44); once "manner" (Acts 23:25); once "form" (Romans 6:17); and seven times "example" (1 Corinthians 10:6,11; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3). It is clear from these texts that the New Testament writers use the word "type" with some degree of latitude; yet one general idea is common to all, namely, "likeness." A person, event or thing is so fashioned or appointed as to resemble another; the one is made to answer to the other in some essential feature; in some particulars the one matches the other. The two are called type and antitype; and the link which binds them together is the correspondence, the similarity, of the one with the other. Three other words in the New Testament express the same general idea. One is "shadow" ( skia, Hebrews 10:1), "For the law having a shadow of the good things to come"--as if the substance or reality that was still future cast its shadow backward into the old economy. "Shadow" implies dimness and transitoriness; but it also implies a measure of resemblance between the one and the other. The second term is "parable" (parabole, Hebrews 9:9); the tabernacle with its services was an acted parable for the time then present, adumbrating thus the blessed reality which was to come. The third term is "copy" or "pattern" (hupodeigma), a word that denotes a sketch or draft of something future, invisible (Hebrews 9:23); the tabernacle and its furniture and services were copies, outlines of heavenly things”. [William G. Moorehead] | 
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