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e.
We must decide whether the prophetical passage we are considering is conditional or
unconditional and,
f.
whether it has been fulfilled or not, bearing in mind there is such a thing as multiple or
double fulfillment which is not the same as multiple sense; the prophecy may be
fulfilled in more than one stage.
g.
As we stressed before, we must take the literal meaning of the prophecy as a
controlling guide. This does not mean a dry, wooden, excessive literalism, which
disregards poetic imagery, figures of speech and symbols. In the Old Testament
we have prophecies relating to Messiah's first coming and also to His second
coming. As far as the Old Testament is concerned, both of these events were
future, but for us those relating to the first coming are now history, while only
those looking forward to His Second Advent are future. In other words, in the
Scriptures we have examples of definite predictions which have been fulfilled, and
as we study them, we can see without a shadow of doubt how they have been
fulfilled, that is, whether literally or spiritually.
Let us consider the Old Testament foreview of the events centering around the
Crucifixion (This is treated in the author's "The Unfolding Purpose of God" pp. 10-14);
there were at least fourteen prophecies fulfilled at this time.
(1)
The Lord's disciples were to forsake Him (Zech. 13: 7; Mark 14: 27);
(2)
He was to be dumb before His accusers (Isa. 53: 7; Matt. 27: 12-14);
(3)
He was to be wounded and bruised (Isa. 53: 5; Matt. 27: 26, 30);
(4)
His hands and feet were to be pierced (Psa. 22: 16; Luke 23: 33);
(5)
Yet none of His bones would be broken (Exod. 12: 46; John 19: 31-36);
(6)
He was to be crucified with thieves (Isa. 53: 12; Mark 15: 27, 28);
(7)
He was to pray for His persecutors (Isa. 53: 12; Luke 23: 34);
(8)
The people were to ridicule Him (Psa. 22: 7, 8; Matt. 27: 41-43);
(9)
His garments were to be parted and lots cast for His vesture (Psa. 22: 18;
John 19: 23, 24);
(10)
The cry from the cross (Psa. 22: 1; Matt. 27: 46);
(11)
They were to give Him gall and vinegar to drink (Psa. 69: 21; Matt. 27: 34);
(12)
His body was to be pierced (Zech. 12: 10; John 19: 34-37);
(13)
His heart was to be broken (Psa. 22: 14; John 19: 34);
(14)
He was to be buried in a rich man's grave (Isa. 53: 9; Matt. 27: 57-60).
If any spiritualizers existed when these Old Testament Scriptures were written, we can
well imagine that they would have dubbed any literal fulfillment as "unspiritual or
carnal", but they would have been wrong, for every one of these fourteen prophecies was
definitely and literally fulfilled within twenty-four hours. To these we can add others,
such as the prediction of Bethlehem as Messiah's birthplace (Micah 5: 2; Matt. 2: 4-6),
His virgin birth (Isa. 7: 14; Matt. 1: 23), and His riding into Jerusalem on a colt
(Zech. 9: 9; Matt. 21: 4, 5). The meaning of these would have been completely missed
had any attempt been made to spiritualize them. Is there not a lesson that we can learn
regarding prophetic interpretation from all this? We believe there is. If so many
prophecies concerning the Lord's first coming were fulfilled literally, is not God teaching
us that this is the way we should seek to interpret the yet future prophecies of His second
coming?