Typologies in the Scriptures

Typological prophecy is one of the hardest literary devices to recognize. Once recognized, it is difficult to comprehend and explain.

FYI: Once the principles of typology are understood, there is a great danger in seeing typologies everywhere, even where it is unwarranted.

Typology in the Old Testament shadows, prefigures, or elucidates something in the New Testament. In theological discussions of typology, this is called a type (Old Testament) and antitype (New Testament).

The type is in the Old Testament as a historical event or instruction that prefigures the antitype. The New Testament finds the fulfillment of the type, hence it is the antitype. As such, it demonstrates the unity of both Old and New Testaments.

To the Dispensationalist or literal interpreter of the Bible, the natural reality of the earthly is all important;  the natural works great in the historical narratives in the Bible. However, it often misses the spiritual and typological meanings that were clearly intended.

Dispensationalists, with their literal interpretation claims, are so taken up with the earthly reality that they are missing the great spiritual meanings.

They place ever more significance on Israel and its temple, priesthood, and sacrifices. They declare that God will bring about an earthly Jewish type millennium and establish Israelite rule over world. However, the Bible clearly states that the tribulation saints will rule (Rev. 20:4.) They teach that all nations will be forced to perform those ancient rituals of the Temple in Jerusalem. These are among the Jewish myths Paul warned us about.

. . . instead of giving heed to Jewish myths or to commands of men who reject the truth. Titus 1:14

These teachers indeed have the”spirit of error,”

We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1John 4:6

These Dispensationalists see an earthly throne in an earthly city. This literal interpretation disregards the plainly presented typology of David’s Throne and Solomon’s Temple. They wish to re-enslave themselves to the shadow/type, instead of enjoying the freedom of the antitype which is a spiritual Kingdom.

21   Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law?  22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.  23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise.  24 Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.  25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.  27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married.”  28 Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.  29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.  30 But what does the scripture say? “Cast out the slave and her son; for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”  31 So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. Gal. 4:21-31

13   These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.  15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.  16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Heb. 11:13-16

The Kingdom is clearly a spiritual one, it cannot be shaken by either wars or earthquakes.

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel. Heb. 12:22-24

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; Heb. 12:28

The present unseen spiritual Kingdom is the eternal and only Kingdom.