The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Prophecy and dual fulfillment

I am wondering about something concerning prophecy. I have been hearing that a prophecy can have more than one fulfillment. That seems a bit like an oxymoron to me because to fulfill it means that it is complete, or done. So how can it be completed or done twice?

The issue right now is the passage in Matt and Mark and the mount of Transfiguration. One has told me that the Lord Himself gave a dual fulfillment right there of the prophet Elijah. What i mean is, that Jesus said that Elijah is going to come first, and that he already has come, meaning John the baptist. Here are the passages.

and

This is about Jesus and what He said concerning Elijah. They are saying that John the Baptist was Elijah, and that another Elijah is yet to come. That Jesus says so here in these passages.

I hope that made sense lol. If it doesn't, I will try hard to make it more clear. But is there such a thing as dual fulfillment of prophecy? Is this in fact a prophecy fulfilled in John the Baptist that has yet to be fulfilled again at some future date? Any thoughts on this are much appreciated.

Michele

Michele,

This may be just what the doctor ordered: Prophetic Fulfillment in the New Testament. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,

Hey Pilgrim.. thanks! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bravo.gif" alt="" />

That is exactly what I needed. He basically says what I have been trying to say. I am just not very eloquent with my words LOL.

I am finally looking at this stuff.. I have not wanted to even think about it for quite some time. And it was funny, because it was the same argument used here that was used when I left the charismatic thing. I asked them where in the bible does it say that a prophecy can be fulfilled twice, or where in the bible is there a prophecy given, and then, in the bible, fulfilled twice or more? They answered with the verse that says "out of Egypt I called my son." So I looked it up, and saw the verse in Matthew, and then in Hosea. They said this was dual fulfillment, but it's not. Hosea is the prophecy, and in Matthew it is fulfilled. No duel prophetic fulfillment there!

I guess I am seriously looking at the idea that some of the prophecies that are expected to come, may have already happened. It is very difficult to read for instance Matthew 24 (if I am remembering right) without trying to peice together the time period. In that way, it reads as though Jesus is jumping around too much, and it takes some secret knowledge to figure out that the middle of the passage is really talking about the distant future, when all around it is talking about the here and now (back then) or what would be their near future.

Hope I don't sound too much like a dork <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/moron.gif" alt="" /> But the questions I have I feel are legitimate, and deserve valid and verifyable answers is all. I am still not sure exactly what to believe, but I know these days, I don't really like just reading something or hearing something taught, and just thinking.. "okay, that's right" because I've always been taught it, or don't know any better!

Anyway, thanks a lot <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Michele,

You will find that there are some prophesies that are partially fulfilled in one era and finally and fully fulfilled in a future era. This principle of prophesy is classically called, the "Already but not yet" principle. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Thus you will find that there was a physical fulfillment of a prophesy that was but partial and at the last day, it will be fulfilled totally, e.g., the infamous "Sabbath Rest". We now have a Sabbath Rest in Christ, but it won't be fully realized until we are glorified. The same can be said of salvation.

For a good exposition of Matthew 24, a hotly debated section of Scripture, to be sure, see here: Matthew Twenty-four, by Ralph Woodrow.

In His Grace,

Okay Pilgrim <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> thank you..
On the scripture in Malachi though, I wonder if you could help me with that one. It refers to John the Baptist and how he is preparing the way. I am referring to 4:4-6, but the first three verses are important too I think.

Malachi 4

1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this," Says the Lord of hosts.

4 "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

and here is Luke

The angel said of John the Baptist:
Luke 1:16,17,
"And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

This sure looks like John the baptist in Malachi 4:4-6, but what is the great and dreadful day of the Lord? I am wondering why would the great and dreadful day of the Lord be only His second coming, or is it His first coming as well? I am even thinking about what John the Baptist said about how "even now the axe is laid to the root." It looks a little bit like verse three! Oh well.. I'm no smartie pants I guess.

I guess I messed up on this over where I am discussing it, because I wrote a bit on this and I was told to go read my bible. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ugh.gif" alt="" /> It seemed to me that the great and dreadful day of the Lord was when Jesus died. That it didn't necessarily have to be the end of the age in this passage, but I know that it will be a dreadful and terrible day for unbelievers at the end of the age when Jesus comes back in all His glory.

Michele

This prophesy was fulfilled in John the Baptist as he came "in the spirit of Elijah" (Lk 1:17). As you know, Elijah wasn't prophesied to come back from the dead, which view some have believed to be true. In fact, in Luke 1:76f, John's ministry is said to be that which was prophesied in Isaiah 40:3-5. He was to be the forerunner of the Messiah who was to come. Thus we can say with confidence, that what was prophesied in Malachi was fulfilled BEFORE the actual, official ministry of Christ, which began when John the Baptist baptized Him and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him.

There are some commentators, e.g., T.V. Moore who believe that although the Malachi prophesy was fulfilled in John the Baptist, it continued to be fulfilled through history in those great "heroes of the faith", e.g., Martin Luther, John Calvin, Knox, etc. as the announced the great sovereign reformation of the Church. They also believe that there will be others also, who in like manner will herald the coming of further great outpourings of grace, in reformation and revival before Christ actually returns. I'll leave the possibility of this being a right application of the prophesy to your own thinking. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,

What would be the difference between the dual prophecy mentioned by Michelle, and what Hendriksen's states:



Hendriksen's disputes the preterist position in his commentary.

How would Henriksen be classified? I'm sure a amill, but would he be an historicist as well?

My Pastor uses the separated mountain peaks a lot.

The difference would be that Hendriksen and all classical Amillennialists hold to the "already but not yet" principle. As with the example of the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, it was not completely fulfilled, but it was only in part and a "type" of that final fulfillment at the end of the age immediately prior to the Great White Throne Judgment. Partial Preterists see the fall of Jerusalem and being a complete fulfillment of the prophesy and see nothing further happening at a later date. I'm not sure if you could classify Hendriksen as a "Historist". <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />

His commentary on Revelation, More Than Conquerors will give you much more than I could here. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His Grace,