Introduction: Beyond Single-Layer Prophecy

Bible prophecy isn’t a flat timeline—it’s three-dimensional, layered like eternity itself. The principle of double fulfillment  expands to triple , echoing Christ’s self-description: “I am Alpha and Omega… which is, and which was, and which is to come” . Old Testament prophecies about Christ’s first coming often had an initial historical fulfillment, a greater Messianic one, and ongoing principles. Logically, second coming prophecies follow suit. This rejects rigid futurism or preterism, embracing God’s eternal patterns: the Bible isn’t just old—it’s timeless; not just “what happened,” but “what always happens.”

As Psalm 119:89 declares, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” Prophecies recur in cycles of judgment, repentance, and restoration, culminating in consummation. We’ll trace this from foundation examples to Revelation parallels.

The Pattern Established: First Coming Prophecies

Most OT prophecies dual-fulfilled: a near historical event previewing the ultimate Messianic reality.

Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” Near: Israel’s exodus . Far: Jesus’ return from Egypt .

Micah 5:2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah… out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler.” Near: possible local ruler. Far: Christ’s birth .

Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.” Near: young woman in Isaiah’s day . Far: virgin birth .

Isaiah 53’s Suffering Servant: Near Israel afflicted? Far: Christ’s cross .

Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly… thy King cometh… meek, and… upon colt.” Far: Triumphal Entry .

Psalm 22: “They pierced my hands and my feet.” Near: David’s lament. Far: Crucifixion .

This typology—historical shadow to Messianic substance—sets the stage.

Progressive Revelation and Typology

Hebrews 1:1-2: “God… spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets… hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” Typology foreshadows: Israel prefigures Christ . Amos 3:7: God reveals “the end from the beginning.” Dual use amplifies sovereignty.

Logical Extension: Second Coming Prophecies

If first-coming prophecies double/triple, so must second. Near precursors signal ultimate return.

Case Study 1: Olivet Discourse 

Jesus prophesies Temple destruction and end signs. Near: 70 AD Roman siege . Verses 1-2: stones scattered. 4-14: wars, gospel spread. 15: Abomination . 16-22: Flight to Pella . “This generation” : 40 years.

Far: Post-trib cosmic signs , visible return , angels gather elect . Global scope exceeds 70 AD. Parallels Daniel 12:1.

Idealist: Recurring tribulation principles.

Case Study 2: Zechariah 14

Near: 70/135 AD sieges—half captive , plagues . Divine fight .

Far: Christ’s feet split Olives . Living waters . Global kingship . Nations worship or drought . Armageddon precursor.

Case Study 3: Daniel 9:24-27 

Near: Artaxerxes’ 457 BC decree . 69 weeks  to Messiah cut off . 70 AD desolation.

Far: 70th week future—Antichrist covenant , mid-week abomination . Gap for church age .

Seventy goals: finish transgression—millennial.

Case Study 4: Joel 2 

Near: Locust plague . Invincible army , darken skies .

Mid: Pentecost outpouring .

Far: Cosmic signs , great salvation .

Revelation: Triple-Dimensional Parallels 

Revelation 1:4,8 spirals past-present-future. Eternal patterns recur.

Revelation 1:7: Past piercing ; present spiritual sight; future literal .

Seals : Past Rome/70 AD; present wars/plagues; future Trib.

Two Witnesses : Past Temple warnings; present church; future 1260 days.

Woman/Dragon : Past Herod; present persecution; future mid-Trib flight.

Beast : Past Nero; present tyrants; future Antichrist.

Babylon : Past Rome; present apostasy; future fall.

White Rider : Past Gospel wins; present spiritual; future Armageddon.

Millennium : Binding patterns throughout.

Revelation’s structure recapitulates—seals, trumpets, bowls cycle judgments eternally applicable.

Eternal Bible: Timeless Truths

Ecclesiastes 1:9: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be.” Cycles: Flood-Sodom-Egypt-Babylon-70 AD-Trib. Witnesses recur. Resurrection typology builds to rapture.

Matthew 24:35: Words eternal. Revelation principles for every age—no date-setting, but pattern-watching.

Conclusion: Reclaim Prophetic Depth

This three-dimensional view unlocks Scripture: historical anchors, present power, future hope. Watch near signs accelerate to ultimate. For pews, not just scholars—Holy Spirit teaches . The Bible: eternally relevant.

It is a wonderful thing that happens when reading a familiar passage of Scripture. It happens when you stumble onto something that was there every other time you read it, but you just didn’t notice it or think it was significant. The passage I am talking about is in the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 16. The parable begins this way:

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:19-21 NKJV)

Now before anyone gets upset, yes, it is a parable for many reasons. But we must remember that a parable is a story designed to convey a spiritual message. Nowhere does that require it to be fictional. Otherwise, they would be called “fables” instead. But back to my point.

As far as I can recall, Jesus never gives a person’s name when He talks about them in a parable. The characters are usually just given descriptions like “a certain man”, or “a Samaritan”, etc. but in this parable, Jesus names one of the beggar as Lazarus. Is that significant? I don’t believe the Holy Spirit puts anything meaningless into the Bible, so yes, the name Lazarus is significant.

Later in the passage, the rich man is begging Abraham to let him go and warn his brothers so they would not end up in Hades.

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him [Lazarus] to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ (Luke 16:27, 28)

The rich man isn’t asking for an angel or even Abraham himself to go back, but specifically asks for Lazarus. The answer given by Abraham is not only poignant but is prophetic.

Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” (Luke 16:29-31)

Now for many years, I assumed that what Jesus was saying was that His own resurrection would fail to convince those who were determined not to believe. But I think there is more to this. I now also think He was prophesying about the reaction of the Jewish leaders to an event that would occur later in His ministry. Take a look over in the Gospel of John, chapter 11.

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. (John 11:43-46)

John here is relating the resurrection of another man named Lazarus from the dead. Yes, just as the rich man pleaded, a Lazarus rose from the dead as a miraculous sign of the Messiah. While some did believe, what was the reaction of the Jewish leaders?

Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. (John 11:53)

These men were experts in the writings of Moses and the prophets, but would not believe in Jesus, even though Lazarus had come back from the dead! And in the context of Luke 16, Jesus gave the parable of the rich man and Lazarus right in the presence of the Pharisees. Little did they realize that soon they would prove that the parable they were hearing was the truth! As with everything Jesus taught, it was fulfilled in every detail. For end the final analysis, it is not miracles or signs and wonders that cause faith. If someone is open to the Gospel, they will respond. But if someone has already determined to refuse to believe no physical miracle will change their mind, even if someone were to “rise from the dead.”

It is with much humility that we approach the book of Revelation. There are a multitude of reasons not to take many dogmatic positions here, not the least of which is that I want to reserve the right to modify or change my conclusions later on! And of course, Acts 17:11 always applies, so do your own research, too!
With that being said, I do believe that there is an erroneous teaching concerning the implications of Revelation 1:1 and the word “shortly” as it regards the timeframe for the events to follow in the next 22 chapters. What is being asserted is that, since it deals with things that must “shortly take place” then everything in that follows, with the possible exception of chapters 21 & 22 where it describes the church’s final state in Heaven, was to happen in the lifetime of the original recipients. This would, according to such expositors, mean that everything has already taken place. I have some problems with that.
First problem: the Greek word for shortly is “ἐν τάχει” which also can mean quickly. That would imply that when the things in this book start to happen, they will happen swiftly. That is the direction I lean because Jesus, the author of the book, neatly uses this same word in chapter 22, where in context everything is wrapped up and we are in the eternal state.
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…
And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand…
Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. (Revelation 22:6, 10, 12 ASV)

While many of the events of the first three chapters certainly did happen in the first or early second centuries, the fact that John is given this same word to use when describing a state which is still in the future for the saved means we can’t use verse 1:1 to categorically say that everything in the book was fulfilled in that time period. It just means that events will transpire rapidly when they finally do happen.

What is implied for us is that when these events happen, it will be too late to get ready for them. So no matter what your view of End Times prophecy, one question needs to be answered NOW — are you ready? Is your soul prepared for the return of the Lord? Or have you put it off and are walking dangerously unprepared to meet your God? Now is the time to prepare for eternity, for you know not when you shall enter it. Do not delay! Now is the day of salvation! Listen to the Gospel message, believe it, repent of your sins, confess that Jesus is the Son of God who died for you and was resurrected, and appropriate that saving work in the waters of baptism. Behold, do it quickly!