Dual fulfillment in prophecy is something that Wikipedia defines as a, “mainly Christian idea that some prophecies in the Bible have both a short-term and long-term fulfillment.” That’s an adequate definition, but requires one important qualification. It’s long-term fulfillment is only evident based on an inspired writers’ interpretation and application.
In other words, the prophetic statement originally made (the “short-term”) has a meaning and application relevant to the time that it was originally spoken by the prophet. What makes it “dual” is when an inspired writer takes the statement out of its original context and applies it in a new and different context (the “long-term”). This is what constitutes a dual fulfillment in prophecy.
How Scripture answers "Top 5: Dual fulfillment in prophecy?"
These1,2,3,4,5 are our five best examples of dual fulfillment in prophecy. In each case, the original speaker/prophet (Moses1, Nathan2, David3, Isaiah4, and Hosea5) makes a statement contextually relevant to their day and time. It is only through the inspired writers’ application (Peter1, writer of Hebrews2,3, Matthew4,5) that we can understand their dual, future application.
APPLICATION: This illustrates an important principle with respect to interpreting Bible prophecy – we can only definitively interpret prophecy to the extent another inspired writer does so for us. Or, said another way, unless Scripture interprets a prophetic writing for us, we should not be (cannot be) dogmatic in its application. The consequence for this has its biggest ramification in much of the current ‘end times’ and eschatological doctrine, including, so-called, “AD70” assertions.
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