Can Prophecies be Fulfilled Multiple Times?

Here's an interesting question a reader raised. Anyone else have an idea out there?

First Name: Tom
City: Waterloo
State: NE
Question(s): Concerning the Gathering topic on 10/04/09 The sign of "The Day of the Lord" is described in Isaiah 13:9,10. Is this also the same exact event that is mentioned in Rev. 6:12,13 and Matt. 24:29,30 and Mark 13: 24,25?
Thanks, Tom


Tom,
Thanks for submitting a question! This is one of the most fascinating things about eschatology and biblical prophecy. A single prophetic statement may actually have multiple layers of fulfillment. Let me explain. The Isaiah passage is communicating on three levels! It speaks to Isaiah’s immediate historical and literary audience. People in Isaiah’s time would have been challenged by the message – Israel and Judah were on the edge of entering the exile – an experience of God’s judgment on their generation. The fall of Samaria (Israel’s capital city) and the fall of Jerusalem (Judah’s capital city) at the hands of Assyrians and Babylonians would have been the immediate fulfillment “the dreadful day of the LORD” in their generation.

However, as you’ve hinted, it could be that the same prophecy re-echoed through salvation history and became relevant to the early church. The first century church reading John's apocalypse was about to experience the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple (again). Further down the time-line, though, there will be another awful Day of the LORD when Jesus returns.

The third level meaning is for believers today! Isaiah's prophecy legitimately points us forward in God's salvation timeline to a similar event or time in the future relative to us. Some might refer to this as the tribulation. Some would interpret this as the modern church and it's persecution.

So these prophecies don’t necessarily refer to the exact same event ... but they do refer to the same kind of event. An event with eschatological significance for those who await it and those who actually witness and experience it. That could be happening today. That could also happen in the future. Prophecy finds fulfillment on multiple levels!

Great question!

Tim Perry
Pastor of Spiritual Discovery / 402.938.1505 / cccomaha.org
Christ Community Church / 404 S. 108 Ave / Omaha, NE 68154