Abraham is a type of God, the Father. (Yet he is also the type of the servant of God, who faithfully obeys and trusts God.)
Typology
By Gerry Watts
Typology is the study of types within Scripture, including symbols and shadows.
A TYPE is an impression or image, which has been left by something else, e.g. the impression of a coin after being pressed into some clay.
A SHADOW is similar, in that it casts an outline of the actual substance.
A SYMBOL is that which represents something else, a sign or emblem.
All of these are really figures, whereby real events or people or objects are used to illustrate spiritual truth. Allegories are also similar.
'Now these things became types of us...Now all this befalls them typically'
(1 Corinthians 10:6 and 11)
'For whatever was written before, was written for this teaching of ours'
(Romans 15:4)
'...the sign of the prophet Jonah.'
(Matthew 12:39-40)
'Verily, I am telling you what is signified in the writing of truth.'
(Daniel 10:21)
'...which is allegorising, for these women are two covenants;'
(Galatians 4:21-31)
'For Christ did not enter into holy places made by hands, representations of the true...'
(Hebrews 9:24)
'The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves.'
(Hebrews 10:1 NIV)
We must bear in mind though that the types should illuminate and confirm truth, not the other way around! Many incorrect teachings today are based on typology that has been interpreted incorrectly, and is not based on the clear teaching of Scripture.
Much typology is prophetic and allegorical, i.e. past events are used to figuratively portray future events. This is especially true concerning the Messiah. The greatest example of this is the Passover Prophecy. Many of the details contained in the original Passover were literally fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah, the Lamb of God.
Another example is the offering of Isaac in Genesis 22:1-14.
Abraham is a type of God, the Father. (Yet he is also the type of the servant of God, who faithfully obeys and trusts God.)
Isaac is a type of Christ, the only-begotten Son, who willingly laid down His life and trusted His Father. (Yet Isaac also is a type of humanity, who deserves to die, but is saved by grace.)
The wood = the cross
The Ram, as a burnt offering
= A type of Christ as the sacrificial lamb
The mountain in the land of Moriah
= The hill where Christ died (all of the evidence points to the Mount of Olives.
See The Holy Hill: The Mount of
Olives)
It is evident that this example alone can have many 'levels' of truth to it. It is all circles within circles or wheels within wheels (Ezekiel 1:15-18). It is also evident that every single detail is not to be necessarily included in the type or allegory.
Another classic example concerns the 7 Feasts of Yahweh. Each of these original feasts in Leviticus 23 has an historical fulfillment centred in the various works of the Messiah: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits and Pentecost have been fulfilled in the First Coming of Jesus. The remaining three Feasts of Trumpets, 'Atonement' and Tabernacles have their ultimate fulfillment at His Second Coming. Yet the three primary feasts, Firstfruits, Pentecost and Tabernacles are also typical of the threefold order of the resurrection of humanity (See Appendix: The Resurrection Order).
Here are some other examples of typology:
Genesis 24:1-67
Abraham = Type of God, the Father
Isaac = Jesus the Son, the Bridegroom
Rebekah = The believing Israelite ecclesia in Christ Jesus, the Bride (or the Body of Christ ecclesia)
Chief Servant
= The Holy Spirit of God, the 'wooing' force (and the prophets, particularly John the Baptist, who led the bride to the bridegroom)
The Exodus - Exodus, Numbers and Joshua
The Israelites
= The People of God
Moses =
Christ Jesus
Pharaoh = Satan, the Adversary
Egypt = The world system
Sea of Reeds (Red Sea)
= Deliverance from Sin and Death
The Wilderness
= Periods of trial and testing in the walk of faith
Mount Sinai (Horeb)
= Greater revelation of, and commitment to, God and His ways
The forty years in the Wilderness
= Discipline and judgment of the flesh
Canaan, the Promised Land
= The spiritual blessings and rest in Christ
Contemporary Prophetic Typology
Typology really shows the wonder of God's Word. This is very evident in what could be termed Contemporary Prophetic Typology. This is when God, by His Spirit, reveals a prophetic word through a believer, which is contained within a specific passage of Scripture, whereby the meaning of the names of people and places, in accordance with the surrounding details, becomes extremely significant and relevant for today. The message could reveal a general spiritual principle or it could be a more specific message for 'the Body' or an individual.
As in all 'prophetic words of the spirit', caution is needed, to gain an accurate understanding of the message, which must be tested in the clear light of Scripture. The passage of scripture containing the 'word' should be approached allegorically to be able to clearly understand the message that is revealed there, in accordance with the Scriptural rules of typology.
Here is another prophetic word.
2 Chronicles 18:1-34
In this passage, there is a clear word for the present, which is this: Throughout these last days, God has been, and is, sifting the Body of Christ within Christendom. There is the false religious establishment represented in Ahab; then there's the true believers of the 'Body of Christ' who nevertheless are also allied to Christendom, represented by Jehoshaphat; then there's also the faithful remnant within the Body, represented by Michaiah, who proclaim the true 'gospel'. This remnant is always persecuted by the rest, but their words of truth will stand the test!
This can also be applied to various season's in a believer's walk of faith.
Here are the word meanings, taken primarily from Strong's Concordance, and the types:
Jehoshaphat
- " Yahweh Judges"Type:
The true believer who stands justified
Ahab
- "Like his father"Type:
The flesh
Samaria - "Watcher or Fortress"
Type:
The Ecclesia of God
Ramoth Gilead - "High places, Mounds of Witness"
Type:
Spiritual warfare; witness and testimony to God's grace
The 400 Prophets
Type: False teaching that deceives by 'tickling the ears'
Michaiah - "Who is like Yahweh?"
(Son of ) Imlah - "To be filled"
Type:
The true 'prophet' of God who proclaims the fullness of the truth by the Spirit of God
Zedekiah - "Yahweh is right"
(Son of ) Kenaanah - "Humiliation"
Type:
The false 'prophet' who appears genuine, but is ultimately exposed
Aram (Syria) - "Elevated"
Type:
The Adversary, who cannot touch God's anointed in spirit, but does destroy the flesh
Copyright © G. Watts 2001; 2004; 2007
Here are some other prophetic words: