Prophetic statements sometimes apply to more than one fulfillment, a principle
we could call "duality." A prime example of duality is Christ's first coming
to atone for our sins and His second coming to rule as King of Kings.
Such dual themes are common in Bible prophecy. Jesus specifically alluded
to the dual application of some prophecies in Matthew 17:11-12. Asked about
the prophecy of "Elijah," who would precede the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5), Jesus responded: "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore
all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already …" (Matthew 17:11-12).
The disciples understood that the "Elijah" who had come already was John
the Baptist (verse 13). Jesus Himself explained that John, already dead
when Christ uttered these words, was a first fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy.
But Christ's clear implication is that another Elijah will precede His
second coming, announcing His return just as John the Baptist preceded
Christ's first coming. John no longer could do anything in the future.
But as a forerunner, John had fulfilled, at least in part, Malachi's prophecy.
Another prophecy with dual application is Jesus' Olivet
prophecy (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21), so named because He gave it on the Mount of Olives
or Mount Olivet, overlooking Jerusalem. Many conditions described in this
prophecy existed in the days leading up to the Romans' siege and destruction
of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. But Christ makes it clear that similar conditions
would prevail shortly before His return.
