Culmination

Culmination

If the history of mankind is seen as a stage , then one view of the cross being the culmination of revelation, is that the Old Testament tells how the stage is set in order for Jesus to die on the cross. There is a mushy preparation for mankind to be ready for it. The future end times is the last chapter concerning the end of the world. In this view, nothing in the Old Testament speaks of Christ, but only of things that the author and his immediate audience would know.

In this view the classic prophecy of the virgin birth of Christ is reduced to a mere local event concerning the birth of a child to a young woman and is intended to indicate a time-frame, of about 9 months, of when the prophecy will occur. This view is held by many scholars and is taught in most Evangelical Seminaries, to some degree. This is the source of the long-running debate between them; the word translated 'virgin' should really be 'young woman', to specifically indicate that it did not speak of Jesus. It's a silly debate.

The most popular view among Christians is that within the history of mankind, small hints are dropped concerning the cross. These hints are inspired by God, and the author may or may not realize what he is saying about the cross. The prophecy of the virgin birth is celebrated at Christmas as speaking of his birth. In this view, the New Testament only refers to the Old Testament when it says it does.

History certainly does tell how the stage is set up for Jesus to die on the cross, but it tells more. There are small hints dropped concerning Christ and the cross, but it is more.