Types and Antitypes

By Larry Cockerham

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted” (1 Cor. 10:6). The marginal notes in the New Scofield Study Bible adds, “i.e. happened as figures or types for us” (1452, Scofield). What are types? They are nothing more than pictures or illustrations that look forward to their fulfillment in the form of a person, event, or object (most find their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ). The Old Testament is a rich source of typology; especially in the tabernacle, priesthood, offerings, and feast days. And realize this, that there are literally thousands of types in the Bible. I have one book that lists every conceivable type from A to Z. But what I love most of all are the types that have a broad prophetical significance. One of my favorites is intertwined with the flood narrative.

Here we have Noah and his family being brought into the ark before the divine judgment of God is brought upon a sin-cursed world. They are safely brought through this time of tribulation and come out on the other side to create the nucleus of a new society. How then is this a type and what does it relate to? For every type there is an antitype. This is the fulfillment so to speak. The Passover Lamb in Exodus twelve looks forward to our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul states in 1 Cor. 5:7b, “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” John the Baptist cried, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The Passover Lamb is a type of our Jesus Christ (who is the antitype). Now back to Noah. Noah and his family would represent the Jewish remnant who will be “sealed” and preserved through the seven-year tribulation and who will come out on the other side to form the nucleus of a new society (redeemed Israel in the millennial kingdom). But what about the church? Enoch who was translated before the flood represents the church. Remember, “Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him” (Gen. 5:24).

Therefore, this entire flood epic is a grand picture of the translation (Rapture) of the church, the preservation of the Jewish Remnant during Daniel’s Seventieth Week and the final conflagration before the Return of the Lord Jesus Christ at His Second Coming.