Foretelling

So Joseph was given a coat of many colors by his father. And when he was betrayed by his brothers, they 'stage' his death by dipping his coat into the blood of an animal, and in so doing they convince Jacob that Joseph is dead and won't be coming home. And as far as Jacob is concerned, he IS dead.

About twenty years later, Jacob is reunited with Joseph. As far as Jacob is concerned, Joseph has been resurrected from the dead.

Why did this happen? It all pointed ahead to the work of Jesus. It foretold the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and reign of Jesus. A story foreshadowed before it actually occurred.

Notice what John saw:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

That's foretelling, and that's how the scriptures point ahead to our own lives.