Saint Augustine said,“The New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New.” A close study of what is written in the Bible leads us to see Christ as the central point to which prophecies, events, and objects in the Old Testament point to. The Catechism of the Catholic Church uses the term typology to refer to this foreshadowing.

The Book of Revelations alludes to this when the author is shown scrolls with seven seals that no one can open. The scrolls represent Scripture as they were in scroll form before books were invented. It is sealed because it was very difficult to interpret the meaning behind the words; thus, it could not be“opened.” But the Lion of the Tribe of Judah could open it, and appeared as“a lamb as if slain.” This, in very apocalyptic language, refers to Jesus. If we read the Old Testament as pointing to him, the words suddenly take form and meaning.

Thus in stories where God’s chosen people are fighting an enemy and a champion defeats the enemy, we see us as God’s chosen people, Christ as the champion, and the devil as the enemy.

We have assembled fifteen character, events, or objects in the Old Testament who foreshadow Christ.  Can you identify them?