1. 1 Peter 1:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What are some examples of how prophecies became clearer with the passage of time?

1 Peter 1:11 (ESV)

11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

David had prophesied that God would not abandon his soul to Sheol or let his holy one see corruption (Psalm 16:10). On the day of Pentecost, after the outpouring of the Spirit of Christ, Peter himself picked up this text and explained what was previously unclear, namely, that David was not talking about himself but “foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ” (Acts 2:31).

Moses had said that God would raise up a prophet like him (Deuteronomy 18:15). As the apostle preached in the temple in the days following Pentecost, Peter declared that this prophecy (and all others) was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Acts 3:22ff). There was progress in redemptive history so that the colour of the flower previously only hinted at in the bud was now, with the coming and sufferings and triumph of Jesus Christ, plainly obvious (be it with sight granted by the Holy Spirit).