Buddhism

In other words: Things were used to describe a certain current (or shortly to occur) situation but also was applicable in a future time (as history repeats itself); which ties into a pregnancy where contractions early on are like those later but more intense and closer together.

One can predict today (without aid of angels/gods/etc) the future in some generic terms based on our past (think of the novel 1984 for example).

Take the rebirth of Israel in the OT/NT. In the 1800's it was debated hotly that it was meant only as a spiritual rebirth and that Israel as a nation would not rise again (the debate center around the end times and that being a condition given in prophecy).

Some look at the boneyard/raising in Ezekiel as fitting that the nation rose from WW2 after the death of 6 million Jews.

I try to keep an open mind.