What is typology? A form of interpretation in which Old Testament events [or people or rituals] prefigure, point to, or are signs of New Testament events, etc.

  Definition from Miriam Webster Dictionary: "a doctrine of theological types; especially: one holding that things in Christian belief are prefigured or symbolized by things in the Old Testament."

  TYPOLOGY (figural reading) (drawing on discussion by Eric Auerbach, "Figura" from Scenes from the Drama of European Literature)  

Figure/type/shadow	Fulfillment
Sacrifice of Isaac	Crucifixion of Jesus
Moses as lawgiver	Jesus as source of new covenant
Moses as deliverer from bondage in Egypt	Jesus as deliverer from bondage of sin
Joshua: leads chosen people into Promised Land	Jesus: will lead second chsen people to Kingdom of Heaven

Sometimes these relationships are extended to a three-stage development:
 

Figure/type shadow The Law (Old Covenant)

Fulfillment (which then functions also as a further figure The appearance of Christ (Incarnation)(New Covenant)

Final fulfillment End of world Final judgment

     The law prefigures and is fulfilled by the incarnation.  The incarnation fulfills the law but itself prefigures the last judgment.  Both the figure and the fulfillment are concrete and historical.  The first both exists in itself as part of an historical narrative AND prefigures (is a sign of, points to, contains the future development of, and gains is full meaning from) the second.  The first can be thought of as both an event in itself and a prophecy of the second.