Stephen Dempster ends his 2003 Dominion and Dynasty: A Biblical Theology of the Hebrew Bible with this sharp summary of the “hour-glass” logic of typology:
“Typological features emerge naturally when the biblical text is understood as a Text. This is particularly clear for the twin themes of dynasty and dominion. In each case there is a movement from the universal to the particular and back to the universal. For example, humanity is called to be the image of God, fails in its task and is replaced by Israel, who is regarded as God’s son. A tribe is singled out within Israel, a family within the tribe, and an individual - David - becomes the focus. And yet David, his sons and their failures, point forward to a just Davidic king who will bring the benefits of the rule not only to Israel but to all of humanity. Similarly, the dominion of Adam begins over all creation, and then the land of Canaan becomes the focus, and next the city of Jerusalem and the temple. And from this particular place, the rule of God extends outwards to Israel and the nations, even to the ends of the earth” (231).
