Did the Old Testament prophets understand the Gospel of Grace?
No. The Old Testament prophets did not understand the Gospel of Grace. They inquired and searched diligently concerning the salvation and grace that should come, yet God kept it secret and did not reveal it to them; they ministered those things not to themselves but to us.
Les teaches that the Old Testament prophets did not understand the Gospel of Grace. They inquired and searched diligently, asking what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them was signifying when He testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. They prophesied of the grace that should come unto us, but it was revealed that they ministered these things not unto themselves but unto us. God never intended for them to understand it, because He had been keeping it secret. Les also points to Romans 16, saying that if the Old Testament prophets had understood the Gospel of Grace, and if Abraham had seen Christ die, be raised, and offer salvation to the whole world, that verse would become almost spurious—but it is the truth.
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
More Questions
Did the Old Testament prophets understand their own prophecies?
The Old Testament prophets did not immediately understand their own prophecies; they were searching for what time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating.