Did Old Testament believers see the cross in the future?
Old Testament believers did not see the cross in the future. Isaiah could not picture the crucifixion as he wrote, and the claim that Old Testament believers saw the cross ahead of time is rejected. God had Isaiah write the prophecy so that after the fact people could look back and see the cross was in view.
Les explains that Isaiah 53 is a prophetic statement concerning the work of the cross, but he asks whether Isaiah knew and could picture the crucifixion as he wrote it, and answers, 'No way.' He says many people claim Isaiah did or that Old Testament believers saw the cross out in the future, but they did not. God had Isaiah write it so that after the fact we could go back to it, especially for the benefit of the Jew, showing from the Old Testament that God had the work of the cross in mind all the time. Verse 4 speaks of the One who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, esteemed stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted when He was crucified.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.