At first glance at the title, I was initally wary of reading a book about the Bible with the word "code" in the title, as if Scripture were some secret message that needed to be decrypted. I was pleased to find that this book is not about a hidden message, but about a central Person, Jesus Christ, who has been revealed in different ways in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.
Taking the "Emmaus" part of the title from the Gospel account in Luke 24 in which the resurrected Christ shows Himself in the Scriptures, Limbaugh seeks to reveal Christ in the same way in the Old Testament.
Limbaugh approaches this in a systematic, academic, but readable format. He starts with an overview summary of each book of the Old Testament. He then traces the history of the nation of Israel, from its conception through Abraham, through the Exodus, judges, kings, and exile. Like an increasingly finer-toothed comb, Limbaugh then starts back again at the beginning in Genesis, discussing the various covenants and the ways in which they point to Christ and show God's mercy. Limbaugh zooms even further in the following chapters with a detailed look at "messianic portraits" such as types, ceremonies, prophecies, and symbology. The centerpiece of the book is yet a trip through each book of the Old Testament, pointing out the various people, ceremonies, and symbols that point toward the Messiah. Having started with a birds-eye view and zooming down to microscopic levels, I came away with a greater appreciation for the unity of the Bible and the sovereignty, mercy, and grace of our Lord for having a redemptive plan in Genesis and actively carrying it through the books of the Old Testament before finding its fulfillment through Jesus in the New Testament.
While the subject matter is finding Christ in the Old Testament, the author takes a largely dispensational position. During his exposition of the history of Israel, he explains his personal belief that there are still promises especially for Israel that have yet to find its fulfillment. He also briefly explains the interpretive dangers of over-allegorizing Scripture, an issue that some covenant theology adherents are criticized. However, I felt the definitions he starts with get a little muddy as he goes through the chapter and point out things in the Old Testament that point to Christ in the latter half of the book. Whether or not you hold to a dispensational or covenant theology viewpoint, however, you can still find this book very informative.
Lastly, as I felt this book was largely academic, it is consequently a little short of personal application. While merely pondering the sufficiency and inspiration of Scripture should be enough to cause us to reflect and renew our thinking, the more academic tone of this book will make you have to think a little harder about application. For a less academic, more devotional look at biblical theology, The God Who Is Here by D.A. Carson is an absolute must-read. The Stranger by John Frame is also an excellent read if you are looking for something a little less academic.
While the reading is a little dry, and I'm still not a fan of the title, The Emmaus Code was a satisfying read that will ultimately help you worship the One Author of this divine Word...all 66 books of it.