But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (margin: the days of eternity) Micah 5:2.

Doesn't this text prove that Christ is eternally pre-existent?

Answer:

The meaning of this text is clarified when we understand the terms “goings forth” and “from everlasting.” Here is the text in three other Bible translations:
“And his comings forth are of old, From the days of antiquity.” YLT
“whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” RSV
“whose going out has been purposed from time past, from the eternal days.” BBE

The term “goings forth” comes from the Hebrew word מוצאה mowtsa'ah (Strong's number 04163) which means "a family descent" or “origin, place of going out from” as the RSV puts it. The word “origin” means “birth, come into being” according to The Award English Dictionary. As for the word “everlasting” as you can see in RSV, YLT, BBE and KJV marginal reading, it means “days of eternity”, “eternal days”, “ancient days”, or “days of antiquity”.

When we insert the meanings in the text it will read like this: “whose origin [family descent / birth] is from of old, from ancient days [days of eternity]” RSV
Thus this text is speaking of Christ's eternal and divine sonship, as is very commonly interpreted; being the only begotten of the Father (John 3:16; 1:14), of the same nature with him (John 10:30), and a distinct person from him (Proverbs 30:4; John 8:17, 18); the eternal Word that went forth from him, and was with him from the days of eternity (John 1:1,2), and is truly God by nature (Hebrews 1:8). So as the first part of the verse sets forth his human birth, the second sets forth His divine birth; which, due to the excellency and ineffableness of it, is expressed in the plural number, “goings forth”.

Spirit of Prophecy:
Now notice how The Spirit of Prophecy uses that same text, and applies correctly the meaning of the phrase “goings forth”.

“His "goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2. And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting. . . . When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him." Proverbs 8:22- 30.” {PP 34}

It clearly says there that Christ's “goings forth” were “before His works of old”, meaning before creation. Thus Christ was brought forth in eternity, or before time was created.