In the context of wave propagation, the wave itself does not occur prior to its constituent points. The wave is an abstraction that describes the collective behavior of the constituent points or particles as they transmit energy or information.
When a disturbance or oscillation is initiated at a specific point, it propagates through the medium, causing neighboring particles to oscillate in a coordinated manner. This coordinated motion of particles transfers the disturbance or information from one point to another, giving rise to the wave.
At any given instant, the wave is represented by the positions and states of the constituent points or particles that have been affected by the disturbance. These points are considered to be in phase with each other, meaning they have the same displacement or phase at a specific instant.
So, it would be more accurate to say that the wave and its constituent points exist simultaneously, rather than the wave occurring prior to its constituent points. The wave is a representation of the collective behavior and propagation of the disturbance through the medium, while the constituent points or particles are the entities that undergo oscillations or displacements as the wave passes through them.