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No attempt has been made to present proofs of the claims here. Nor will there be. One does not prove a riddle. You get it or you don't. However, the solutions here are open to challenge. Once a riddle is solved it is open to all to challenge. Be aware that your opinion has no value. This is not intended to be an insult, but my opinion has no value either. I may have more experience is observing the prophetic riddle, but they are self-validating. We do not argue opinions. We collaborate to solve the riddle.

A person who cannot solve riddles can't challenge them effectively. If they don't see the answers, they simply don't see them. A proclamation that they don't see it, is of no value. But one who can solve the riddles can challenge a solution by showing a verse where the metaphor does not mean the same thing. An open question, a place where the metaphor when applied as proposed is not understood, remains an open riddle to be solved.

It is my desire to share many things quickly so that a good sampling of prophecy is available as examples. As we run into opportunities to talk of the mechanics of solving riddles, we will point to an appendix.

Mr 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Baptism

There are several prophetic riddles concerning baptism: the flood, crossing the Red Sea, crossing the Jordan, Jonah cast into the sea, to mention a few. Each picture participates in the revelation of Jesus Christ. However, of particular importance is the story of Naaman. Naaman was a great captain in Syria who was a leper. ^[1] Naaman was told to immerse himself seven times in the Jordan. ^[2] When Naaman did it, he was cured and his flesh became as that of a little child. ^[3]

Consider the following metaphor:

Naaman ('pleasant') was a pleasant person who was a valiant man with many good works.

But he was a leper, which means he was a sinner.

He was told to dip seven times... and since seven means complete, he was dipped completely.

He was dipped in the water of the Jordan, or the Word of the Descender. Jesus is the Son of God incarnate who descended from heaven. He was immersed in the Word of Christ.

His flesh became as a little child... He was forgiven.

This is the picture that John was re-enacting.

Consider some other elements:

The word of the prophet pointed to the word of Christ. He did not call attention to himself, nor accept payment. The prophet receives freely, and so he gives freely. ^[4]

The nice guy sinner (Naaman) wanted to do something to be cleansed. All he had to do was trust the word of Christ (the water of the Jordan). No other water would do. ^[5]

The sinner was not able to find the word of Christ without the word of the prophet. ^[6]

References

1. ↑ 2Ki 5:1 ¶ Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper. {with: Heb. before} {honourable: or, gracious: Heb. lifted up, or, accepted in countenance} {deliverance: or, victory}
2. ↑ 2Ki 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
3. ↑ 2Ki 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
4. ↑ Mt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
5. ↑ Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
6. ↑ Ro 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?