Beautiful doesn’t equal biblical. But I can see your usual logic shining through – just as it did in your very logical comments on some of the verses partial preterists misuse. If the text defies tradition, we should not be afraid to fearlessly question tradition.

I agree with you on apostasy. The Father disciplines His true children and a tree is known by its fruits eventually. Even if someone does remain unrepentant, I believe they would still be under conviction. It’s the ones where the things of the Lord become to them like water off a duck’s back that make you wonder.

Circumcision is the death of the male covenant head, ie. Adam, and also his offspring. It is death under the Law, and ironically, I believe, a symbolic forfeit of Covenant succession. The blood makes Covenant succession possible. Blood displayed allows the Lord’s judgment to pass over. It is the son under the knife of the Father, who is pleased to “bruise him.” The bloodline finished when Christ ascended and presented Himself as slain Lamb before the Father, the true Facebread. It is the bloody sacrifice on the altar.

The fire is the Law of God, the full strength of the “sun” scorching the torn body. This is the cross.

Baptism is the resurrection of the body. It is the warrior bride (a multitude of offspring) resurrected. As fragrant smoke, she ascends to stand on the crystal sea. Like Esther, she approaches the throne willingly and is received. She enters into the rest He has purchased.

Some links below. The first one has a few links in it which are the best place to start to understand the typology:

http://www.bullartistry.com.au/wp/2009/07/12/comparing-apples-with-apples/
http://www.bullartistry.com.au/wp/2009/09/25/the-acid-test/
http://www.bullartistry.com.au/wp/2009/09/28/protesting-the-draft/
http://www.bullartistry.com.au/wp/2009/11/23/wrath-of-the-waters/

Cheers,
Mike

I do wonder what specifically you think circumcision symbolized. I’ve kinda thought that it symbolized the same thing as baptism — the death of the flesh (or the death of the male Messiah’s flesh) — but I would be interested in your opinion.