Water and Fire

• Matthew 3:11 (ASV)

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Some friends and I were discussing this passage and we found some interesting parallels to baptism by water and fire.

Noah's flood was a kind of baptism of the world in water. After the time of tribulation, the earth will be baptized again in fire.
When the Israelites came through the Red Sea, it was like baptism by water. Then they came to the fiery Mt. Sinai which is related to the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Jewish tradition is that the Ten Commandments were given on Pentecost).
Elijah (remember, John has the spirit of Elijah) poured water over the sacrifice. Afterward, God consumed the sacrifice in fire.

So, there is a pattern of baptism by water first, then by fire throughout scripture.

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