Okay, that's fine and fair. It's a tough question, and you answered it straight and honest. Please do understand that I am not questioning your belief. I am only questioning when someone makes a belief into a matter-of-fact claim. As in "I believe the Bible is the word of God" and "The Bible is the word of God."
All I can say is that in the OT, I do see shades of that which is completed in Christ. As you said, a lot of it is allegorical, and some of it is just downright cryptic. But if it really is just a "shadow" of the fullness to come, then that shouldn't be too surprising
I am open to that. Maybe, for starters, you can demonstrate for me those parts of the OT that show Christ in the making. How's that?
"Christ in the making." Now there's a strange way to put it. :)
I've already quoted from homilies by +John Chrysostom that show Christ as the "Lion of Judah" and the "Lamb of God". In addition, here are some considerations from +John of Damascus on baptism and the Sabbath.