Living Water.
Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side. Ezekiel 47:1–2
Ezekiel is returned to the Temple where he is shown water flowing toward the east.
- God created water that sustained living things in Genesis 1:20.
- Jeremiah 17:13 reminds us that God is living water and the cisterns we hew for ourselves cannot satisfy.
- Zechariah 14:8: And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.
- John 4:10:
- Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
- John 7:38: He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
- He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3
God created us with a biological necessity for water, so it makes sense that water can be a powerful image for teaching us about life; but there are scriptures when water is beyond symbolic about life. When the scripture speaks of Living Water, we are learning more about God.
The fact that Ezekiel sees the water flowing east and Zechariah prophesies to the same thing in the same direction, I take notice.
Water flowed into Jerusalem all along, that's why David fought for it and why they were able to withstand many sieges. But this is recognized as new water flowing out of Jerusalem to the east–toward the direction associated with were Jesus comes from.
Here's my theory and I'll see if the commentaries agree. These are the lives of new believers from this age. They missed the opportunity to exit in the sky with Jesus, but they can still flow toward where Jesus descended. That's the point of the 1000 year reign, as far as I know. It's the final, final opportunity to choose God. He appoints the time and place for each of us, so this must be people who will only be able to choose God under these circumstances. He wants every last soul who will choose Him and this is how He will bring this last batch into eternity.
In verse 2, Ezekiel is led out of the north gate around to the gate facing east. Water was trickling from the south side.
In verse 3-5 Ezekiel is led down the river which becomes increasingly deep for every 1000 cubits, until at 3000 cubits it's a raging river that cannot be forded. That's supernatural. I know the whole vision is super natural, but rivers to form like that, especially with no immediate source for the increased depth. This vision isn't at the top of the Rocky Mountains with massive snow melt runoffs, there is no big elevation change, no convergences of multiple sources. It's The Living Water–which needs to earthly source.
Water is how we get clean–physically and spiritually. The baptisms of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples was a Jews baptism. The priests had to be ceremonially bathed before entering the Temple. Jesus turned ceremonial cleansing water into wine.
And now a deep flowing river is coming out of the Temple and flowing toward the east.
The Man (Jesus) who was escorting Ezekiel through this vision, brings Ezekiel to the bank of the river in verse 6 to show him something. Abundant trees were lining the banks. The Man explains that the river will run all the way to the Dead Sea and bring it life with fresh water, so that even fish can live in it. It will also bring all of the other living things that it finds along the way. Anywhere the river goes will have life.
Sound familiar? How about an army of bones in the desert coming to life?
Maybe the river isn't representing the lives saved in this 1000 year era, but the coming of eternity. Maybe this is where C.S. Lewis got his imagery for the Last Battle, Further Up and Farther In! New life all around.
That theory is probably disproved in verse 10, fisherman will be able stand on the bank and pull in nets full of fish according to their kind. That's an interesting phrase...
Also interesting, in verse 11 there will still be swamps and marshes too salty for life. We know there will be some who stop sinning while the devil is held captive because they lost their excuse; but start again when he reappears. I think this is one final test for those who claim to have faith but are playing a game.
Verse 12 is very telling. The trees on both banks will provide food, producing every month because of the water flowing from the river. And their leaves will bring healing.
Jesus is in the House!!!
Life sounds sweet and good for those around the Temple in this era.
Starting in verse 13, the Lord God speaks to Ezekiel and establishes the boundaries of the land and tells Ezekiel to divide it among the 12 tribes, giving Joseph a double portion—all from His earlier commitment to them.
Verses 15–21 is a detailed description of the physical boundaries of Israel. North = from the Mediterranean above Tyre near Damascus; eastern border = Jordan River /Dead Sea; south = Dead Sea to brook of Egypt; west = Med. This is their residence; but they will control from the Niles to the Euphrates.
This is very important. In verses 21–22, God explains that the allotments will be made by drawing lots for the Israelites by tribe, but also lots will be drawn by the aliens to live among the tribes. These allotments to the aliens will be permanent as an inheritance. He provided for us way back then. It's amazing. Jehovah-Jireh!
Amen!