Let the River Flow

Ezekiel 47:1–12 NKJV

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.

Rivers vs Reservoirs

The Jordan River vs The Dead Sea

The River of God speaks of the Spirit of God, i.e., the Holy Spirit

John 7:37–39 NKJV

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The River’s Source

The Sanctuary (Holy of Holies/ Throne Room / The Presence of God)

Revelation 22:1–2 NKJV

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

The River’s Course

The Threshold of the Temple: (Heavenly realm to the earthly realm)

The Altar: The Cross of Christ

The East Gate: The House of God

The World: The Harvest Field

The River’s Expansion

Farther: From Jerusalem to the Dead Sea

Measurements of 1,000 cubits

It flows toward the eastern region into the valley and enters the Dead Sea

Deeper

Ankle deep

Knee deep

Waist deep

Swimming deep

Wider: A river that could not be crossed

The River’s Impact

Many trees on either bank

They will bear fruit good for food

Their leaves will not wither

Their leaves will be for medicine

Their fruit will not fail

They will bear fruit every month

Why? Because their water flows from the sanctuary

Bitter waters were healed

Everything that the water touches will live (Waters of life)

Everything will live wherever the river goes

A great multitude of fish

Fishermen will spread their nets

Jesus called His disciples to be fishers of men

Swamps and Marshes

Swamps are wetlands dominated by trees

Marshes are wetlands dominated by grasses

Swamps and marshes are usually the result of flood plains, abandoned river channels, or oxbows (small lakes in an abandoned loop of a river channel)

Response to the Word