[Read] The River of Life that is Overflowing (Ezekiel 47:1-12)

 

Prophet Ezekiel was a prophet of tribulation who lived during the time of agony, darkness and tragedy while he was kept as a captive. His name means “God will strengthen” or “God makes you strong.” He received a calling as a prophet at the age of 30 in 593 B.C. by the Kebal River on the 5th year of captivity while he lived a sad life as a captive. While he tearfully prayed to God about his people and the nation, he witnessed the cherubim by the Kebal River and received the revelation on how God’s administration of redemption will be accomplished globally in the future (Eze 1:3, 10:20-22). The revelation h e received was about the water will come out from the temple and become a great river that a man cannot easily cross.

I. It was the water coming out from the temple
It is stated in Eze 47:1-2 that the water was flowing from under the threshold of the house. If so, who is the temple itself? Jesus Himself is the temple (Jn 2:21). His disciples did not realize that Jesus was the Temple and until after he resurrected (Jn 2:22). Hence, Jesus Christ is the origin of the River of Life. When God measured off 1000 cubits of water coming from the temple threshold and led Ezekiel through the water, it was ankle-deep. Then, He measured off 1000 cubits of water again and led him through the water and it was knee-deep. He measured off another 1000 cubits of water and led him through the water and it was waist-deep. Finally, when He measured off 1000 cubits of water and led him through the water, it overflowed and became deep enough to swim. This water from the temple conquered the entire world. This will surely be accomplished in the end times. The fruit trees of all kinds will grow in both banks of the river, bearing new fruits each month and the leaves will be used as the medicine for healing. This fruit is the fruit from the tree of life (Rev 22:2). It is beyond our imagination to think there will be clear water overflowing from the threshold of the temple built in the middle of a desert. However, God had accomplished this. As a result, the courtyard of the temple was abundant with water.

II. The water from the temple was the bursting water
The water flowing from the temple threshold is the spring of water bursting out with force. It is not stagnant, but moving water. That is why it revitalizes everything where it flows through. Whoever drinks this water will become strong and renewed. This is the blessing that is experienced by those who live with a Temple First faith. That is why we must have reverence for the sanctuary (Lev 19:30). When we consider God first like the widow of Zarephath, the Living Water will always overflow, and there will always be the abundant harvest (1Ki 17:10-24). My beloved saints! When we live a temple-centered life and accept Jesus in our lives, we will be able to live a rejuvenated life with the blessing of “bursting water” and the “Living Water” wherever we go. The water coming from the temple becomes the overflowing water later that a man cannot cross over. The world of abundance with the Word has been accomplished. This is the work where the knowledge to understand God is abundant (Jer 31:34).

III. We need to let the Word rule over us
Because the water overflowed, Ezekiel had to swim. This means that the Word is ruling over inside of us (Heb 8:1-13, 10:1-25, Jer 31:31-34, Rom 11:25-27). This water will flow into the sea. Here, the sea refers to the world (Rev 17:15). When the sea is renewed, it also receives the blessing where all fish and all living creatures will be renewed as well. This denotes that the resurrected life of the saints where the dead world receives salvation through the church. As a result, the fisherman will cast his net into the river. This foreshadows that many servants of God and the workers of God that will rise in the time of New Testament. In order for our church to accomplish ten-fold revival, we all need to become the workers of the gospel of God and become the spiritual fisherman that catch various fish.

Conclusion:
The river that Prophet Ezekiel experienced denotes the salvation that one will experience through the church that is the flesh of Jesus Christ. This Living Water is the water bursting from his precious blood. Moreover, it is an abundant and precious blood that will pierce through all nations by overflowing in many different ways. We must cross this river of precious blood and move forward. When we hold on tightly to the Scripture, keep It with us at all times and read it, we will be able to enter the world of abundant grace.