Ezekiel Chapter 47 Vs. 1-6

A NEW LAND

Ezekiel 47:1-6

The river from the temple

One feature in the Millennium will be a life-giving river flowing from the temple. This section reinforces the constant emphasis of the prophets that in the final kingdom amazing physical and geographical changes will occur on the earth, and especially the land of Israel. This chapter deals mainly with changes in the water. Many think this refers only symbolically to the blessings that flow from God’s presence. But nothing in the passage suggests that Ezekiel had anything in mind other than a literal river. Water … issued out or flowing … eastward: A stream of water flows up from underneath the temple (Joel 3:18), going East to the Jordan, then curving South through the Dead Sea area. Zechariah 14:8 refers to this stream as flowing from Jerusalem to the West (Mediterranean Sea) as well as to the East (Dead Sea).

Its origin coincides with Christ’s Second Advent arrival on the Mt. of Olives, which will trigger a massive earthquake, thus creating a vast East-West valley running through Jerusalem and allowing for the water flow.

Joel 3:18 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim".

Revelation 22:1 "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."

The inclusion of details such as the fishermen (Eze. 47:10) and the salty swamps and marshes (Eze. 47:11) lend a touch of realism to the passage. These details become meaningless if the passage is only symbolic of spiritual blessing. Joel had mentioned this river before Ezekiel’s time (cf. Joel 3:18), and Zechariah spoke of it after Israel returned from the Babylonian Captivity (cf. Zec. 14:8). In the Millennium this river will be another visible reminder of God’s presence and blessing.

Ezekiel was led from the kitchens in the temple’s outer court back into the inner court to the entrance of the temple proper. There he saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east. That stream of water, flowing out from God’s presence, went eastward and passed south of the altar. Ezekiel left the temple complex by way of the north gate and saw the water… flowing out of the temple on the south side of the east gate into the Kidron Valley.

Zechariah recorded that the water flowing from Jerusalem will divide, with half flowing east toward the Dead Sea and half flowing west toward the Mediterranean (Zec. 14:8). Ezekiel followed only the branch that went toward the east.

In verses 3-5: He measured. The escorting angel, wanting to reveal the size of the river, took Ezekiel, in the vision, to four different distances from the temple, where the stream was found to be at increasing depths until it was over his head.

The angelic being led Ezekiel toward the east along the riverbank. After 1,750 feet (1000 cubits) the water… was ankle-deep; in another 1,750 feet the river was knee-deep. The angel measured another 1,750 feet and the water reached Ezekiel’s waist. A fourth measurement of 1,750 feet farther to the east revealed that the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in — a river that no one could walk across. Perhaps this rise in depth will come from additional streams feeding into this river, though Ezekiel did not mention them.

This is how Isaiah tells it in chapter 35: verses 1-10

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." "It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the Excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, [and] the Excellency of our God." "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees." "Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] recompense; he will come and save you." "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." "Then shall the lame [man] leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, [shall be] grass with reeds and rushes." "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err [therein]." "No lion shall be there, nor [any] ravenous beast shall go up there on, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]:" "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away".

Ezekiel is brought back to the land, so he can see, the river of life that flows from God, is a restoring river. This river is the same water that Jesus told the woman at the well to drink of, and she would never thirst again. This tells me that God, Himself, will restore this Promised Land. He will do it with the washing of the water of His Word across the land. Ezekiel is brought back to the bank to observe something else.