Picture this:
Ezekiel saw a vision.
He saw waters issuing out from under the threshold of the House. He observed that the waters came down at the side of the altar, and by a gate.
Measuring about another half a kilometre downstream, it was to the knees.
Then, about waist-deep.
Until finally it was a river he couldn't pass over, because the waters were risen—waters to swim in—a river that couldn't be passed over!
Ezekiel would have felt caught up in the whole experience as if in realtime, I reckon!
Then, in the vision he was brought to the brink of the river again (maybe to dry-off a bit!)—and there he said he saw very many trees on either side.
And he was promised:
"These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters SHALL BE HEALED."
He was also told that:
"...EVERY THING that liveth, which moveth, WHITHERSOEVER the rivers shall come, SHALL LIVE: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for THEY SHALL BE HEALED; and EVERYTHING SHALL LIVE whither the river cometh."
So much so that fishermen would be eagerly spreading nets on the refreshed waters spanning from Engedi all the way to Eneglaim—because the fish would be according to their kinds, and exceeding many.
Ezekiel also noted however, that the miry places and the marshes thereof would not be healed: they would be given to salt.
And by the riverbank, on both sides, would grow all trees for food, whose leaf would never fade, and neither would the fruit be all used-up: because it would keep producing new fruit according to its months—all because of the waters that issued out of the sanctuary—and the fruit would be for food, and the leaf FOR MEDICINE.
What an exciting, wonderful picture!
It's reminiscent of the original paradise—where the Lord God had planted a garden, Eastward, in Eden; where He placed the man whom He'd formed; where He similarly caused trees to grow for food, and placed the tree of life; from where a river flowed which compassed the whole land, where there was gold and gemstones; from where the man and his wife were exiled for their sins—as if Ezekiel’s vision meant that his people, Israelis, could be RESTORED to something like that again.
Have you ever had a dream so good, when you woke up you yearned if only it could be true?
That's how Ezekiel would have felt after seeing this vision, I reckon.
At that very moment Ezekiel was in exile, with his people Israel for Israel’s own sins—just like the first man and his wife had been exiled from the original paradise for their sins.
Go forward some 600 hundred years or so after this prophecy, and Israel's return from exile still seemed incomplete—they were looking and waiting, yearning.
Then on the last day of a great Jewish feast—as if it was nearly too late—JESUS stood and cried, saying:
"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and DRINK.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER" (John 7:37-39).
Jesus was talking about "...the SPIRIT, which they that believe on him should receive..." (though at that precise time, John explained, the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified).
Years later John himself saw a vision, like Ezekiel, when he was exiled on Patmos island for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus—a vision of the glorified, reigning Lord JESUS the Messiah.
And he saw a city—Jerusalem, yes—but not the earthly Jerusalem: it was a new Jerusalem whose origin was heavenly—the bride, the Lamb's wife.
In the vision, a person measured the 'city' for John—just as a person had done some measuring for Ezekiel in his vision.
John noted that there was no temple in the city, as there had been in Ezekiel's vision where Ezekiel saw the waters issuing out from under the threshold—it's not about that anymore: because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
John also saw open gates—just as Ezekiel had seen a gate and the waters issuing by it.
"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," John said.
In the middle of the street of the city, and on either side of the river, there was:
"...the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the HEALING of the nations" (Revelation 22:1,2)—just like the trees in Ezekiel's vision, and in the original paradise.
And just like in Ezekiel's vision the waters caused EVERYTHING to live WHITHERSOEVER it flowed, so Revelation says:
"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'. And let him that heareth say, 'Come'. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER will, let him take the water of life freely" (22:17).
Everything, whithersoever (in Ezekiel) - to whosoever (in Revelation)—shall live!
John's Revelation shows us ever-so beautifully that the hope of mankind—Israel's hope—Ezekiel's vision—the purpose of God—Abraham’s promises—Old Testament prophecies—was brought to its glorious fulfilment and reality in JESUS, the crucified and risen Lamb.
"BLESSED are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city," (verses 14&15 say), "For without are..." all those who do wrong—just as in Ezekiel's vision the miry places and marshes would not be healed.
In Ezekiel, the healing-waters made place for happy fishermen between Engedi and Eneglaim—but in Revelation the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the NATIONS.
Throughout John's gospel, and in John's Revelation, we find much of the same imagery as in Ezekiel—temple, city, gate, rivers, life, even marks on foreheads, etc—only it's shown to be gospel-shaped and JESUS-centred—and it's categorically stated that it's not about a stone-temple, nor limited to one ethnicity or one land, but about ‘all’ who receive Him, those who believe on His name—these are the children of God who shall “inherit the earth”.
Israel's plight in exile was really a picture of the plight facing all of humanity in Adam, including Israelis—and Israel's hoped-for redemption was really a picture of the redemption which, in the heavenly FATHER's heart, even before Israel was born, was always going to be about the Seed, Jesus, the Holy One of Israel, and in Him all families of the earth.
This good news had to be announced to Israel first, to sure-up the promises and covenant—and then in all the world.
It was always ultimately really going to be all about JESUS—and the bride, the Lamb's wife—for everyone.
The river of life flows, bringing healing and life, for all nations.
And it all started in a manger in Bethlehem.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).
JESUS.
Unto you. And me. Everyone.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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