The River Of Life

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THE RIVER OF LIFE

Ezekiel 47:1-12

Eze 47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

6 And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

7 Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

8 Then said he unto me, 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.

9 And it shall come to pass, 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 every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (KJV)

INTRODUCTION: Ezekiel is a book of visions. Chapter 47 is the River of Life chapter. Parallel passage is Rev. 22:1. Re 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. (KJV)

Chapters 40-48 are a picture of Ezekiel’s vision of the Millennium Temple and the coming Glory of the Christ the King. There are several elements of the Christian life seen in these twelve verses.

I. LIFE BEGINS WITH CHRIST.

A. The Source. Vs. 1. Eze 47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. (KJV)

The Door is Jesus.

1. The door. John 10:9. Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (KJV)

2. The story begins at the door. Christ is the beginning of the Christian life.

3. The Christian life begins at the door. The Christian life begins with Jesus Christ.

4. Comes from under the threshold – you can’t see beyond the threshold therefore it must be by faith.

The Source.

B. The Course. Vs. 1, “…..and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.” (KJV)

1. The waters came from the door. There was no tributary waters. Christ is sufficient alone.

a. Man doesn’t add to what God has done.

b. Christ is sufficient within Himself.

2. It is a picture of the cross.

a. The blood flowed down.

b. No tributary action.

c. Enough blood to save every sinner.

3. It came from the altar.