THE RIVER OF GOD

THE RIVER OF GOD

I know I have written about this before, but it seems to keep coming to me this morning, so I will touch base with it again.

The point which seems to want the limelight right now is found in Ezekiel, chapter 47. It tells about waters issuing out of the House of God-- coming from the right side of the Altar. It grew and grew as it progressed down the hill on its 12 mile journey. Before it was half way to its destination, it had grown to a river which could not be passed over-- "waters to swim in".

Ezekiel 47:5 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.

Most scholars agree that this prophecy is talking about an outpouring of the Spirit of God in the end time of this dispensation. We are probably correct in this interpretation. It is in line with what Jesus said about the believer having a river of living water springing up unto Everlasting Life. See John 7:38 and John 4:14

There are other scriptures which speak about the river of refreshing which is to be expected from the Lord.

Psalms 46:4 [There is] a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy [place] of the tabernacles of the most High.

Psalms 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

A few years ago, I was looking at the river found in Eze 47, and made a remarkable discovery from the Word.

THESE WATERS HAVE A DEFINITE DESTINATION AND A DEFINITE PURPOSE.

Ezekiel 47:8 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.

The first purpose is to bring life to the desert. It will do that.

The second purpose is to heal the waters of the Dead Sea. We all know that nothing lives in the Dead Sea. No plants, no fish, no animals. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

What a fitting way for the Lord to portray the "deadness" of humanity. Absolute depravity. Absolute helplessness to produce anything good. All life ceases at its borders. The "Black Hole" of life.

But God! But God has a plan in mind that can and will bring that condition to an end.

According to the Prophet, all of the Dead Sea but a few-- Ezekiel 47:11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

No, not EVERY ONE will respond to the Spirit of the Lord when it is poured out as a DELUGE upon humanity. But God intends to retrieve a generation or two from the kingdom of death, into the Kingdom of Life-- from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light-- from the kingdom of error to the Kingdom of Truth-- from the kingdom of sin to the Kingdom of Righteousness.

Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Don’t misunderstand me! I am NOT telling you that the Dead Sea will be turned into fresh water. This is a parabolic prophecy of what will happen to humankind who respond to the overwhelming outpouring of the Spirit of God. This Mighty flow of the Spirit (water) issues forth from under the threshold of the House of God—from the South side of the Altar.

This ever-increasing torrent is the Spirit of the Living God. It will have a profound effect on the masses of humanity that are helpless to change from their dead, sinful condition.

I predict that one whole religion, which comprises nearly one third of the population of the world today, will be completely overwhelmed and pass out of existence when this Spiritual torrent reaches its seat of operations. Those who are now faithful to that religion will gladly respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ when their false hope is withered away. The “Euphrates River” will be dried up by the Hand of God. Symbolic language for a (false) world-wide religion. But that is ANOTHER parablic prophecy.

But, we must remember that it is GOD who will do it. Man does not have the wherewith to get the job done.

God WILL have the last word.