Envisioning New Life
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Key Verse: “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.” Selected Scripture: |
THE LORD JESUS USED the words, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19), when he called his disciples, Peter and Andrew, into service. They would go out from the literal sea upon which they made their living, to work in the restless sea of humanity. This descriptive wording is being used to depict the great call of truth seekers from beneath the waves of ignorance, superstition, and degradation. These special ones who are called by the Lord, have the opportunity if faithful to go on to “glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.”—Rom. 2:7
Our theme scripture describes events that will take place after the closing of the door to the High Calling, as shown in Ezekiel 44:1. When the church class is complete the glory of the Lord shall have entered into his heavenly Temple, and the water of life will issue from the throne of God. (chap. 47:1) After the kingdom of God is established, the waters of truth—blessings of refreshment and restitution—will flow to mankind. These blessings should not be confused with the good news, or Gospel message, but should be looked at as representing the Millennial blessings. “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.” (Ps. 46:4) This important part of God’s plan is further shown in the words, “It shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem.”—Zech. 14:8
Looking at the Prophet Ezekiel’s vision, we note that the waters flowed from the house of the Lord, from the Temple. This stream of the water of life will flow on to cover all of the earth, whose fallen condition is represented by the wilderness eastward of Jerusalem. Wherever the waters went they brought vitality, refreshment, healing, and life, even to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea represents the vast amount of people who have died. We are being given an assurance that the water of life shall reach even these, and bring blessings to them after they are awakened during the great resurrection. “Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”—I Cor. 15:21-26
Turning to the description of this same symbolic river, furnished to us in Revelation, chapter 22, we find evidence once again that it applies to a future time. It is symbolically pictured as having trees of life on “either side of the river,” whose “leaves” are for the “healing of the nations.” (vs. 2) This clearly pictures restitution, and the complete healing of all of mankind’s problems. It includes a complete removal of its sins, sickness, and imperfection.
We can further see the hand of the Almighty God, when we read the Revelator’s words, “He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (vs. 1) The importance of these blessings being extended to all of mankind is a further evidence of God’s perfect love.