THE RIVER OF LIFE

In Ezekiel 47, the prophet was shown the following: In the very last days, the Church of Jesus Christ will be more glorious, more victorious, than in its entire history. The Lord’s true Body is not going to weaken or decrease in power or spiritual authority. No, His Church will go out in a blaze of power and glory and it will enjoy the fullest revelation of Jesus that anyone has ever known.

Ezekiel writes, “Their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many” (Ezekiel 47:10). A body of believers will come forth who will swim in the rising waters of the Lord’s presence.

Ezekiel’s vision of the rising waters (Ezekiel 47:3-4) is speaking of an increase of the Holy Spirit. In the latter days, there will be an increase of God’s presence among His people.

The very foundation of this river is the cross. We see a fulfillment of this image in the following verse: “One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34).

This growing flow of water is the image of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was given to the disciples. Along with this gift of the Spirit, Christ’s followers were given a promise that He would be a river of life springing up within them. And that river would flow out into all the world (see John 7:38-39).

According to Ezekiel’s vision, the river of life will crest just prior to the Lord’s coming. God took the prophet on an amazing trip and Ezekiel testifies, “He brought me through the waters” (Ezekiel 47:3). And the Lord kept urging the prophet onward, deeper and farther into the water. Ezekiel says that finally the water was too deep for him, too overwhelming. “I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in” (47:5).

I can only imagine this man’s wonder as the Lord asked him, “Ezekiel, what is this sea that has risen? If this river is all about life and resurrection power, who are the ones who’ll be so blessed to swim in such glory?” Ezekiel could only envision what we now enjoy.