“Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makesthe waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish.” Ezekiel 47:9, BSB)
There is much excitement as I write, envisioning the glorious and vivified state of the temple in this latter house. The Living Water flowing from the thresholds of the sanctuary of the heart is JESUS, the Living One. He is the eternal source flowing from the altar of sacrifice. From under the threshold of our living temple flows the river of life. This flow will run out of the temple eastward towards the south gate and northwards. Clearly the man seen in Ezekiel’s vision with the measuring stick is Jesus. The Word is our measuring rod as we tread the fast flowing prophetic waters today. The Word will be the measure to keep the servants of righteousness as they go forth, moving out into the treacherous deep flow where the abundance of life of every kind is teeming. The Word will navigate our course through the spiritual rapids of faith.
Ezekiel is led in the vision by his guide to see the phenomenon. He witnesses the trickling waters from the East side of the temple flowing into a deep depth. Not only does Ezekiel behold the rising water, he is led into the flow. He moves further out from an ankle dip water to depths of waters where one is able to swim in. Four times he moved out by a further 1,000 cubits. Since the numeral 4 is a universal number and the waters indicate nations, the flow is indicative of the move of the Spirit. We can deduce that the reference of the promise of the healing waters is for the healing of the whole world. The number 4 is also referenced as a number of authority, to have dominion. “And he said to me,“This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh”, (Ezekiel 47:8, BSB). The Arabah is thought to be the Dead Sea and is a reference to the gentile nations languishing for the refreshing streams to dissipate the spiritual malaise. So the living waters, flowing from the temple gives revelation of the eternal mandate of our Lord as the living flow out of Zion’s holy hill from where salvation comes. It continues its flow out into the Arabah’s salty stagnant basins of water, likened to those gentile regions surrounding the borders of Jerusalem. A sense of foreboding pervades the air in regions where thirsty souls are longing for the healing waters to abate the long spiritually sun-scorched season. The fresh pure flow of water will saturate, refresh and heal the nations. Grateful recipients of the living water that will flow out into the wadis, plains and tributaries where the thirsty and dying populous are drawn to the living flow to be spiritually quenched and revived.
An invitation was given as Jesus cried out on the last and great day of the Festival of Tabernacles, “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. (38) Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37-38, BSB). That invitation is still potent today to draw everyone into the deep river of life. It is a call to the higher works of kingdom righteousness for christians and salvation for erring souls.
It is time to leave the depleting pools of stagnant waters that we have frequented. I t is time to discern the times and the seasons. It is a time of spiritual reform as we swiftly move into the closing and final chapter of the church age. My spirit is being fed that the body of Christ will not be able to negotiate this next season with the measure of grace that has existed for this closing old order. A New Order of kingdom authority and grace is upon the body of Christ. What has been revealed to me is that a new spiritual platform to accommodate the readying saints has been made ready by the Spirit. It is spiritually robust to endure the abnormal assaults coming against the reformed body of Christ. Those who will change course and shift to where the Spirit of God is leading will be refreshed under the weighty prophetic mantle for this time.
The Living Water of Life will flow out of everyone that will come to the bubbling flow. The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunts where jackals once lay, these regions will become habitable places. The banks and borders will become verdant with trees after a season of dryness and brittle vegetation. The grass, reeds and papyrus will flourish at the water’s edge, depicting health and vibrancy. “The burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.(Isaiah 35:7, ESV). This verse speaks of transformation and hope as the screech owls, jackals and night creatures will no longer dominate the environments of the nations. The base visceral self, the elementary nature of our being will come under the power of the Spirit. Societal healing in the nations, salvation and restoration to the things of God will mark this new season. Positive, ingratiating acts of human kindness will drive behavioural change to bring about a spirit of empathy and care towards others. Altruistic behavioural changes will become the norm as the people embrace kingdom characteristics through the Word. The problem weary people of the nations will saturate themselves unashamedly in the New Pentecost flow of the Spirit. The ebbing flow from under the tabernacle of the grateful heart will satisfy the insatiable season’s thirst. A dissatisfaction, weariness and longing in the people will urge them to take up the Spirit-led invitation to ‘Come and Drink of Me’. (John 7:37)
Gwendolyn Smith. 21st September 2020