Gluten Free & God Seeking: Looking at the Spiritual Meaning in Ezekiel's Visions - Why Does A River Flow Out of God's House in Ezekiel 47?

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Looking at the Spiritual Meaning in Ezekiel's Visions - Why Does A River Flow Out of God's House in Ezekiel 47?

A sump failure is a homeowner’s nightmare. I know because it happened to us. Two years ago we had record rainfall, almost like Noah’s ark revisited with the days of rain almost hitting the 40 day marker. With the rising water table, a lot of people had sump failure.

For us two of our three sumps failed. Most of our basement had between a quarter to half inch of water, and we and some friends spent hours shop vacing it out. You can imagine the mess. Then we had to rent a humidifier to remove moisture out of the walls so mold wouldn’t start growing, which is another Northwest nightmare.

That’s my backdrop for the vision in Ezekiel 47:1-12 where the prophet sees a river flowing out of the threshold on the east side of the temple (Ezek. 43:2). Unlike us, God likes water in His house. In chapter 26 Witness Lee says that the east side is the direction of God’s glory—think about the sunrise! After doing the study on God's glory the last two weeks, I see this a bit differently now. In this chapter it said when we care for God’s glory, it causes the flow of water to increase.

In this vision we see again the man of bronze measuring, but this time it's the flow of water. At first, it was just a trickle, and at the next measurement of 1000 cubits, the water was at the ankles. The man measures the water four times, and at each 1000 cubit increment, it goes higher until all you can do is swim in it. This river didn’t just happen, certain things caused it, and I found this explanation insightful on page 302 of chapter 26 of the Life-Study of Ezekiel.

Several crucial factors brought in the flow of the river. The first was the building up and the completion of the house. Following this, the people began to have their living according to the house. Their daily life and all their conduct began to be according to the form, fashion, pattern, statutes, and laws of the

house (43:10-11). Next, the serving ones, the priests were serving the Lord in a proper way. Finally, there were all the offerings…There were yearly offerings, monthly offerings, daily offerings, and all the solemn feasts. We need to realize that the experience of all these matters brought in the flow of the river. When the Lord saw all these things, He must have been very happy. He had a house--the place of His throne, a place for the soles of His feet, a place where He could dwell for His rest and satisfaction [43:7]. He saw the house with its forms and statutes, and He saw the priests and the offerings. Therefore, He sent the flowing of the river, and the river began to flow out of the house (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Ezekiel. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1998, Print).

What I got from this chapter is everything in the church hinges on the building. And he mentions later in this chapter for us to experience this flow, we ourselves need to be measured. I learned that the man of bronze symbolizes the Lord's judging of our motives, goals, and desires so He could possess us for His house. And that the four

measurements signify the number of the creature (think about 4 living creatures). These four measurings show us that we are in a continual process of being taken over by the Lord. Doesn't that give you another view of your Christian life?
Other posts on the Major Prophets:

Life-Study of Isaiah:

You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Study of Isaiah on Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee. You can also read the online Life-Studies of Isaiah and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

How Can the Son in Isaiah 7:14 & 9:6 Be the Mighty God?
Seeing Christ as the Great Light in Isaiah 9:2
Why is Christ Called the Cornerstone in Isaiah 28:26?
Taking a Closer Look at Isaiah 53 - Christ's Crucifixion Foretold - Part 1

Taking a Closer Look at Isaiah 53 - Christ's Resurrection &Ascension Foretold - Part 2 of 2

Life-Study of Jeremiah & Lamentations: