THE RIVER WILL BE REROUTED

Text: Ezekiel:1-12

THE ONLY WAY TO TEACH THESE LESSONS ARE WITH GOD’S WORD. WE WILL SEE A LOT OF SCRIPTURE!

Most every major city in the world is located on a river. Even in America most major cities are located on a river. One of the one’s that are not is the city of Atlanta.

*****In Palestine we have Jerusalem. We know that Jerusalem has been in the forefront of the Bible throughout it’s scriptures. We know that the Jordan river is close to Jerusalem. The Jordan is mentioned 197 times in the Bible. We will see from this lesson that the Jordan will be rerouted during the time of the Millennial Kingdom.

Isa 51:3 says  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and [he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD]; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Psa 46:4 says  [There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved]: God shall help her, and that right early.

Zec 14:8 says  And it shall be in that day, [that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zec 14:9  [And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one].
Zec 14:10  All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.
Zec 14:11  And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

*****Let’s look at the rivers of the Garden of Eden as we study this lesson:

Gen 2:10 says  And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
Gen 2:11  The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
Gen 2:12  And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
Gen 2:13  And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
Gen 2:14  And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

Remember the apostle John also saw a river:

Rev 22:1 says  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Our Text:

Eze 47:1  Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Eze 47:2  Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

We talked about this house in the last lesson. This is the Temple described by Ezekiel to be built during the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus.

We already know that there is no river that now begins at the location where the Temple existed and where it is said to be rebuilt. What the Bible teaches is that the Earth will be rebuilt and could even be like it was before the flood of Noah’s day. This will happen just before or during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ our Lord. This will be a time of “miracles”, a display of God’s power. God is not confined by the natural laws. It is God that created it all and he will recreate some, if not all of during this time. We will see that the gradual size of the river displays God’s care for His people at this time.

*****The first river mentioned in Genesis is the “Pison” (pronounced pee-shone’). Many Bible scholars believe this to be the River Jordan. The word Pison means “freely”.

YOU SEE SALVATION IS FREELY GIVEN, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD!

Isa 55:1 SAYS  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 55:2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Isa 55:3  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and [your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you], even the sure mercies of David.

Rev 22:17 SAYS  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

THE WATERS OF THE RIVER OF LIFE CANNOT BE BOUGHT!

THE THINGS OF GOD CANNOT BE PURCHASED WITH SILVER OR GOLD!

Rom 3:24 SAYS  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

*****THIS WATER THAT FLOWS FROM THIS NEW TEMPLE IS FLOWING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD.

Psa 3:8 SAYS  [Salvation belongeth unto the LORD]: thy blessing is upon thy people.

WE MUST REMEMBER THE WATER OF LIFE IS FREE TO WHOSOEVER WILL COME AND DRINK BUT GOD PAID A DEAR PRICE FOR IT. IT COST HIM THE LIFE OF HIS SON, HIS ONLY SON.

Joh 3:16 SAYS  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 8:32 SAYS  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

1Co 2:12 SAYS  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Pe 5:6 SAYS  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

*****The second river that flowed from the Garden of Eden was called the “Gihon”.

The idea behind this name is to gush forth, somewhat like an artesian well then swell to become deep and wide.

GOD HAS PROVIDED LIFE FROM HIS HOUSE FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME!

THE SALVATION OF MAN IS NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT WITH GOD IT HAS BEEN HIS PLAN ALL ALONG AND IT IS HIS PLAN AND WE SHOULD NOT QUESTION ANY PLAN OF GOD.

Isa 53:6 SAYS  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Rev 13:8 SAYS  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

JESUS IS THAT LIVING WATER THAT CAME TO US BY THE WAY OF SACRIFICE. HE CAME BY WAY OF THE CROSS TO GUSH OUT THE BLOOD OF OUR SALVATION.

JESUS IS GOD’S LAMB.

Gen 22:8 SAYS  And Abraham said, My son, [God will provide “himself” a lamb] for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Joh 1:29 SAYS  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS WAS THE FATHER’S SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN. ON THIS ALTAR DID JESUS PAY THE SIN DEBT FOR ALL TIME!

Gal 1:3 SAYS  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Eph 5:1 SAYS  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

Heb 10:9 SAYS  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Heb 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

*****SIN CANNOT GET WIDER NOR DEEPER THAN THE RIVER OF LIFE THAT COVERS ALL SIN!

Col 1:20 SAYS  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Heb 9:22 SAYS  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

*****THE RIVER OF LIFE HAS A DEFINATE PATH AND PLAN. IT IS WIDE ENOUGH AND DEEP ENOUGH THAT IT’S COURSE IS UNCHANGABLE. THIS PLAN CANNOT BE ALTERED OR CHANGED IN ANY WAY.

Joh 14:6 SAYS  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2Ti 1:9 SAYS  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

THIS IS WHY WE CAN TRUST IN OUR SALVATION, THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED FAITH!

Eph 3:11 SAYS  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Heb 11:6 SAYS  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

AS BELIEVERS WE CAN KNOW THE COMPLETED WORK OF GOD [BECAUSE HE CAME HIMSELF TO SET US FREE]!

*****YOU SEE GOD’S LOVE IS SO AMAZING AND FAR REACHING IT IS BEYOND HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING!

1.) The “breadth” of His love is wide enough to embrace the whole world.

1Jn 2:1 says  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

2.) The “length” of His love cannot be measured.

Isa 53:10 says  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

3.) The “depth” of His love is greater than any depth.

Eph 4:8 says  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

4.) The “height” of His love is all the way to the throne of Heaven.

Heb 6:17 says  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

*****YOU SEE OUR LORD IS NOT YET HERE ON EARTH AGAIN BUT IS BACK IN THE GLORIES OF HEAVEN WAITING FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF TIME TILL HE RETURNS.

Heb 9:24 SAYS  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

AGAIN BACK TO OUR TEXT:

Eze 47:3  And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
Eze 47:4  Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
Eze 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.

The third river mentioned in the Book of Genesis is the “Hiddekel”. This is believed to be the Tigris River that flows through Iraq today.

“It means to be rapid or swift.”

Three times we have seen that He brought him through the river and it got deeper every time.

*****YOU SEE EACH AND EVERYTIME WE COME TO THE RIVER OF LIFE WE WILL GROW IN GRACE.

Remember Ezekiel said the river was at first ankle deep, then knee deep and now up to the waste.

*****YOU SEE BABES IN CHRIST CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO DIVE IN TO THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD, BUT AFTER A WHILE EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET IN AND SPLASH AROUND IN THE DEEPER THINGS. AS THE WATER GETS DEEPER AND SWIFTER WE NEED TO DEPEND MORE ON ONE ANOTHER AND WORK TOGETHER IN THE THINGS OF GOD. We must put our focus on Jesus

Act 20:32 says  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Heb 12:1 says  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

AGAIN OUR TEXT:

Eze 47:6  And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
Eze 47:7  Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Eze 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.
Eze 47:9  And 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.
Eze 47:10  And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.
Eze 47:11  But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
Eze 47:12  And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

The fourth river mentioned in the Book of Genesis is the “Euphrates”. This word means “sweet”.

Ezekiel had to travel about a mile from the Temple to get to this part of the river. He had seen the fountainhead at God’s Throne. He had been ankle deep and knee deep and waist deep but now he could not pass over the river for it’s might.

*****YOU SEE WHEN WE REACH THAT POINT IN OUR CHRISTAIN LIVES THAT WE KNOW WE CAN NO LONGER GO ALONE BUT MUST PLACE ALL OUR TRUST IN GOD TO CARRY US THROUGH THE RIVERS OF LIFE, THEN WE CAN BE SECURE IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.

*****YOU KNOW THE APOSTLE PETER GET’S A LOT OF RIDICULE WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THAT BOAT ON THE SEA OF GALILEE BUT HE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO DO SO. BUT EVEN THOUGH HE SANK WE KNOW THAT HE WALKED BACK TO THAT BOAT HOLDING TO THE ARM OF JESUS. IF WE DO NOT HOLD TO THE ARM OF JESUS THEN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WILL OVERWHELM US AND CAUSE US TO STUMBLE.

*****IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE ALL ABOUT JESUS!

2Co 12:9 SAYS  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

*****LET’S NEXT SEE THE HEALING POWER OF THIS RIVER.

We know that the River Jordan runs into the Dead Sea and the Dead Sea is so named because there is no life in it.

This River of the New Temple will heal this Sea and the land around it.

Psa 103:1 Says Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Psa 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The children of Israel will be revived. The Land area of this world will be revived.

“ALL BECAUSE OUR LORD JESUS BRINGS WITH HIM THE RIVER OF LIFE BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.”

Amo 9:13 SAYS  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
Amo 9:14  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
Amo 9:15  And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

*****YOU SEE THE WORLD WILL CHANGE WHEN CHRIST OUR LORD COMES TO CLAIM HIS CREATION. ALL GOD’S CHILDREN WILL NEED TO GO DOWN TO THE RIVER.

As Christians we have these words of God:

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

*****ONE DRINK OF THE RIVER OF LIFE AND OUR THIRSTING SOUL IS QUENCHED AND GOD IS SATISFIED!

Joh 4:10 SAYS  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

AND

Joh 4:14 SAYS  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Psa 36:9 SAYS  For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Rev 7:17 SAYS  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Isa 12:3 SAYS  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Rev 22:1 SAYS  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

*****YOU KNOW ALL WE HEAR ABOUT IN OUR WORLD TODAY IS HOW THE EARTH WILL SOON END. THE EARTH WILL BE DESTROYED BY THE CLIMATE CHANGE, OR NUCLEAR WAR, OR THE SUN GETTING SO HOT AND MANY OTHER THINGS ARE SAID BUT “WE HAVE THE SURE WORD OF GOD THAT TELLS US THE COMING TRIBULATION, THE COMING MILLENNIAL KINGDOM AND THE COMING ETERNAL LIFE IN A HEAVEN GREATER THAN ANYTHING WE CAN THINK OF.

WHY WOULD ANYONE NOT WANT TO HAVE THIS LIFE DESCRIBED BY GOD’S WORD.

GOD HAS MADE IT SO EASY.

ALL ANYONE HAS TO DO IS BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THEY SHALL BE SAVED!

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

LET’S PRAY!