EZEKIEL LESSON 49
We will begin this lesson in Ezekiel 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."
This part of the vision is not very well connected to the other
part of the temple we have been looking at. I personally do not know,
whether the temple we have been looking at was to have been taken
literally, or as a type. The things we learned from it could be the
reason for that part of the vision. This part of the vision seems to
be looking at the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22:1 "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." Sometimes, the Word of God is spoken
of as flowing water, or a river of water. We do know that the Word of
God does come from God to man. The Word is the sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Ezekiel 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."
This is speaking of that river of life that flows from God to all
mankind. When a person partakes of this river of living water, he
shall never die. The Spirit of God shall live within him.
Ezekiel 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."
This water was 1500 feet eastward. The biggest flood begins as
just a little trickle. That is what I believe is meant by the ankles
here. We must step into the water, for God to fill us with His Word.
Ezekiel 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."
This, of course, is another 1500 feet to bring it up to the
knees, and another 1500 feet to bring it to the loins. Notice, the
water is getting higher. God begins with filling us just a little
with His Word. As we walk in the water of His Word, we become deeper
and deeper into the Spirit of God, and then we are able to use the
Sword, that Word.
Ezekiel 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."
Now, this river has grown into a mighty river. That is what God's
people, who are filled with God's Spirit, become. There is no stopping
them, and the river becomes bigger all the time. One person tells the
other, until the Word has washed over the land, and restored the
people to the Lord.
Ezekiel 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."
Ezekiel is brought back to the land, so he can see, the river of
life that flows from God, is a restoring river. This river is the same
water that Jesus told the woman at the well to drink of, and she would
never thirst again. This tells me that God, Himself, will restore this
promised land. He will do it with the washing of the water of His Word
across the land. Ezekiel is brought back to the bank to observe
something else.
Ezekiel 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."
This reminds me very much of the following Tree in Revelation
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."
Ezekiel 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."
This is speaking of this water of life flowing across this dry
parched land, and ending up in the Dead Sea. It brings life all along
the way, and when it reaches the Dead Sea, it brings life to it, as
well. The whole earth is a dead sea right now. There is no respect for
God, or His Word, in most quarters. This speaks of a time, when the
Word of God will flow across the land, and cause all the dead to live.
The water of His Word brings this life. God promises to pour out of
His Spirit on all in the next verse. Acts 2:17 "And it shall come to
pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon
all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"
Ezekiel 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."
In Revelation chapter 2 verse 2, we saw a healing of the nations.
Where the Word of God goes, people live. That is what God's Word does,
it brings life. Christians are, many times, spoken of as fish.
Ezekiel 47:10 "And it shall come to pass, [that] the fishers
shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; 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."
Jesus told His apostles He would make them fishers of men. "En-
gedi" means fountain of a kid. "En-eglaim" means a fountain of two
calves. Notice, the fish shall be according to their kinds. I believe
this is speaking of people of all nations who will be saved.
Revelation 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which
no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and
tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with
white robes, and palms in their hands;"
Ezekiel 47:11 "But the miry places thereof and the marishes
thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt."
This is speaking of those who really were not interested in the
Word enough, to cause them to live. They had just enough of the Word
to bog them down in the clay and marsh. They had not received that
Spirit, or the full Word, which brings life.
Ezekiel 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."
Again, we must look to Revelation for the meaning of this.
Revelation chapter 22 verse 2 speaks of the tree giving fruit for each
month of the year. The leaf for medicine is in the same verse. The
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Ezekiel 47:13 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; This [shall be] the
border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve
tribes of Israel: Joseph [shall have two] portions."
Suddenly, Ezekiel's thoughts are brought back to the land of
Israel. We note in this, that Joseph is to get two portions of land.
Ezekiel 47:14 "And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another:
[concerning] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your
fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance."
This is speaking of the promised land, which God had sworn to
Abraham would be their land forever. This is the Hebrews' inheritance.
Ezekiel 47:15 "And this [shall be] the border of the land toward
the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to
Zedad;"
The "great sea" is the Mediterranean. Hethlon is a place in
Palestine.
Ezekiel 47:16 "Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which [is] between the
border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazar-hatticon, which
[is] by the coast of Hauran."
This is just a list of the areas that are included in this.
Ezekiel 47:17 "And the border from the sea shall be Hazar-enan,
the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of
Hamath. And [this is] the north side."
Hazernan means village of fountains. Hamath was the border.
Ezekiel 47:18 "And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran,
and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel [by]
Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And [this is] the east
side."
The Dead Sea is, probably, the sea mentioned here. The land seems
to lay west of the Jordan.
Ezekiel 47:19 "And the south side southward, from Tamar [even] to
the waters of strife [in] Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And
[this is] the south side southward."
This Tamar was, probably, a village at the southern end of the
Dead Sea. The "waters of strife" were, probably, the waters of
Meriboth Kadesh.
Ezekiel 47:20 "The west side also [shall be] the great sea from
the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This [is] the west
side."
This is saying from the Mediterranean to Hamath.
Ezekiel 47:21 "So shall ye divide this land unto you according to
the tribes of Israel."
Each tribe would get a portion of land to live upon. It is their
inheritance.
Ezekiel 47:22 "And it shall come to pass, [that] ye shall divide
it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that
sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they
shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel;
they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel."
They believed that God had chosen a certain place of the land for
them, when they were decided by casting lots.
Ezekiel 47:23 "And it shall come to pass, [that] in what tribe
the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give [him] his inheritance,
saith the Lord GOD."
This is just saying, that a stranger living with them shall have
his portion of land, the same as the sons.
Ezekiel 49 Questions
1. What does this part of the vision of Ezekiel seem to be speaking
of in verse 1?
2. Quote Revelation chapter 22 verse 1.
3. The Word of God is the sword of the ________.
4. Quote Ephesians chapter 6 verse 17.
5. When a person partakes of this river of living water, he shall
never _______.
6. The biggest flood begins with just a little _________.
7. What happens, as we get more involved in reading the Word of God?
8. What do God's people, who are filled with His Spirit, become like?
9. How will God restore the promised land?
10. Why was Ezekiel brought back to the bank?
11. What does verse 7 remind the author of?
12. This water of life flows across the dry parched land and ends up
in the _______ _____.
13. Quote Acts chapter 2 verse 17.
14. What will live because of the flowing river?
15. In Revelation chapter 2 verse 2, we saw the healing of the
_______.
16. Who did Jesus tell He would make them fishers of men?
17. What does "En-gedi" mean?
18. What does "En-eglaim" mean?
19. Quote Revelation chapter 7 verse 9.
20. Who is verse 11 speaking of?
21. What chapter and verse of Revelation clears up what verse 12 of
this lesson means?
22. What change takes place in verse 13?
23. What is the Hebrews' inheritance forever?
24. What is the "great sea" speaking of?
25. What portion of the land shall a stranger have?
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