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The River Of Salvation.
AUG. 20.--EZEK.
47:1-12.
"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."--Rev. 22:17.
MANY OF the particulars connected with this vision described by Ezekiel
are so circumstantial to the land of Israel as to give considerable ground for
belief that it will have a literal fulfilment in the future; and in connection
with the vision is shown a new division of the land of Canaan amongst the
twelve tribes. But whatever literal fulfilment the vision may have, we may be
positive that it is to have a grand fulfilment as a symbol, for the life-giving
river here brought to our attention is undoubtedly the same one described six
hundred years later, by John the Revelator, and referred to in our Golden Text.
Referring to the description of the river starting from the Temple,
Prof. Davidson says, "The natural fact upon which this conception rests is
this, that there was a fountain connected with the Temple hill, the waters of
which fell into the valley east of the city, and made their way toward the sea."
So far as we may know, this fountain never was of any considerable size, and
never would be, without more or less of a miracle, for at present the entire
country is arid, except in the rainy season. From this fountain the Valley of
Kedron leads directly to the Dead Sea, which, as is well known, has no
connection with the ocean waters, either on the surface or subterraneously, and
is 1308 feet below the sea level.
However, there are evidences that at one time the Dead Sea was on a
level with the ocean, and if by earthquake or otherwise the connection between
it and the ocean waters were re-established it would rise to its old level,
which would make of it an inland sea 150 miles long, and five to ten miles
wide. And such a filling up of its basin would have a marked effect, not only
upon the humidity of the atmosphere in its vicinity, but also upon the
water-springs of lower Palestine. The natural result would be, not only that
the Dead Sea would be sweetened of its brackishness, and become like the ocean,
but also that the springs in the vicinity of Jerusalem would be greatly
enlarged so as to produce some such river as this described in the prophecy,
and these springs in that now parched desert country would cause its vegetation
to prosper. It is worthy of note that this valley now occupied by the Dead Sea
was once most fertile,--before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We read,
"Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was
well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, --even
as the garden of the Lord." (Gen. 13:10.) And the
restitution of this country to a Paradisiac condition is what the Prophet
Ezekiel describes, if his language be given a literal interpretation at
all--and this it seems to demand, as well as the symbolic interpretation.
There are many who seek to apply this prophetic vision as a symbol to
the present time, and claim that this river of salvation has been flowing
through the world from the days of Ezekiel until now;--especially during this Gospel
age. These interpreters claim that the depth of the water up to the ankles
would represent a date when Christians numbered fifty millions; the depth of
the water up to the knees a period when Christians numbered a hundred millions;
a depth of water up to the loins a date when Christians numbered two hundred
millions; and a river that could not be waded, representing the present time,
when the population of Christendom is estimated at four hundred and fifteen
millions. But can we agree with this interpretation? Is it reasonable, is it
Scriptural?
(1) We answer, No; it is not a reasonable interpretation, for, if we may
judge of the Christians so-called in the past by those so-called in the
present, we must conclude that the river is far from pure, "clear as
crystal:" indeed, all will agree that if nine-tenths of those who name the
name of Christ, but who deny him in their daily lives, were to withdraw from
all profession, the Christian Church would be greatly blessed by their
withdrawal and the influence of the Church and the light from it would be
increased many-fold. Bishop Foster, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, sized up
the situation well when comparing the professed church to a sheep-fold, he
pronounced the vast majority "black, ring-streaked and speckled." We
all are confident that only a comparatively little flock are of the class
mentioned by the Lord as being reckonedly washed whiter than snow, through his
grace and truth.
(2) It is not a Scriptural view. The Scriptures declare that God's grace
at the present time is not comparable to a river, but in our Lord's words,
"It shall be in him [each believer] a well of water springing up [R2508 : page 196] into everlasting life." (John 4:14.) And those Christians in whom God's grace is a
fountain of life and refreshment are comparatively few. They are those who have
been "begotten of the spirit of truth" through the Word of truth. They
are the "sanctified in Christ Jesus;" they are the "little
flock," to the faithful of whom it is the Father's good pleasure to give
the Kingdom.
No Scripture anywhere suggests that the water of eternal life is now free;
nor that all are now called to drink of it. Our Lord Jesus himself declared the
contrary of this, saying, "No man can come to me except the Father which
hath sent me draw him." (John 6:44.) The drawing or
calling of God through a knowledge of his grace is only unto those who have
ears to hear, amongst those to whom the call is addressed; and the call has
been specially sent to and has specially reached [R2508
: page 197] only comparatively few of the earth's fifteen hundred
millions,--chiefly the inhabitants of Europe and America. And of this
comparatively small number to whom the Word of the Lord has been sent, and of
the still smaller number who have had "ears to hear" that call, only
a still smaller number are chosen, as we read, "Many are called, but few
chosen." (Matt. 20:16.) Not many are called, in
proportion to the whole, but many are called in proportion to the number
chosen, the few, the elect.
Returning to the Prophet's vision, we note that the waters flowed out
from the house of the Lord, from the Temple, and that wherever they went they
brought vitality and refreshment, healing, restitution life--even to the Dead
Sea. This to our understanding is a picture of the grace of God during the
Millennial age, when from the Church, the house of God, the Temple, "the
habitation of God through the spirit" (Eph. 2:22), the
stream of the water of life, healing, restoring, rejuvenating, shall flow to
all the families of the earth, whose condition is represented by the wilderness
eastward of Jerusalem. The result will be the blessing and restitution of all
the living families of the earth willing to receive the blessing. And it means
more: for the Dead Sea fitly represents the vast multitude of mankind which has
gone into the tomb, and the water of life shall reach even these, and bring to
them also awakening from death, opportunities of restitution.
That the fulfilment of this vision could not be a thing of the past nor
of the present is evident when we remember that the house of God, the Temple,
the Church, is not yet completed--that the present is the time in which the
Lord is fitting the "living stones" for the Temple,--is chiseling,
fitting and polishing each for the place to which he is called. The present
Gospel age was typified in the building of Solomon's Temple, by the period of
preparation of the materials, after which we are informed that the whole house
came together quickly, each stone fitting to its place and each timber to its
position, and that without the sound of a hammer or any tool of iron. So with
the "living stones," as the Apostle Peter calls the Church. (1 Pet. 2:5.) These are "builded together for a habitation
of God through the spirit," and the building will not be completed until
the last of these fitted and polished stones is laid in its position. Then the
glory of the Lord shall fill the house,--the Church will be glorified. Then
will have come the time represented in this vision, when the stream of the
water of life, truth and grace shall flow from the glorified Temple.
As there is no completed Temple yet, so there is no river yet; but when
the Temple is completed, when the various members of the body of Christ are
brought together and united in glory, honor and immortality to the Head of the
Church, then from this united and glorified company of God's elect shall flow
the symbolic river of water of life, clear as crystal. In each member of this
Temple class, in each of these "living stones," already is a
well-spring of truth and grace, and when these many well-springs shall have
thus been united to the great Head and Fountain, the result naturally will be a
stream of good proportions,--a river. To this coming time of blessing of the world
our Lord refers, saying, "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath
said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38.) In order to be of this class in whom the great
river of water of life will take its start, it is necessary, first, that the
believer shall now come unto Jesus and drink of him, the great Fountain of
life; and it will be as a result of this partaking of the great Fountain that
all of the elect Church shall become minor well-springs and fountains in due
time.
Turning to the description of this same symbolic river, furnished us in
the Book of Revelation (chapter 22), we find abundant
evidences that it does not refer to the present time, but to the Millennial
age. For instance, it is symbolically pictured as having trees of life on
either side, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations--not for the
healing of the Church, which at this time is the glorified Temple from which
this river proceeds--and this healing of the nations signifies, as plainly as a
symbolic picture could indicate it, restitution,--the healing of the woes of
the groaning creation, its sin and sickness and imperfection.
We notice also that the proclamation which will then be made will not be
restricted, as at the present time, to "even as many as the Lord our God
shall call." (Acts 2:39.) It will not be to an
"elect" class; it will no longer be said, "No man can come unto
me, except the Father draw him." The call at that time will be general--to
every creature--"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely." We notice further that that broad invitation is extended by God
through the holy spirit and the glorified Church, as it is written, "The
spirit and the bride say, Come!" We notice further that this expression,
"the bride," unquestionably places this call in the future, because,
altho the elect Church of this Gospel age is called out from the world to
become the bride of Christ, she does not become such, does not enter that
exalted station, until in the end of the age she is perfected in glory and in
the likeness of her Lord. Then will come "the marriage of the Lamb:"
and not until after the marriage will there be a bride; and not until after the
bride has thus been accepted as such can "the spirit and the bride say,
Come!" to the nations--the Gentiles.
This same glorious City (Kingdom), the glorified New Jerusalem, the
Church, and the river of the water [R2508 : page 198] of
life gushing forth therefrom, are brought to our attention in Psalm
46: "There is a river, the rivulets of which shall spring from the City of
God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of
her; she shall not be moved. God shall help her early in the morning." The
connections here also show that these rivulets are not to be expected to flow
out as a river, until the Millennial morning, and the context refers
particularly to the time of trouble with which the present age shall end and
the Millennial morning shall be introduced.
Those whom the Lord our God has called, and who, in obedience to that
call, have come to Jesus, the Fountain of life, and through him have tasted
that the Lord is gracious, should let the Word and grace of God dwell in them
richly and abound, making them neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge
of the Lord and in his service. It is for these to seek enlargement in the
grace of God, that as well-springs they may be deeper and wider and more and
more filled to overflowing with that grace and truth which came by Jesus
Christ. It is for these to see to it, each for himself, that he has not
received the grace of God in vain, and that this well-spring does not become
choked with the rubbish of this present evil world, its aims, its hopes, its
ambitions, its pride, its desires of the flesh;--that thus, under divine
providence and supervision, we may be made meet for the inheritance of the
saints in light, and have fellowship with our glorious Lord and Head in the
sending forth of the river of salvation unto the ends of the earth in "due
time;"--the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, to whosoever
will of all the families of the earth.--2 Pet. 1:4-11; 2 Cor. 6:1; Col. 1:12; 1
John 1:3.
W.T. R-2507 a : page 196 – 1899 r.