What an interesting paragraph of Scripture!
Describing a (future) River, and it environs … Ezekiel 47:1-12.
But today (already having discussed the chapter’s first 5 verses) we notice verses 6-12. “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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 11 But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 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.”
I have purposely left the verse markers in place, the numbers. (I don’t always do that.) But here they will help as I discuss the specifics of the Paragraph.
The pronoun “he” in verse 6 is merely the angel who has been showing Ezekiel much about the Millennial earth, especially its buildings and topography.
That this experience is a “vision” is clear. “And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? And the whole Event here is yet future. That’s specifically called a “prophetic vision.” (You can read the opening paragraph of Ezekiel 40 for the “context” of this ultra-long “vision.”)
The work “brink” is in Hebrew (“saphah”) a noun meaning “edge, bank, side,” but is linked to certain words for “speech,” being translated “language” 7 times in the Old Testament. (A River telling a story, giving a message?)
There Ezekiel sees “trees,” many trees in fact. (As in the Garden of Eden there were trees! As in New Jerusalem there will be trees! Perhaps even … as Christianity exists because of what Jesus did on a “Tree!” The Cross of Calvary.)
Verse 8 is astounding, describing the “flow” of the River. “These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down (south) into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.” Meandering straight toward the (once) Dead Sea! And it “heals” the (salty) waters of that body of water, producing teeming life! (That’s why I spoke of a changed topography for the Holy Land, during the glorious millennium.)
As is further illuminated in verse 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.” That (once) dead sea is now a living sea! Notice also that apparently this river is now forking into other rivers, the plural (“rivers”) being used here in verse 9. Sounds like “life abundant!”
But verse 10 adds more about the “fish.” I am interested. “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.” Engedi and Eneglaim are both actually places (cities, oases) located near the Dead Sea of today. (Remember that much of the ocean/river life would have been destroyed during the tribulation. During all those seals and trumpets and vials of judgment!) But with Jesus having returned to earth … everything is back! He IS The Creator, you know.
All “kinds” of fish! Reminds me of us being “fishers of men.” Soul-winners! And of John 21:11, another Biblical “fishing” account! “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an HUNDRED and FIFTY and THREE: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.” Many “kinds” of fishes! (I believe all this is emblematic of the fact that multitudes will be saved and found worshipping Jesus during the Millennium! “Seas” (oceans) in the Bible often represent the (once lost) “nations” of the world.
Wow!
Verse 11, a word about “salt.” There MUST be some, for the temple sacrifices (which most often included salt as a mandate). For cooking and eating as well. “But the miry places thereof and the marishes (meaning “pits”) thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to SALT.”
Remember Jesus once said, “Salt is good.” Luke 14:34, there’s a whole sermon there!
Then verse 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 (so much “fruit” that it could never be all 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.”
Trees whose “fruit” is edible and “leaves” medicinal. Bearing that fruit monthly! (And clearly described in terms similar to Psalm 1:3, another river! “And he (the godly man who loves the Word) shall be like a TREE planted by the RIVERS of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Wow!
Are you saved?
If so , during the Millennium maybe we can sit by that River and discuss today’s Lesson, in more detail!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell