The River of Water of Life in the Bible (4)

Ezekiel 47:1-12 records this prophet being shown the house of God with the flow of living water. Verse 1: “there was water flowing out from under the threshold of the house to the east (for the house faced east); and the water flowed down below the south side of the house, on the south of the altar.” This too is a picture of the river of life in New Jerusalem.

Verse 7 tells us that “very many trees” grow on both sides of the river and verse 12 says these trees are for food. Verse 8 says that the river “goes to the sea; when it flows into the sea, the water of the sea is healed.” The sea here is the Dead Sea between Israel and  Jordan. Death is totally swallowed up by life. The city of New Jerusalem is constituted 100 percent with divine, eternal life.

Verse 9 continues “every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes shall live, and there will be very many fish when this water comes there.”  Then this verse repeats “And the water of the sea shall be healed” and adds “everything shall live wherever the river comes.”

These views show that the river is a rich supply of life. The river is the Spirit, and “the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). The picture in Ezekiel 47 should inspire us to have great expectation for life in New Jerusalem.

Posted by Don on April 15, 2026

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