Ezekiel 47:1

Door of the house. This is the door of the temple itself.

Waters issued out. What has been said with regard to the interpretation of the temple vision should be borne in mind here (see on Ezekiel 40:1). The vision was a pictorial prophecy describing a literal economy. The presentation sets forth conditions as they might have been, and there seems to be little reason for departing far from the literal language. Whether the stream was fed miraculously or by a series of springs or other streams is not discussed by Ezekiel. His responsibility was simply to describe what he saw. The intent must have been reasonably plain to the Israelites. Abundant water, such as here portrayed, was the sign of adequate precipitation and resultant prosperity. Such blessings were further emphasized by the mention of the fruit trees and the teeming life in the waters (vs. 7-12).

Inasmuch as these predictions never were fulfilled in their original intent, they will have a measure of fulfillment in the Christian church. It is John the revelator who picks up the imagery of these chapters and explains what features of them will be fulfilled in the new earth (see, for example, Ezekiel 47:12; cf. Rev. 22:2).

Physical arrangements are frequently also designed to teach spiritual lessons. Here the stream, beginning in a small way, increased as it flowed out toward the desert. So the blessings of the covenant, of which the Israelites were the first recipients, were to flow out, ever increasing until they embraced the whole world. By the same figure the work of the Advent Movement may be illustrated (see 7T 171, 172).

If the stream was miraculously originated and increased, it would stand as a perpetual evidence of the power of an ever-present God working in behalf of His people. Such a demonstration would be similar to the presence of the pillar of fire and cloud that accompanied the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings (Ex. 13:21, 22) and of the miraculous supply of drinking water (Ex. 17:1-7; etc.).