Asbury Bible Commentary – E. New Life From the New Temple (47:1-12)
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E. New Life From the New Temple (47:1-12)

E. New Life From the New Temple (47:1-12)

For the last time the divine guide led Ezekiel to the temple where he saw water flowing out from under the temple itself. Following the flow of the water, Ezekiel saw it increase from a trickle to a river more than a mile wide. This symbolic stream not only watered the desert, but it flowed into the sea and sweetened it, producing great schools of fish. On its banks grew all kinds of fruit trees and trees with healing leaves. Thus Ezekiel envisioned how the return of Yahweh to the new temple would bless the whole world and its peoples. The obvious NT parallel passage is Rev 22:1-5. There the river of the water of life flows out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. No longer, however, is there a need for a temple, for “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Rev 21:22). In the new day all are invited to “take the free gift of the water of life” (Rev 22:17).