Another very interesting, feature of that day is worthy of our notice, and that is, a miraculous river, mentioned several times in the Scriptures. Zechariah 14:88And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. (Zechariah 14:8) speaks of it thus: “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea; in summer and in winter shall it be.” The former sea refers to the Dead Sea, the hinder to the Mediterranean; the flowing of the river, you will observe, is in no way affected by the change of seasons. Further details are given in Ezekiel, and we find there that these waters issue out from under the threshold of the house, or temple, eastward, go down into the desert, and “go into the sea (Dead), which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.”
At the present time, as is well known, this sea is of such a saline character, that fish cannot live in it; it is often called the Salt Sea for this reason. But the effect of the flowing of the miraculous living waters into it will be, that its present condition will be changed, its waters being healed. “And,” says the prophet Ezekiel, “it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, wither soever 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 everything shall live whither the river corn eth. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; 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. But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 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” (Ezek. 47:1-121Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6And 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. 7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then 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. 9And 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. 10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; 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. 11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 12And 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. (Ezekiel 47:1‑12)).
Joel 3:1818And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. (Joel 3:18) also speaks of this remarkable river, “.... a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.” Psalm 46:44There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4): “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.” Psalm 65:99Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. (Psalm 65:9): “Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water.” Zechariah 9:1010And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:10) and Psalm 72:88He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. (Psalm 72:8) probably both refer to the same: “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”
On the other hand, God has decreed the utter destruction of well-known waters, which are now flowing, and also the temporary drying up of certain rivers. “The Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea,” that is, of the Red Sea, which skirts the eastern coast of Egypt, and through which He has already once made a miraculous passage, when He delivered Israel out of Egypt of old; “and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod” (marg., in shoes). “And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt” (Isa. 11:15-1615And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:15‑16)).
The river would be the Nile, which at the commencement of the reign of Christ will be smitten in its seven streams, that a way into the land may be opened for a remnant of His beloved people.
These facts are repeated in other passages. In the burden of Egypt (Isa. 19) we are told that the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. Again, in Zechariah 10:1111And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. (Zechariah 10:11), “He shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up; and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart away.” Also Isaiah 50:22Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. (Isaiah 50:2), “Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.”
Besides this, the great river Euphrates (once turned from its course at the destruction of Babylon) will also have its waters dried up, that the way of the kings of (or “from”) the east might be prepared. This event takes place under the sixth vial (or bowl) just previous to the end of the future crisis, introductory to the millennium.
But although God’s judgments will fall both on Egypt and Assyria, old enemies of His beloved people, yet will He remember mercy. “And the Lord shall smite Egypt; He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and He shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land; whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance” (Isa. 19:22-2522And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. 23In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Isaiah 19:22‑25)).
What a glorious day will this be for this earth! And both man and beast will participate in the deliverance. “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isa. 35:5-65Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5‑6)). “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isa. 35:1010And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)).
Instead of the present short span of life spoken of by the psalmist, threescore years and ten, and fourscore with labor and sorrow(Psa. 90:1010The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)), in that day men’s lives will be greatly prolonged. Of old, men lived to a far greater age than now; but even Methuselah, the longest-lived of all, did not reach to a thousand years; but, in the coming day of millennial blessing, the Lord says, “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence (thenceforth) an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner, being an hundred years old, shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands,” (Isa. 65:19-2219And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. (Isaiah 65:19‑22)). An infant of days will not be heard of then; but if a person dies at the age of one hundred years, he is only reckoned as a child, and then his death is on account of sin, when Christ is reigning in righteousness, and he is cut off and accursed. The old men will fill their days: that is, live out a thousand years. The days of the Lord’s people are compared to the days of a tree, and we know that some trees live to an immense age.
There is another striking allusion to the longevity of men in Zechariah 8:44Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. (Zechariah 8:4): “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age” (marg., multitude of days). “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.”
So great and wondrous will be the blessing of God’s people, city and land, that the nations and peoples from all parts of the globe will be attracted to God’s earthly center. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (Zech. 8:20-2320Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. 22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. (Zechariah 8:20‑23)).
Many have had the thought that Satan being bound at this period, the curse taken off the earth, and such wondrous blessing flowing out, that death, the wages of sin, will be done away with; but this is not the case. It is an error often arising from two causes; one from linking all sin with Satan, and forgetting that there is sin in men as well; and the other, referring the scriptures which speak of all Israel knowing the Lord, from the least to the greatest, at the commencement of the millennium, to man generally throughout the whole period.
It is clear from Scripture that men will commit sin during the reign of Christ, and also suffer the penalty — death. For instance, “The child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner, being an hundred years old, shall be accursed” (Isa. 65:2020There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. (Isaiah 65:20)). And this, you will remark, is a prophecy relating to Jewish blessing.
How terrible is the fall of man! However favorable the circumstances in which he is placed, he utterly breaks down. In innocence he disobeyed God; left to his will unrestrained, the earth was filled with violence; later on he broke the law of God, slew His prophets, murdered His beloved Son. Grace now reigns through righteousness, and man sins openly with a high hand. Christ will shortly reign in righteousness, but sin will manifest itself notwithstanding, though swiftly and surely to be judged. The millennium must run its course, the whole scene be dissolved, before sin will be taken from the earth altogether. Then death and hades being cast into the lake of fire, in the eternal state righteousness will dwell.
(Continued and to be continued).