King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
Chapters: Ezekiel 46-48
Message: Ezekiel: Water Flows From The Temple
Hello My Friend,
As we come to the end of the reading of Ezekiel we learn that whether or not we are a Jew or Gentile, there is an inheritance awaiting those whom have accepted Christ as their Saviour, [1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.]
In the last few chapters of Ezekiel, we have been learning about the millennial age and what will take place when Christ returns. We are now given a glimpse into the future ordinance that would take place in the new temple on the Sabbath. The prince himself, would stand by the post of the gate while the people stood at the entrance as they watched the priests prepare the sacrifices that would be offered up to God.
[Ezekiel 46:1-3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. 2 And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3 Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.]
Since Christ is LORD even of the Sabbath, it is interesting that this would take place now, but notice what the sacrifice were, burnt and peace offerings. This was also foretold by Isaiah and is in reference to the people of Israel, both Jews and Gentiles, meeting at the door of the temple of the congregation in the sabbaths, and in the new moons at their stated weekly and monthly meetings.
[Isaiah 66:18,20-23 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.]
The east gate, which was kept shut except for sabbath days, new moons, and whenever the prince offered a voluntary offering. By doing this, he had a full view of the priests and their performances at the altar as they were preparing the sacrifices, then the prince would enter in the temple, while the saints would follow. Now, when the prince shall enter by the gate he shall go out through the same gate, but as for the people, they cannot go back the way they came in.
[Ezekiel 46:4-5,8-9 And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish. 5 And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah. 8 And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof. 9 But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.]
Jesus, is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we on the other hand are not, which is why we are to press forward into the new life that Christ as given us the second that we accept Him as our Saviour. While we are to keep in remembrance of how lost and undone we were before we came to know Christ as our Saviour we are not to go back, [Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.]
Jesus, has much more waiting for us that accompanies salvation, but just like He will not force Himself upon us to receive us He will not force Himself upon us to do anything else after we are saved. That does not mean that He does not nudge us through the Holy Spirit to do the right thing. Now, every once in a while if the price saw fit to have a special day outside the Sabbath and new moon to offer up offerings to God then he would do what was called voluntary burnt and peace offerings.
[Ezekiel 46:12-13 Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate. 13 Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.]
Remember, these are symbolical as Christ became our sin offering. Also notice that these are burnt offerings, which was a ram wholly burnt to honor God, after the sin offering was made [Exodus 29:15-18], and peace offerings. This was done as a token of ones dedication of themselves wholly to God and to His service, as living sacrifices, which we all are to be, [Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.]
Now, as God continues to give Ezekiel this amazing vision, He shows him of an incredible gift that the prince has for His children, it will not be forced upon them, it will be received upon all who wants to receive it, [Ezekiel 46:16-18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance. 17 But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them. 18 Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.]
This is in reference to the Jubilee, in which any land in the possession of someone other than the person it was given would be given back to the rightful owner, [Leviticus 25:13-14 In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession. 14 And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another:].
In this case, it would be returned to the prices sons (or daughters), but it is also a reminder that without Christ, there is no inheritance, [Hebrews 9:14-15 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.]
Jesus, bared the cross that should have been rightfully ours, and it is of His good pleasure to give a part of His inheritance to those who do accept His gift of eternal life solely upon their faith in Him. Now, just as I mentioned that none of these offerings were for sin we learn of something strange, Ezekiel, is brought to another court, the place which appears to be the priests very own living quarters.
[Ezekiel 46:19-21,24 After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward. 20 Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people. 21 Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court. 24 Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.]
This was done to separate the holy priesthood from the common people as to not confuse them into believing that by touching those sacred things they were sanctified, and made more acceptable to God. Jesus, who was made sin, became a sacrifice for the sins of His people, whether presumptuous ones, or out of ignorance. Care was taken that they should not confuse the two, these were symbolical and not to be used to sanctify the people, which was not possible, [2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.]
Remember when Joshua was given the task of dividing the promised land into sections where each tribe was given? Well, it was nine and a half of the twelve and the other two and a half did not want to be on the promised land, [Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.]
The inheritance that we will receive from Jesus will not the same as when Joshua divided the land the first time. This is an inheritance like you would not believe, including a river that will be flowing from the temple out into the streets, [Revelation 22:1-3 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:]
This is not just revealed in Revelation it is also revealed right here in Ezekiel. As Ezekiel was led back to the door of the temple, something weird begins to happen, water from the temple comes from underneath the door, the man that had the measuring line was there and began measuring how deep it was getting.
[Ezekiel 47:2–3,5-6 Then 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. 3 And 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 ancles. 5 Afterward 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. 6 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.]
Here is Ezekiel swimming in this water and yet the man asks him if he had seen it. Well, think about it, how many people see things that are right before their eyes yet pay no mind to it. I am guilty of this and I am going to tell you that this is the time that we need to have our eyes wide open because the signs of this day coming is closer than we think, [Matthew 24:42-44 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.]
Now, as Ezekiel is witnessing this incredible sight, the man proceeds to tell him what the waters were and what they were for, [Ezekiel 47:8-10 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 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.]
Wow! Even the fish will be divided among its own kind. This reminds me of what Jesus said, [John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.] Jesus, is that living water, the only one to whom we can come to and live! Jesus, also said that He came here to heal the sick, [Mark 2:16-17 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.]
Now, this water flowed directly from the temple out into the city, and would give life to everything around it, except for one place, [Ezekiel 47:11-12 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.]
The miry places and marshes of the land represent those whom have not come to the healing waters of the Gospel that is the only thing capable of giving them life. In fact, these hearts were salted, meaning they did not believe therefore it was hardened and given over to their reprobate mind, [Romans 1:28-29,32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.]
Can you imagine trees lined up along this long and narrow river growing a different kind of fruit every month? We will have apples this month, pears the next, then oranges, then peaches, [Revelation 22:1-3 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:]
No one has to die and end up in the lake of fire, it does not matter if you were fearful, unbelieving, a murderer, an idolaters, or a liar, if you repent and turn to Christ, He will heal you with His blood, and none of that will ever be remembered. Praise God! While they have their breath in them, we have to opportunity to tell them the Gospel. Now, further account is given of each of the portions of land that will be given by the prince and Israel will also get their land restored to them.
[Ezekiel 47:13-14,21-23 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. 14 And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance. 21 So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.]
Jesus, gave His life for every soul, and every soul that does believe in the Gospel and accepts Him as their Saviour are one with Him and will receive a part of the inheritance the twelve tribes. Now, further account is given of each of the portions of land Israel, not for only the twelve tribes of Israel, including the cities in which God and His ministers will dwell. The temple and prince will be right in the midst.
[Ezekiel 48:1,8,11-12 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan. 8 And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. 11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. 12 And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.]
Notice that all of the tribes will be there this time, and while the Levites still would not receive their own portion or land, the faithful ones will receive a portion from the other tribes. However, whatever they got was what they got, no one was to exchange, sell, take it from someone else, or even neglect it, [Ezekiel 48:14,19,21 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD. 19 And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. 21 And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.]
This is in regards to the Law of Moses, [Exodus 22:29-31 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. 31 And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.]
Since everything we are given comes from God He rightfully deserves the first portion of it, regardless of what it is, and not the scraps. This is why God would not accept Cain’s offering, [Genesis 4:5-7 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.]
Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will, may come, and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. The Lord is there, in his church, to be nigh unto them in all they call upon him for. This is true of every real Christian. Now, we are going to be able literally feast with Jesus and will not only feel the presence of the Almighty God Himself, He will be seen, and we will be able to fellowship with Him face to face.
[Ezekiel 48:22,29-31,35 Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince. 29 This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD. 30 And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures. 31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.]
This may be a strange way to end the book and it may even be stranger that we are learning that the sacrificial offerings will be reinstated when Christ took care of all of that. We must remember that we cannot let obscure passages, and in this case, chapters, take away what the truth of all this is and that is all who believe in and receive Him as their Saviour will witness all this. This entire book is God’s promise that whether or not we called upon the name of the LORD before His passion or after. We are one with God, bound together by the true faith in Jesus, our Messiah, [Romans 4:1-5 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.]
Today’s Prayer: God, thank You for loving us and giving us a way to live with you forever. Through Your sacrifice in sending Your only Son to be the one and only sacrifice we need to save our soul, we are given the opportunity to not only join You in Your kingdom, but be one of Your very own children. Lord, Give us Your power, mercy, and grace, ignite our faith by letting us know that You are near. Help us to remain faithful in preaching the Gospel to those who have not yet received Your Son. Give us Your strength to keep going through the trials, if we fall down, help us to get back up, and let us always be inviting and welcoming You in our own homes as we feast and fellowship with You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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