The River That Healed the Sea

The Story

God gave Ezekiel a vision of a new temple. An angelic guide led him through it. And at the door of the temple, Ezekiel noticed something strange: water was trickling out from under the threshold, flowing east.

The guide led him along the stream. After about a third of a mile, he brought Ezekiel through the water. It was ankle deep. Another third of a mile, and it was up to his knees. Then up to his waist. Then the guide measured once more, and it was a river too deep to cross, “waters to swim in.”

Along both banks of the river, trees were growing.

Then the guide explained where the river was going. It flowed down into the desert and emptied into the Dead Sea, the saltiest body of water on earth, where nothing can live.

And when the river reached it, “the waters shall be healed.” “Every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” Fishermen would spread their nets along its shores. The sea would be full of fish.

The trees along the river would bear fresh fruit every month. Their fruit would be food, “and the leaf thereof for medicine.”

Reflection