Dale said:
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Ezekiel 47:1-6 NIV
This is a real Temple and real river showed to Ezekiel. "He asked ME, son of man" That's a phrase not only used for our Lord but to his prophets as well. It's right there, "ME"
Follow the chapter and it continues to describe where this river followed, to Arabah*.
"The Arabah in its whole extent occupies a portion of the great geological fault or crevasse in the earth's crust which extends from Antioch near the mouth of the Orontes southward between the Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains to the valley of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, and onward to the Gulf of Akabah, whence it can be traced with considerable probability through the Red Sea and the interior lakes of Africa."
The Jordan river flows through the Sea of Galilee, the further on into the Dead Sea then continues on.
Dale said:
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Psalms 36:8 NIV
Dale said:
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Psalms 46:4 NIV
Dale said:
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The Psalms tells us that God has a “river of delights” and also that there is a special river in “the city of God.” Perhaps this anticipates the River of Life in Revelation.
Symbolism is used in the Bible, never said it wasn't. It's usually explained in scripture. The Creation, the first six days is what I focused on, that's not symbolic. You can point to much symbolism in the Bible -- so what, it doesn't discount literal meaning.
The golden rule of interpretation of the Bible:
"WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE OF SCRIPTURE MAKES COMMON SENSE, SEEK NO OTHER SENSE; THEREFORE, TAKE EVERY WORD AT ITS PRIMARY, ORDINARY, USUAL, LITERAL MEANING UNLESS THE FACTS OF THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT, STUDIED IN THE LIGHT OF RELATED PASSAGES AND AXIOMATIC AND FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS INDICATE CLEARLY OTHERWISE."
Dale said:
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Revelation 22:1-2 NIV
Future literal river in the "New " which is another term for Heaven, God's domain, Paradise
Dale said:
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There is also a river in Eden, in
Genesis 2.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
Genesis 2: 10-12 NIV
Click to expand...
Correct four rivers ran out of Eden ... so? Only two of them exist now .... so?
Ronald, you say that Ezekiel's River of Life is just “a real river.” You go on to say that symbolism in the Bible is explained in the Bible. I haven't found that to be true. What I have found is that Creationists oversimplify everything.
The great commentators have a different view. Take the Matthew Henry commentary quoted below. Henry sees “mystical and spiritual meaning” in the part of Ezekiel where you see a river that waters the land. He sees symbolism which isn't spelled out in the text itself.
Link:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/ezekiel/47.html
Matthew Henry commentary on Ezekiel 47
Chapter 47
In this chapter we have,
I. The vision of the holy waters, their rise, extent, depth, and healing virtue, the plenty of fish in them, and an account of the trees growing on the banks of them (v. 1-12). II. An appointment of the borders of the land of Canaan, which was to be divided by lot to the tribes of Israel and the strangers that sojourned among them (v. 13-23).
Verses 1-12 This part of Ezekiel’s vision must so necessarily have a mystical and spiritual meaning that thence we conclude the other parts of his vision have a mystical and spiritual meaning also; for it cannot be applied to the waters brought by pipes into the temple for the washing of the sacrifices, the keeping of the temple clean, and the carrying off of those waters, for that would be to turn this pleasant river into a sink or common sewer. That prophecy,
Zec. 14:8 , may explain it, of
living waters that shall
go out from Jerusalem,
half of them towards the former sea and half of them towards the hinder sea. And there is plainly a reference to this in St. John’s vision of a
pure river of water of life, Rev. 22:1 .
That seems to represent the glory and joy which are grace perfected. This seems to represent the grace and joy which are glory begun. Most interpreters agree that these waters signify the gospel of Christ, which went forth from Jerusalem, and spread itself into the countries about, and the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost which accompanied it, and by virtue of which it spread far and produced strange and blessed effects. Ezekiel had walked round the house again and again, and yet did not till now take notice of those waters; for God makes known his mind and will to his people, not all at once, but by degrees. Now observe,I. The rise of these waters. He is not put to trace the streams to the fountain, but has the fountain-head first discovered to him (
v. 1):
Waters issued out from the threshold of the house eastward, and from
under the right side of the house, that is, the south side of
the alter. And again (
v. 2),
There ran out waters on the right side, signifying that
from Zion should go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, Isa. 2:3 . There it was that the Spirit was poured out upon the apostles, and endued them with the gift of tongues, that they might carry these waters to all nations. In the temple first they were to stand and
preach the words of this life, Acts. 5:20 . They must preach the gospel to all nations, but must
begin at Jerusalem, Lu. 24:47 . But that is not all: Christ is the temple; he is the door; from him those living waters flow, out of his pierced side. It is the water that he gives us that is
the well of water which springs up, Jn. 4:14 . And it is by believing in him that we receive from him
rivers of living water; and
this spoke he of the Spirit, Jn. 7:38,
Jn. 7:39 . The original of these waters was not above-ground, but they sprang up from under the threshold; for the fountain of a believer’s life is a mystery; it is
hid with Christ in God, Col. 3:3