Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): rr chap. 19 paras. 16-21 and Box 19B.
What the vision will mean in Paradise
16, 17. (a) In what way will the waters of life increase in Paradise? b) What benefits will that river of blessings bring us in Paradise?
Do you see yourself in Paradise with your family and friends enjoying life to the fullest? Learning more about the river of vision will allow you to experience this scene more closely. To achieve this, let us review again the three well-defined elements of the vision that reflect Jehovah's love.
A river of blessings. In Paradise, the symbolic river will become, so to speak, much broader, since it will not only bring us spiritual benefits, but also physical ones. During the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus, the Kingdom of God will make it possible for faithful people to benefit from the ransom to an even greater degree, until they gradually reach perfection. Goodbye to diseases and medications! There will be no more hospitals or doctors or health insurance. The waters of life will reach the millions of survivors of Armageddon, “a great crowd” who will emerge after “the great tribulation” (Rev. 7:9, 14). Although the first blessings that the river will bring will be impressive, they will seem like a mere trickle compared to what will come later. As in Ezekiel's vision, the flow of the river will increase to meet even greater needs.
ILLUSTRATION:
Young and healthy people working and enjoying themselves in Paradise. In the background is a river.
In Paradise, the river of blessings will restore everyone to health and youth. (See paragraph 17).
18. In what sense will the “river of water of life” become a mighty torrent during the Millennium?
Life-giving water. During the Millennium, the "river of water of life" will become a torrent (Rev. 22:1). Millions, billions, will be resurrected and will have the opportunity to live forever in Paradise! And it is that among the blessings that the Kingdom of God will bring will be the resurrection. Countless multitudes of people who have long been "dwellers in the dust," "those who are powerless in death," will live again (Isa. 26:19). But will all who are resurrected live forever?
19. (a) What will Jehovah continue to give us in Paradise, and how do we know? (b) In what sense will there be some in Paradise who will “remain salty”?
The decision will be in your hands. Think about this. New rolls will open there . So the refreshing waters from Jehovah will also bring new information and more spiritual instructions. Isn't that exciting? But sadly some will reject that blessing and decide to disobey Jehovah. If anyone rebels during the Millennium, he will not be allowed to disturb the peace of Paradise (Isa. 65:20). Perhaps the muddy pools of Ezekiel's vision come to mind, those lifeless places that remained salty. How foolish are those who stubbornly resist drinking that valuable water of life! After the Millennium there will be a group of rebels who will side with Satan. All who reject Jehovah's righteous standards will meet the same end: eternal death (Rev. 20:7-12).
20. What system that Jehovah will set in motion in the Millennium reminds us of the trees in Ezekiel's vision?
Trees that feed and heal. Jehovah wants us to live forever. And so that we don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity, he will put in place again a system that fulfills the function of the trees that Ezekiel saw. But in Paradise the benefits will not only be spiritual, but also physical. In heaven, Jesus and the 144,000 will be kings during the Millennium. And, in their role as priests, they will apply the benefits of Christ's ransom and help faithful human beings to attain perfection (Rev. 20:6). The vision of trees bearing nourishing fruit and healing leaves resembles a beautiful prophecy written by the apostle John (read Revelation 22:1, 2). The leaves he saw "were to heal the nations."Millions and millions of faithful human beings will benefit from the services rendered by the 144,000 in their role as priests.
INFORMATION BOX 19B
A trickle of water becomes a mighty river!
Ezekiel follows the course of the trickle of water that comes out of Jehovah's sanctuary and that, in just a couple of kilometers, miraculously turns into a mighty river. On the banks of the river, the prophet sees leafy trees that give food and heal. What does all this represent?
A trickle of water coming out of the sanctuary of Jehovah and becoming a mighty river. Some signs indicate the depth of the river: 1,000 cubits, at ankle height; 2,000 cubits, at knee height; 3,000 cubits, at hip height; 4,000 cubits, impossible to cross on foot.
The river that brings blessings
PAST: Jehovah showered blessings on returning exiles as they helped restore pure temple worship
PRESENT: Pure worship is restored in 1919, opening the way for God's faithful servants to receive an outpouring of spiritual blessings like never before
FUTURE: After Armageddon, the blessings that flow from Jehovah will be both spiritual and physical
water that gives life
PAST: Because Jehovah generously blessed his obedient people, they enjoyed spiritual prosperity, even as the population increased
PRESENT: In the spiritual paradise that we enjoy today, the ever-increasing flow from Jehovah has brought life and spiritual blessings to an ever-increasing number of people
FUTURE: Millions and millions of resurrected ones will join those who survive Armageddon, and Jehovah will give many blessings to all
Trees that feed and heal
PAST: In a spiritual sense, Jehovah fed his faithful people when they returned to their land and restored it; He also healed them from the spiritual disease that they had suffered from for so long.
PRESENT: Many people are benefiting from a great supply of spiritual food that counteracts the disease and hunger that this world suffers in a spiritual sense
FUTURE: Christ and the 144,000 who will rule with him will help all obedient humanity to attain perfection and enjoy health and energy forever
21. (a) How does it feel to visualize the river in Ezekiel's vision? (See the box “A trickle of water becomes a mighty river!”). b) What will we study next?
Visualizing this river of vision fills us with peace and hope. What a magnificent future awaits us! And to think that Jehovah described this shocking scene thousands of years ago. Since then, God has been patiently inviting humanity to be a part of that scene, to see the greater fulfillment of those promises. Do you see yourself there? You may be wondering if you will really be in Paradise. The last part of this prophecy from Ezekiel gives us confidence that this is possible. Next we will see why.
PURE WORSHIP AND YOU
How was Ezekiel's vision of the river fulfilled in the past?
The priests returned to give spiritual guidance to the exiles and sacrifices were offered again in the temple, which made the people sure that their sins would be forgiven and they were clean again as if they had washed with the pure water of the vision.
How is that vision being fulfilled in the present?
We are healthy and well nourished spiritually and the sacrifice of Jesus causes our sins to be forgiven. As in Ezekiel's vision, the flow of pure water of truth has grown very fast to satisfy the ever-increasing spiritual thirst.
What greater fulfillment will the vision of the river have during the Millennial Reign of Christ?
Just as the trees in Ezekiel's vision had healing leaves, the function of the 144,000 as priests will be to apply the benefits of Christ's ransom and help all faithful human beings to attain perfection.
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