Passing Through the Waters
Passing Through the Waters
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (II Thessalonians 1:10)
There are four platforms of salvation each member of the royal priesthood must experience. Ezekiel, Chapter 47 portrays these platforms as increasing levels of water. Each time we are judged by the Lord we increase in eternal life, in the state of oneness with Jesus in God. Every time we reach a new level in God we are returned to a place of service. The more we are conformed to the image of Jesus and brought into union with Him, the greater blessing we become to mankind.
The first resurrection from the dead, which will take place when the Lord returns, is for the royal priesthood (Revelation 20:4-6).
The second resurrection, which will occur at the end of the thousand-year period, is for the remainder of mankind. Some will be raised to eternal life while others will be cast into the Lake of Fire, depending on their works (John 5:28,29; Revelation 20:11-15).
Those who are raised in the first resurrection are the firstfruits to God and the Lamb. They have been redeemed from among men (Revelation 14:4). They are trees of life. It is through them that the deliverance and glory of the Kingdom Age will come.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
"The glory that shall be revealed in us."
The glory that is coming will be revealed in the saints. The purpose of the two thousand years of the Church Age has been, according to our understanding, to create the Person, will, and way of Christ in the members of His Body.
When Christ has been formed in His Body, Christ—Head and Body—will be revealed. Through this corporate Man, who is the Servant of the Lord, the creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption and brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:19-21).
Chapter 47 of the Book of Ezekiel describes the preparation and ministry of God's trees of life, His overcomers.
Afterward 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. (Ezekiel 47:1)
The "house" is the eternal Temple of God, which is Christ—Head and Body, the Lamb and His Wife, the holy city, the new Jerusalem.
The "door" is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The "waters" refer to the Holy Spirit.
The "forefront of the house" is the location of the pillars. The overcomers are the pillars of the Temple of God (Revelation 3:12).
The emphasis on "east" and "eastward" indicates we are speaking of and looking toward the coming of the Lord, the rising of the Sun of the Day of Christ.