THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

122 The Hope of Israel: What Is It?
The blessings promised to Israel through Ezekiel
were like those promised through Moses, conditional
upon their faithfulness and obedience; and, since they
were not obedient, the blessings were forfeited. So we
are left in uncertainty as to what, if anything, resulted
from this revelation to Ezekiel. But as regards the
purpose for which it was given, we think there is no
uncertainty at all.
Of course this vision, like all visions and prophecies
of God, has a spiritual fulfilment in Christ; and this
is very apparent, we think, from chapter 47.
That chapter contains the vision of the life-giving
waters, which the prophet saw issuing out from the
temple, a shallow stream at first, but increasing to a
mighty river "waters to swim in, a river that could
not be passed over" (v.5)
.
As with respect to Zechariah's prophecy concerning
the "living waters" (Zech. 14:8), referred to in a former
chapter, so with respect to this vision of Ezekiel,
we confidently submit that the fulfilment thereof is
in the living waters of the gospel; which began, on the
day of Pentecost, to flow out from the Temple at Jerusalem.
Our Lord uses the expression "rivers of living
water," in John 7 :38 ;
and the meaning of the expression
is given in the next verse : "But this spake He of
the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive."
This explanation controls the passage we are
considering. This will be apparent from what follows.
WHERE DID THE SPIRIT DESCEND AT PENTECOST?
For the purpose of a better understanding of the
foregoing prophetic vision of Ezekiel, and because,