The Daily Word of Righteousness

Participation in the Parousia, #18

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:12)

Notice once again the trees of life who will bring life to the saved peoples of the earth.

The above verse is, we believe, a description of the role of the mature saints.

The saint is planted for eternity on the bank of the holy River of Life that flows from the Throne of God and of the Lamb. The trees are "on this side and on that side." This signifies that God has a variety of peoples on the earth. God sends to an individual the particular saint whom he or she is able to receive. Haven't you found this to be true? There is someone for everyone, for every purpose and need. For every saved person on earth there is a saint who fits his personality and who can communicate with him or her successfully.

The "leaf" of the mature saint will not fade nor his "fruit" be consumed indicating that, like his Father in Heaven, he is filled with incorruptible, eternal Life. His "bread" always is on the table, ready to feed the hungry. He is prepared, in season and out of season. When the needy come he is able to minister to the problem at hand. He brings forth new fruit "according to his months" so there always is new life available for those who come to him for strength and guidance.

God is teaching us today to always be ready to serve. If we learn our lessons well now, in the present hour, we will be ready to appear with the Lord Jesus in the parousia.

The "waters" of the mature saint issue "out of the sanctuary." This signifies that the saint has entered the spiritual fulfillment of the Old Testament feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34).

Many of us are familiar with the spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Pentecost. We know of the "rain" that comes from Heaven, the anointing of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for us to minister the things of Christ.

The spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles is the springing up of a well in us rather than a rain, an anointing that comes down upon us.

The "well" that is dug in us is the Throne of God and of the Lamb because the Throne of God is the only source of the River of Life.

The establishing in us of the Throne of God and of the Lamb requires a much deeper consecration than that to which we may have been accustomed. It requires a certain amount of consecration and trust in order for us to be able to enter salvation and the baptism with the Holy Spirit. But when we come to the deeper work of the feast of Tabernacles, all that is of the world, of sin, and of self-will must be destroyed out of us.

The man with the line in his hand must perform his work thoroughly. There is no place in the parousia for a worldly, sinful, self-centered "Christian."

To be continued.