Shalom Partner and Friend of Israel,

Have you ever wondered how significant WATER is? One of the deadliest uninhabited places of the earth is a desert. It’s dry and where there is NO water – there is very little, if any life. This gives us a picture of Genesis 1-2 Creation where we see a dry desolate wilderness BUT God provides us what would become "a spring" of life when He created the world and humanity. The Hebrew word "maim" means "water." In Bible times, water was a valuable resource, and cities were built near springs! Water is the basic element of life and the primal element of the world. We all need water to live! Water can symbolize blessing, as in Isaiah 35.

When God Created the earth in Genesis 1:2 - the Holy Spirit – "Ruach Elohim" (Spirit of God) hovered over the face of the WATER! It was Almighty God – Yahweh’s Spirit that hovered over the face of the "dark, formless, void waters" of the infant Creation and walks upon the waters of the Sea of Galilee as we read in the New Testament again (Matthew 8:24). There are so many references to "water" in the Old and New Testaments, appearing over 500 times and representing many things, including "The Holy Spirit's ability to cleanse, refresh, and bring life! In Isaiah 44:3, "water" is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel, water represents the reception of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, Yeshua (Jesus) said that those who believed in Him would receive "life-giving water" …which refers to the Holy Spirit! 

So why does God focus so much on one dimension, namely "Water?" To understand more we need to look at the very beginning of Creation in Genesis leading up to the Christ’s First Coming 2,000 years ago through to the END in the Book of Revelation. Water can symbolize "destruction," such as in the "great flood" in Noah's time. In Revelation 9:20-21, the Bible Prophesies that a third of the sea will become "blood" …and that a third of sea creatures will die. In a very important passage, Yeshua (Jesus) identifies the; "streams of living water" …that flow from within those who believe in Him with the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit is clearly the special reception that was going to come after the Lord had been glorified at the Father's right hand and happened on the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2. In Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13 - Yahweh, God is metaphorically identified as; "the spring of living water." In both instances Israel is rebuked for having forsaken the Lord …for other "cisterns" that could in NO way satisfy their "thirst."

The word "WATER" is used in a variety way in Scripture for "destruction" …and Floods, such as the "great flood" in Noah's time was a Sign of God's judgment (Genesis 7 and 8) upon the entire earth.  Back in Genesis the world is so full of evil and corruption (Genesis 6:11-12) God decided He had enough. Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9) and God ended up having Noah build an Ark to save him and his family from the worldwide flood that would kill everyone. Noah’s story is "a miracle," BUT it also serves as a stark warning that God will NOT tolerate sin indefinitely, and when His reckoning comes, it is total and complete. We see this in Noah’s story as symbolized by the floodwaters. the story of Noah highlights God’s ‘mercy’ rather than His ‘wrath.’

The real surprise is NOT God’s judgment …but His grace towards those who respond to Him, as shown when God Himself shuts Noah and his family into the ark, protecting them. Look again at Genesis 6:16, and specifically this phrase: "…the LORD shut him in." Just as a father tucks his children in at night for safety, God seals those who trust Him! Salvation is only possible through being "shut in" by God, which is fulfilled through Christ, the greater Noah. Christ lived a sinless life and then died on a cross, providing the ultimate sacrifice to save humanity from God’s wrath.

What is not said… The salvation of Noah’s family did not alleviate the suffering created by the massive waves hurling the ark up and crashing back down …or the conditions Noah’s family experienced in an enclosed and cramped space …and probably the animals also terrified. We can only imagine how it must have been on the Ark …and so we can try to compare to the conditions of a train transporting the Jews in Nazi Germany in a confined space to concentration camps during the Holocaust, which could take weeks. While the conditions in the Ark were NOT so inhuman as the prisoners who were so extremely tightly packed into the boxcars that it was usually impossible to sit or kneel down, lacking food or water, or any toilet facilities, certainly they both shared the overpowering situation as both transports had NO windows or ventilation throughout their journeys, which in the Ark’s case lasted for 40 days. The good news is that the Lord always takes His people in the UP direction away from Judgement… Noah’s Ark was UPon the water; Moses was told to go UP into the mountain; The dry bones live again as God raised UP Israel in these Last Days and during the 7-Year Tribulation the Jews will flee UP into the hills and be saved. And before that we the true believers – Bride of Christ will be going vertical UP in the Rapture (Harpazo) – to meeting the Lord in the air! 

Think about when God’s people (the Israelites) had to cross the Red Sea to reach the Promised Land – Israel. They were saved …even while Pharoah’s Egyptian army pursued after them and were drowned in the very same “water” of the Red Sea! The Israelites were former “slaves” of Egypt …BUT God released them from their bondage!

Sometimes many people face floods or tsunamis and WATER can become a barrier… however, God always makes a way even through “troubled waters!” Water is used to symbolize the troublesome times in life that can and do come to human beings, especially God's children (Psalm 32:6; 69:1-2, 14-15; Isaiah 43:2; Lamentations 3:54) and in some contexts ‘water’ stands for “enemies” who can attack and need to be overcome (2 Samuel 22:17-18; Psalm 18:16-17; 124:4-5; 144:7; Isaiah 8:7; Jeremiah 47:2). It’s difficult to grasp just how battered and chaotic the earth will be when the Lord returns at His Second Coming. But in the midst of this devastation, God promises a future restoration linked to fresh, “healing waters.” The Apostle Peter called the time after Yeshua - Jesus’ return the times of “refreshing” and “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:19-21).

Saved by WATER… “He (God) leads me beside the still waters” - Psalm 23:2, while His throne in Heaven is surrounded by water (Ezekiel 47:1-12). God’s Son Yeshua came down to earth as the “Living Water” (John 4:13-14), while in the days of Noah, the earth was flooded with water. How was it that only one family remained after this tragedy? Wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water (1Peter 3:20). Others were saved by water. Remember again - the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea? The miraculous parting of the Sea that saved His chosen fell back into place and drowned their enemies. (Exodus 15:4-6). And when the Israelites became thirsty as they wandered in the wilderness, God miraculously and mysteriously made a fountain from a rock for them to drink from. It pictured Christ, the “Living Water,” and was a place of testing for them.

Water can symbolize different aspects of God's power, such as – Cleansing… The ceremonial washings of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Water was also important in the Jewish Temple ceremony, where washing was a common practice. Purification, resurrection, and spiritual rebirth: Water was especially important for these in both the Old and New Testaments.

In the New Testament it is seen in WATER Baptism… In John 3:5 - "being born of water," here can mean being; (1) "born again" by means of "Water Baptism." (2) Reference to "water" and "Spirit" together as one and a symbol of the Holy Spirit in other passages. (3) The birth by water - one's NATURAL birth since we all were surrounded by "waters" in our mother’s womb …and birthed through the "breaking of the waters!" Our "natural births" and the "birth by the Spirit" are synonymous to the "supernatural birth" …of being "born again" or "regenerated" Spiritually. This seems to be what Nicodemus, understood Yeshua to be saying (John 3:3-7). In order to enter the Kingdom of God …one must have two births, each a different kind. After all, WATER, in its ordinary sense, has a great part to play in the natural birth of a baby.

When the Apostle John the Baptist Baptised Yeshua - Jesus Christ in the Jordan River …the Heavens open up as a "the Spirit of God" descends upon the Lord, in the form of "a dove." So here we see the connection of the Lord’s "Water baptism" and the "Holy Spirit!" …John was paving the way for the coming Messiah.  John was baptizing people calling them to repent from their sins and was preparing them for the "greater baptism" with the Holy Spirit and fire as we read in; Matthew 3:11-15; "’I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness’ Then John consented." So, why did John baptize the Lord since he already knew that Yeshua - Jesus was the SINLESS One - the perfect Lamb (John 1:29)? John was reluctant to baptize the Lord and Yeshua answered that it was proper to do this to fulfil ALL righteousness. It was a "Sign" of renewal and so this baptism of Christ in the Gospels. God's Eternal sustenance as we read in; Revelation 22:17, which says, "Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift!" 

Let’s look at… Psalm 77:19; "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.". God is equally unaffected with waters, choppy or calm. Remember when the Lord was asleep in the boat with the Disciples during a storm, and they woke Him and asked Him to save them or they would perish?" Matthew 8:26-27 describes an incident where the Lord rebukes His Disciples for being afraid and tells the wind and sea to calm down. In Verse 26: Yeshua - Jesus says, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Verse 27: The Disciples are amazed and ask, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey Him!"

It escaped the Disciples and often us too, that God made Heaven and Earth, the Sea and everything in it! (Psalm 146:6) Turbulence to us is finger painting to God. His very voice is associated with the roaring of water. "And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder." - Revelation 14:2. (No less than five verses describe His voice as like that of many waters).

In both the Old and New Testaments, the word "WATER" is used for Salvation and Eternal Life, which God offers humankind through faith in His Son, Yeshua (Isaiah 12:3, 55:1; Revelation 21:6, 22:1-2, 22:17). In John 4:10-15, part of Yeshua - Jesus' Discourse with the Samaritan woman at the well, He speaks metaphorically of His Salvation as; "living water" …and as; "a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Following along this same theme, WATER sometimes symbolizes the "Spiritual cleansing" that comes with the acceptance of God's offer of Salvation (Ezekiel 36:25; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22). In fact, in Ephesians 5:26, the "water" that does the cleansing of the Bride of Christ - the Church, is directly symbolically tied in with God's Word.

In other passages of Scripture, the following are said metaphorically to be "WATER": God's help; Isaiah 8:6; "…the gently flowing waters of Shiloah." - God's judgment; Isaiah 28:17; "…water will overflow your hiding place." Man's words; Proverbs 18:4; "…the words of man's mouth are deep waters." Man's purposes; Proverbs 20:5;"…the purposes of a man's heart are deep waters."  Adultery; Proverbs 9:17; "Stolen water is sweet!" And a person's posterity; Isaiah 48:1; "Listen to this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and have come forth out of the line (waters) of Judah"

God promised that Nations obeying His laws would bring great blessings; "The Lord will open the Heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season, and to bless all the work of your hands. You shall lend to many nations but will borrow from none!" - Deuteronomy 28:12. God also warned that disobedience would lead to punishments -such as a LACK of WATER; "The heaven which is over your head will be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder and dust from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed!" - Deuteronomy 28:23-24; (also; Psalm 107:33-34). The world’s current developing WATER crises are the result of God’s withholding His blessing!

In Christ’s day, there was a pool of water in Jerusalem that an Angel would occasionally stir, and whatever infirm person was first into the pool after the stirring of the water would be healed (John 5:4). But one day Yeshua - Jesus walked by, fastened his eyes on one man who had suffered from some infirmity for 38 years, and simply spoke healing to him, and he was healed (John 5:9). He was saved by Water of a different kind; "For with You is the fountain of life: in Your light shall we see light." - Psalm 36:9. The secret is that our healing is with the Lord, and there is NO substitute! "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." - Jeremiah 2:13. We are not to run from the "living water" BUT draw from it! Make NO other substitutes.

Psalm 81:7 says, "In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah." In this verse, God reminds His people (Israel) of the ways He delivered them from Egypt and cared for them in the wilderness. It is a reminder to all of us believers as well to remember God’s Salvation and the ways He has been faithful. Psalm 81 is thought to have been composed to be sung at the new moons and solemn Feasts of the Israelites after they left Egypt. It taught the Jews that they should have NO other gods and that God would help them against their enemies. The Bible is the only true Word of God. In the Bible, WATER is often used to represent the Word of God! "My word is like the snow and the rain that come down from the sky to water the earth. They make the crops grow and provide seed for planting and food to eat." – Isaiah 55:10. (Also see; Ephesians 5:25-27).

At the End of the Age, in these Last Days – "water" WILL play an even more dramatic role in bringing mankind to repentance... Bible Prophecy describes a time when the cycle of SIN will grow worse and worse …to the point that Christ will need to intervene to save mankind from self-destruction (Matthew 24:21). In the End-times God will punish the sinful Nations with ‘a series of plagues," each preceded by the divine "blast of a trumpet." Two of these "plagues" WILL directly affect oceans and supplies of fresh WATER! (Revelation 8:8-11). With the second trumpet plague, a third of the sea will become blood and a third of sea creatures will die. After the third trumpet, the fresh waters of the earth will become polluted and poisonous, causing many to die. Yet after six trumpet plagues, people will still NOT repent of their destructive sins (Revelation 9:20-21).

Last plagues affecting the seas, rivers and springs… Even after the seventh trumpet, which will signal Yeshua - Jesus’ Return (Second Coming), most of the people on earth will continue to resist Him and God will respond with seven catastrophic "bowls of wrath" (Revelation 16:1-6). Two of these will also involve water; The second bowl of wrath: "Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died" …and the third bowl of wrath: "Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood" – Revelation 16:3- 4. Every sea creature will die in the areas where those plagues strike when the "waters" become like the blood of a dead man. The "fresh waters" (rivers and springs) will also be turned to blood, killing everything in them. This will be a dreadful time after the Church has been removed …and will affect all those left behind to face the 7-Year Great Tribulation.

Between the terrible, vile stench permeating much of the earth and the unimaginable suffering that will stem from a land "without water the "stiff-necked" remnants of humanity will be one step closer to accepting Christ’s authority. "There is a river, whose streams make glad the City of God, the Holy place where the Most-High. dwells. God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall. He lifts His voice and the earth melts." - Psalm 46:4-6.

Imagine a beautiful sparkling river flowing with crystal clear water, so alive and invigorating that it is described by God Himself as the "WATER OF LIFE!" As we read; Revelation 21:6, the Lord says; "To the one who is thirsty, I will give water without cost from the SPRING of THE WATER OF LIFE."  And then in Revelation 22:1 John writes "Then the angel showed me the RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city."  Notice specifically that the "source" of the RIVER is the "Throne of God!" This is easily overlooked …but an incredibly important observation. This amazing "river," unlike any rivers on this earth today, does not start in the higher elevations of mountains… from rain or melted snow… BUT originates from the very Throne of God Himself. This is one of the amazing features of the "New Earth" spoken of by Isaiah, Peter and John.

The similarities between Ezekiel’s description and John’s in Revelation are striking and most assuredly speak of the same place… Ezekiel 47 gives an amazing detail saying; "I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple… the water was trickling… then ankle deep… then up to the waist. And then he says, "But now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in… a river that no one could cross."  The Prophet Ezekiel goes on to write that; "when this water empties into the sea, the salt water there becomes fresh" and "swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows… wherever the river flows everything will live."  And finally, in Revelation 22:17, within the last few verses of the Bible, John writes; "The Spirit and the Bride say; "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the WATER OF LIFE." Considering the way God highlights and describes Heavens "WATER OF LIFE" in Scripture, it must be a glorious sight to behold and an even more amazing experience to drink! 

After John recounts the light of the City and the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem, his attention turns to the "river of life" and "the trees of life"; "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the Nations. - Revelation 22:1-2. Healing of the nations" is somewhat not making it clear who the "Nations" are? Perhaps it refers to Gentiles who were formerly not part of the blessed Nation of Israel but rather those who rebelled and turned their backs on the Nation of Israel and the God of Israel.

Hopefully, we’ve all caught a glimpse of the "mysteries of God in WATER." So, one more to think about; God’s Throne is surrounded by water from which "the tree of life" grows that we will be able to eat freely from. The river is pure, flowing with water of life that is completely clear, like a crystal. Everything described in the New Jerusalem is of the best quality, the utmost purity, the highest level of perfection, including the water in this river. The river of life is a sign of God’s blessing. There is a connection to the river described in Eden, and is also an allusion to the river of living water described in Ezekiel 47. The river in Ezekiel is one that also initiates from the "Throne of God" …and provides great fruitfulness and fertility. The river that runs from Eden brings life to its basin as well. Water for hydration is one of the primary needs of plant life in order to thrive and bear fruit. This river of life proceeds from the Throne of God and the Lamb, signifying yet again that God is the source of all things good in the New Jerusalem! Hallelujah, it’s our blessed hope.

Our Lord, Yeshua – Christ Jesus - will soon return first for His Bride the Church and at His Second Coming to refresh and restore all things; physically and spiritually! Isaiah painted this beautiful word picture: "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose…For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water!" - Isaiah 35:1, 6-7.  Ezekiel Prophesied, "The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden.’" - Ezekiel 36:34-35. The Psalmist also praises God; "He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into water-springs. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; and He does not let their cattle decrease."  - Psalm 107:35-38. (Also see: Isaiah 41:18-20, 43:19-20).

The "mysteries of WATER" will be made plain when we see Him. For now, waters show us the perfect mercies, judgment and testing of God.

We most sincerely believe that God WILL bless you for your faithfulness and love for His land and chosen people. God’s Word is true! He IS watching to see how the Nations are treating His people. God will have mercy on Israel through Gentile believers acting as mediators towards them. This is one of the most amazing revelations ever given to the Church – an opportunity to do something that carries the highest priority in the heart of God. Yet, sadly, so few have seen the potential and the rewards of serving God in this manner - as agents of mercy to Israel and the Jewish people! Israel was and still is despised today and a despised Nation continually turning away from God …BUT nothing ever altered the purpose of God for that Nation. The "despised element" is always a noticeable element in the purpose of God. When the Saviour of the world came, He came of that "despised Nation" (and just like Israel) He Himself was "…despised and rejected by men." And there is that despised element; "…things that are despised God has chosen," - 1 Corinthians 1:28.

We hope that you enjoy and become more informed by our work. We serve an awesome God and we are humbled by this opportunity to bring you this information.

With Shalom to you and your family always,

Alf & Julie Saunders

01^st January, 2025

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