My Dear Friend,

The Bible reveals God has a plan to take us from here to glory, earth to heaven, and time to eternity. It will be powered by the river of God.

"Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it . . . with the river of God" (Psalm 65:9). This river flows in heaven now, from God's very throne, presence, and indescribable, unfathomable, divine spiritual core. Springing, rising, and flowing constantly deep within the eternal Godhead, this river is like no other: it had no beginning, has no end, and cannot be overcome or stopped.

As God walked alongside Adam in the cool of Eden's primordial day, this invisible, divine, spiritual river was flowing alongside the literal river that flowed visibly through Eden and outward to give life to all the earth.

The river of God was later symbolized by the river Jordan that gave physical life to the rich Promised Land. And it flowed spiritually, unseen but present, among God's believing Jewish children throughout their ancient history, inspiring and powering periodic prophetic reforms, national revivals and, after the Exile, restoration.

This same river of God has flowed spiritually throughout the church age. Though often suppressed by sin or heresy, it was always present, rising and manifesting during seasons of repentance, reformation, awakening, and revival. It still flows in and through true believers to bless spiritually dead souls with life and dry souls with refreshment. Jesus promised, "He who believes in me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water [branching off from the River of God within]" (John 7:38, NKJV).

This same river of life flowing now among Christians will flow spiritually in Israel during the upcoming 7-year Tribulation and then flow literally in the Millennial Day for a thousand years.

Ezekiel 47:1-12, which will be fulfilled in Jesus' Millennial Day kingdom, describes the river's amazing, unique characteristics. This supernatural heavenly life-flow will bring miraculous physical revival, new energy, spiritual impetus, lush fruit, and sweet fulfillment wherever it flows - even when touching the deadest, most barren things.

This supernatural stream of God's almighty creative power is at the center of His eternal purpose and plan. His river-powered plan will unfold as follows.

Any day now, in this, the church's midnight hour, the river of God will suddenly "visit" the earth, as our text states. Its spiritually live waters (the active Holy Spirit) will awaken Christians, wise and foolish, to the imminence of Jesus' appearing and imperative of spiritual readiness. This midnight-cry awakening will spark a "lamp-trimming revival" (Matthew 25:6-7) that, as Christians relight, purge, and intensify their devotional lives, will sweep the earth. An unprecedented ecclesiastical phenomenon, this final move of the Spirit will create new conversions, Christ's miracles, powerful ministries, inspired preaching, gifted teaching, genuine prophecy, and the restoration of all New Testament spiritual gifts and offices. Why? The river will be flowing.

But this monumental mass movement will not simply rejoice over signs and wonders. Guided by seasoned, mature leaders, this revival will emphasize intimacy with Christ, searching of Scripture, abandoned obedience, intense love for all believers, and perseverance in our many spiritual tests - which will come! Yes, as always, Satan will hatefully and persistently attack the movement through religious and political authorities and with increasingly intense animosity, injustice and, ultimately, violence. But it will continue, unstoppable. Why? God's unstoppable river, the dynamic current of God's own energy, is powering it.

When the bride church is sufficiently purified by biblical teaching and perseverance in trials (Revelation 3:10), Jesus will suddenly appear and, by His river's power, take His bride (overcoming, living Christians and the dead in Christ) to heaven in the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, 1 Corinthians 15:49-53). But not all professing Christians will experience the great privilege of translation - being taken directly from earth to heaven and given an immortal body without experiencing death. Those not ready - not seeking, obeying, worshiping, and knowing Jesus intimately - will be left behind. They will be shocked, but awakened, and have another chance to prove their faithfulness in the Tribulation.

Shocked even more by the rapture, the world will reel temporarily, and then regain its footing. But in the initial chaos, the man of sin (Antichrist) will gain control of a western nation, then quickly conquer three other nations militarily (or diplomatically) to assume full control of a ten-nation western federation. He will immediately seek world control by aggressing other nations, launching a third World War. But his diabolical inspirer, Satan, has an ulterior motive: stop the river!

During this time, Antichrist (the beast) will be killed and miraculously raised by satanic power in an impressive imitation of Christ's resurrection - and the world will be wowed, wooed, and won. Claiming divinity, specifically that he is God's Son and Israel's Messiah, the beast will launch his new religion - the worship of himself! Why? To make the world forget the saving work of God's river in the rapture, which is still fresh on their perplexed minds.

He will sign a 7-year peace pact with the largely secular, spiritually undiscerning Israeli government. This seemingly perfect accord will settle the Palestinian issue, authorize construction of the third Jewish temple, and restart its sacrificial worship. This pact officially starts the 7-year Tribulation clock (Daniel 9:27). For the moment, Antichrist seems in control - and God's river quenched.

But also, early in the Tribulation, Christ will personally appear to 144,000 male, single, utterly committed Jewish Jesus-believers. The church's departure will convince these sensitive, thoughtful Jews of its previous testimony: Jesus (Yeshua) is the Jewish Messiah! After receiving Him, Jesus will seal and send them in His Spirit's power to evangelize and disciple in His name, first in Israel, and then to Jews and Gentiles worldwide. Amazingly, after 2,000 years of spiritual dryness and death, the river will be flowing again in Israel.

The 144,000 will have phenomenal success, as masses of Jews recognize Christ's true claims and Antichrist's false ones. Old and New Testament prophecies will convince them they are living in the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:6-7). Gentiles from many nations will join these completed Jews and travel to Jerusalem, urgently seeking Christ's salvation and training through the 144,000 (Joel 2:32; Zechariah 8:20-23). Others will be converted and taught remotely through the Internet and other resources. These millions of Jewish and Gentile Jesus-believers will grow and mature spiritually as they walk in God's ways, seek Christ intimately, and endure their tests of faith and patience - for 3 1/2 years. Why such large results in such a small time? The river is flowing . . . at full power.

Enraged with envy, Satan's "son" will try to shut it down. Antichrist will let loose a flood of slander against Christ, the 144,000, and their spiritual children, stirring vicious, violent opposition. Some believers will turn back, but most will faithfully endure or be martyred. As powerful, satanic spiritual winds and waves assail them, they will steadily walk forward in close fellowship with Jesus and one another. Why? The river's superior power will energize them to stand firm against Antichrist's counter-current of lies.

Halfway through the Tribulation, Jesus will suddenly take these tested Jews and Gentiles - Israel's Tribulation harvest - home to heaven in another mass translation (Revelation 7:9-17). Included among them will be Christians left behind earlier who have now taken their faith seriously, obeyed Christ's teaching faithfully, and purified and proven their faith. So, one day, the river that powered these overcomers in this natural world will power their supernatural exodus from it.

Around this time, the 144,000 will also be taken up in a separate translation (Revelation 14:1-5). Why the personal escort? Jesus is giving them special honor since they have specially honored Him by their special faith and special service. "Them that honor me I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30). Will the river finally stop flowing now?

Unphased, the river will flow on. Antichrist will make his next retaliatory move - attacking and subjugating Israel, the epicenter of the earth-moving Jewish Jesus revival, to try to quench the river and assume full control of the world. Unrestrained by any religion or nation, he will then place his image in Israel's temple, declare himself God, and order everyone worldwide to take his mark and worship him, executing non-worshipers, and viciously hunting Jews, especially Jesus-believers, to behead them. Millions of Jewish and Gentile Jesus-believers will then flee into hiding, in the wilderness and among sympathizers, to await Christ's deliverance.

But first, Christ will make His counter move. He will release two specially anointed and empowered prophets to be His sole public witnesses during this 3 1/2-year Great Tribulation (Revelation 11:3-6). Their very presence and powerful ministry will prove the river is still flowing - over, under, around, and through every satanic dam.

They will warn the world to not worship Antichrist or take his soul-damning mark and prophesy Jesus is returning soon, in only 3 1/2 years. They will also, with undeniable accuracy, announce the beginning and end of each terrible (Trumpet, Bowl) judgment Christ releases from heaven against Antichrist and his earthly worshipers. Obsessed, Antichrist will repeatedly try to assassinate the witnesses but fail, because they, like Elijah, will call down supernatural heavenly fire on all would-be assassins so they may continue speaking God's saving light in the world's near complete spiritual darkness. Many Gentiles will hear, repent, receive Jesus, and help persecuted Jews survive through either black-market provisions or miraculous divine supplies (Matthew 25:31-40). Why? The river will still be flowing, underground through the remnant and publicly through the witnesses.

This Great Tribulation will end when our greater Lord, Jesus, the King of Kings, returns to earth at the greatest battle, the Battle of Armageddon. In one brilliant flash of divine judgment, He will assassinate Antichrist and annihilate his pan-national military coalition (Revelation 19:11-21). He will also release the hidden remnant of captive Jews, reward their Gentile helpers, toss Satan and his demons into the abyss, and inaugurate His righteous kingdom on earth. In His kingdom, a divinely designed eternity orientation period, Jesus will reign in His stunningly brilliant, Mount-of-Transfiguration, Damascus-Road, Shekinah glory. He will be enthroned in a new (fourth) temple in restored Jerusalem situated on a newly raised mountain higher than any other. From there, His sunlike glory will radiate in every direction, its light beams illuminating all Israel and much of the world. Will the river no longer be needed?

Far from it! During Christ's 1,000-year kingdom, the river of God will continue, simultaneously assuming two forms, physical and spiritual. Natural Tribulation survivors will bear children and gradually repopulate the earth. Many of these once-born ones will be touched by the spiritual river's vivifying Spirit and be reborn. The physical river of God will flow from Christ's glorious presence in the Millennial temple eastward, creating natural life and fruit in the dry, dead Arabah and Dead Sea. Why? The river's glorious spiritual and physical traits never change: "everything will live wherever the river goes" (Ezekiel 47:9, NKJV).

After 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed to test those born in the Millennium. Many will follow him in a final futile rebellion against Christ, but will be suddenly consumed by heavenly fire (Revelation 20:7-9). The wicked dead will then be raised, judged, and consigned eternally to the lake of fire. The entire sin-tainted cosmos will be destroyed by fire and replaced by a new heaven and earth. Despite these colossal changes, the river of God will remain unchanged, and still flowing. But in a different place.

Its new home will be New Jerusalem, a city of transparently pure gold, stunning gem foundations, and massive gates each of a single pearl. This city of light will be the capital of the new earth and residence of all who walk in the light (1 John 1:5-10). Its greatest and central feature will be the throne of the Father and Lamb (Revelation 22:1-5). And, as in the Millennium, the river of God will assume two forms.

From God's throne a physical river of pristine, sparkling water will break forth, weaving its way through the eternal city and branching out to all regions beyond. It will create and sustain all life forms - agricultural, animal, and human - wherever it goes throughout the massive new earth, while God's glory illuminates its path. Simultaneously, the spiritual river, or river of God's Spirit, will also flow throughout this new earth in which only the redeemed will live.

Thus, the river of God, in its physical and spiritual forms, will never cease flowing from New Jerusalem. Or be diminished. Or suppressed. Forever! Under the cover of God's glory, the redeemed will feed blissfully on amazingly rich fruit growing monthly from trees lining the physical river's banks, and receive health and healing from their leaves, while the spiritual river will ceaselessly infuse our souls with divine spiritual energy.

That's God's river-powered plan. From here to glory, earth to heaven, time to eternity. And nothing and no one can stop it.

Believing His plan,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES