--- River of Life? ---
Are you drinking from it?
You can! (John 4:5-30) You should be...
Written: September 2025

While I don't assert anything special about myself beyond being a friend of Christ, (John 15:14-15) and that by being one who has been paying attention to him, (Acts 4:13) I want to share a dream I had. Before I do so, I also feel the need to warn you can be a fool if you put faith in dreams, including mine or even your own. (Deu 18:10-13) Unless, and a very big unless, you know scriptures that are understood more clearly in light of the dream. So, then, the only reason I mention my dream is because it gives me comfort in "support of Scriptures" I did already know. That means I'm not really putting faith in my dream; but in the scriptures it reinforces my faith in. That makes my dream feel safe for me... You should be cautious in the extreme that you only put faith in the Bible, with a focus on the words of Christ. (Mark 9:7) As a prelude to sharing my dream, please consider what was revealed to us through John some two thousand years ago:
Revelation 22:1-2 CEV . . ."The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear, and its waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated. (2) Then it flowed down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river are trees that grow a different kind of fruit each month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations."

This river giving life would thus seem to be flowing out of the city of God, out of New Jerusalem:
Rev 21:1-4 ...I saw a new [tested and pure] heaven and a new [righteous and sin free] earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea [of unruly mankind (Rev 17:15)] was gone. (2) Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem [the kingdom of Christ], coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband. (3) I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. (4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won't be any more death. There won't be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared." (Luke 1:30-33)

So, then, to my dream... I am Murray Cummings and live in a rural area next to a stream. In my dream, I was standing next to the stream and could see it's crystal clear water started flowing backward; flowing upstream. It was most alarming to me and I was explaining to those standing around in great detail how that was not possible. It could not be happening, I said. It couldn't flow upstream unless the river it fed into was so high it was flooding back up the stream. That wasn't happening. The stream's beginning is only about a mile away, and the water was just flowing upstream with nowhere up there for the water to go. And yet, everyone could see it "was" flowing upstream. Then, the water started to rise or flood up just a bit from its usual ankle deep; and there came a small casket floating on the water. It was somehow clear to me that box was important. It was 3 or 4 feet long and I started to run alongside until it lodged on the far side of the stream. I waded into the now thigh high water to retrieve it and brought it out on our side. A man who identified himself as my distant cousin said it was his child who had recently died. I then awoke being upset because the dream was just really strange, and because it seemed real. During the dream I had the though I must be dreaming, but convinced myself I was awake. Then, when I first did wake up, I wasn't sure what was real...

After being perplexed by the first, two or three nights later I had another dream that also alarmed me, but that I now can't remember. I remembered the dream when I woke up at the end of it, but when I went back to sleep it was lost to the night. I can still remember having the dream and being awakened by it, but not what it was about. On waking the morning after that second dream, however, I did know what my dream of the backward flowing creek meant: It was the river of waters of life. It was flowing backward in the sense it was moving away from the grave instead of toward it. The little child in the casket was about to be resurrected, (John 11:21-27) and those living along the stream were getting stronger and regaining their youthful vigor by its water. (Job 33:13-30) Impossible by what we have known and seen as humans, but happening all the same. Please don't think I am asserting my dream is a message to you from God. I well know our Heavenly Father told us He spoke to us in dreams and visions in times gone by, but is now speaking to us through the words of his Son. (Heb 11:1-2) But, I am also not saying it was not God helping "me" understand. I just don't presume to say it is. In our day, He mostly speaks to us, and the only completely dependable way he does so, is by our reading the words of His Christ [His Anointed One]. (John 17:3; Mat 19:16-17; John 6:28-29; Acts 4:11-12)

So, I mention my dream because I do believe it is consistent with what we see happening in our world today; with what the Bible tells me we see happening right now! (Mark 13:4 & 8 & 19-21; Rev 16:14-16; Rev 21:10-22:2)
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As Armageddon destroys the old world system, the righteous are being protected by their faith in Christ; while the wicked are not. (Mal 3:16-4:3) Jesus's words containing and/or delivering the stream of God's Spirit, (John 4:5-30) are granting faith for eternal life. (2 Chron 20:17) Do you truly believe Jesus's words when he said your faith is your fate? (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:40‑55; Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34) His words amount to the leaves or fruit of the tree(s) of life, granting healing. (Job 33:13-30)

New Jerusalem is now being installed in the earth. (Rev 21:1-4; Rev 21:10-22:2) Not figuratively, but literally. While I don't know what that looks like to our eyes, the Kingdom will soon have destroyed all Christ's enemies. (Psa 37:1-11) New Jerusalem "is" described in great detail in the Bible. [Is that description, however, physical details or spiritual details? Only God and his son know! We wait to see... Revelation 21:15-17 says New Jerusalem is a cube measuring twelve thousand furlongs which is a about 1600 miles. The wall was also measured at about 70 yards, I would assume that means thick, but some translators assert that is its height. In any case, I tend to suspect this is a spiritual or symbolic view of God's New Jerusalem, The Kingdom of God that will be forever with mankind.]

Some people do believe these scriptures giving their description of New Jerusalem are to be taken literally. Many artists sharing that belief have tried to convey what they  think  "imagine" New Jerusalem coming down to earth might look like. Some feel the need to try and covey the City's great size; as measured by John in Revelation; while others envision New Jerusalem might come down right on top of the site of ancient Jerusalem's Temple. (Rev 21:10-22:2) There are hundreds of other ideas about the details of the physical revelation of New Jerusalem. The only thing that is truly important to you is "your" faith! What ever you choose to believe, just be careful you don't believe a lie. The words of Christ are your only truly safe place.

So, then, how does all that relate of my dream?
FYI Insert: You should know and use God's Name.
It is יהוה and was used over 6000 times
in the original Hebrew Scriptures!

I have long believed the paradise of Eden created by יהוה is being restored (Isa 11:1-13) to the earth... (Mat 25:34) Will it contain streams of living water running backward? Maybe not literally, not in my current mind's eye of reasoning on the matter; anyway. But, such things are God's doing; meaning we have to wait and see the details of everything He hasn't specifically and clearly told us; mostly all of that coming through the words of Jesus Christ. (Mat 17:5) I can see no reason to believe these angelic revelations to John are literal. Remember: Jesus himself told us to eat his flesh and drink his blood! No one imagines we should literally do that. But, all Christians do absolutely understand their need to do it figuratively. (John 6:48-58)

What we can all know for sure we can build faith in is New Jerusalem is God's Kingdom over the earth; with Jesus Christ as our eternal King. (Luke 1:26-33; 1 Cor 15:12-28) You can have a part in establishing that kingdom if you simply have faith in the words of Christ; [(2 Chron 20:17) and then, speak about your faith. (Mal 3:16-4:3) Do you truly believe Jesus's words when he said your faith is your fate? (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:40‑55; Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34)] Just don't let anyone make a big deal about things we can't yet know in detail. Build your faith in what you personally know Jesus Christ said; and wait on the details of the rest. (2 Chron 20:17) We can rejoice in the establishment of the Kingdom. (Luke 21:25-28) We can "rejoice in the day that the LORD hath made!" (Psa 118:24) And, we can be drinking right now from the river of waters of life... (John 17:3; John 4:5-26; John 6:28-29; Mark 3:31-35; John 15:14-16) My dream, then, helps me have faith all these scriptures are true. And, that what they promise is actually happening! Bless יהוה oh my soul... (Psa 34:1-3)


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