Ezekiel 47:1
Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
The vision opens upon the work at its beginning as a small, very small rivulet issuing from under the threshold of the house eastward at the south side of the altar beside the altar. As it flows it constantly deepens from ankles to knees to loins to a river that cannot be passed over, becoming deeper and wider until its life-giving waters spread over all the earth and bring healing and life wherever the river comes. The waters are the gospel of Christ in its purity as a stream of living water, which went forth from Jerusalem and spread to all countries.
God's chosen kingdom and people are shown by the river to be not a stagnant pool but a constantly flowing river, advancing and growing deeper and wider. It is the gospel received with contrition of heart by those who walk humbly with God in the footsteps of Christ and with whom the Holy Spirit unites to give sanctification, comfort, and victory over the world. Its course toward the east country and down into the desert and into the sea, where the waters are healed, means the work extends to the east and to the west, to the north, to the islands of the sea, and to all parts of the world, becoming a great and living interest to be managed by human instrumentalities.
This is the pattern for the way the truth for this time is to go, with a large work done by many who commenced in a small way, often beginning small and then growing. The work at Madison illustrates how the message should be carried in freedom in the Lord without fear in many places. The work in different places is not to be centralized under the management of a few men or centered in any one place with strength and efficiency concentrated there, but is to be established in many places with every part blending with every other part in unity amid diversity.
Each institution is to remain independent working out God's plan under His direction, because burden-bearing gives strength and development while being freed from responsibility leaves character undeveloped and powers repressed and weakened. The increase comes not through display and not through any devising on the part of man or after a worldly plan for schools and missionary work, but because of the working of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the human agencies, which was the way the Saviour worked. When His methods become the methods of His followers His blessing will attend their labors, with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit accompanying the Word causing it to yield great results.
Under the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit the truth is to be proclaimed in its purity in clear, unmistakable language to prepare the way of the Lord and to warn the whole earth. The work advances in all fields nigh and afar off as men are called from the plow and from common commercial vocations to be educated in connection with men of experience who understand the truth. Through wonderful workings of divine providence mountains of difficulty are removed and cast into the sea until the whole earth has been warned and then the end comes.
Wherever the gospel is received its grace heals the maladies that sin has produced, and as the Sun of Righteousness arises with healing, light, strength, and refreshing come from the Lord. The message is heard and understood so that men know what is truth, and the good fruit borne bears witness to a work of righteousness. Those who labor having experienced the virtue of truth as it is in Jesus see this healing follow their work.