Table of Contents
This lesson explores the symbolic meaning of water in the Bible, representing the life-giving Word of God. Just as physical water is essential for life and cleansing, God’s Word nourishes spiritual growth and purifies from sin. Biblical passages poetically compare God’s teachings to rain, dew, and springs that give life. When the Word is openly available, it is like “living water” that eternally quenches spiritual thirst. However, when the Word is sealed or hidden, it creates a spiritual famine. Jesus brought this living water by explaining the Old Testament, and in the last days, the unsealing of Revelation’s prophecies will provide the water of life needed for that time. Understanding this figurative meaning helps grasp the Bible’s profound truths.
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present.
While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset.
The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.
Figurative meanings:
Water = The Word
Secrets of Heaven: Figurative Water
Through understanding the figurative bowl, we already know where the meaning of water is: the Word.
Let’s understand why and what its implications are as the word.
Main Reference
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
In John 3:5, Jesus mentioned two essential elements that a person must recognize not only to acknowledge the Kingdom of Heaven but also to enter it:
Water and the Spirit.
To gain a deeper understanding, let’s explore what ‘water’ and ‘spirit’ signify in this context.
1. Physical Characteristics of Water
When you think about water, what comes to mind?
1. Cleanses
2. Essential for life
Every living thing on this planet requires water to survive. Without water, there is no life. In fact, one of the things that scientists look for on different planets to assess their potential for life is the presence of water in its liquid form. That’s how important it is.
2. Spiritual Meaning of Water
Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth.
2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
Let my teachings fall like rain and my words descend like dew.” This verse from Deuteronomy has a melodic quality to it.
Deuteronomy was originally sung to the people of Israel. In this verse, Moses is speaking, but he is referring to God’s teachings, not his own.
He uses figurative language, comparing God’s teachings to rain and dew falling from above to nourish the land below.
The imagery conveys that, just as rain and dew give life, God’s true word always comes from above as a gift to nourish His people.
Moses emphasizes that these are not his own teachings, but rather God’s teachings and words that descend from on high.
The verse poetically conveys that God’s divine message sustains and gives life, just as rain and dew allow plants to grow.
Reminder:
Rain, Dew (water) —–> the Word descends from above
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Apostle Peter quotes Isaiah 40:6-8, which compares human life to grass that withers away without water.
Just as plants need water to grow, we need the Word of God to give us spiritual life and sustenance.
The Word of God is like water that feeds the seed planted in our hearts by God. It helps that seed grow into a mature tree that bears fruit, enabling others to also receive the seed of the gospel. There is a consistent logic here.
When water is absent, plants wither and die.
Similarly, without regularly drinking from the Word of God, our spiritual lives will wither. Like a garden, our hearts need the continual watering of God’s Word to grow spiritually and bear fruit.
Reminder:
Water ——> feeds ——-> grass
The Word ——> nourish, hydrate ——> People
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.
The book of Amos contains prophecies, as we can tell from the way things were said. The prophecy states, “Men will stagger from sea to sea, looking for the words of the Lord. They will not find it, because God has put a famine on the land.”
This prophecy points generally to the time of the first coming of Jesus. Old Testament prophecies often point toward fulfillment during the first coming.
At the time of Jesus’ first coming, there were those who were starving and thirsty for the true words of the Lord. But they could not find it, and so they wandered from sea to sea.
The sea is used figuratively here and is not a good place; it represents aimless wandering. So they staggered from sea to sea looking for the words of the Lord, but could not find them.
However, this state did not last forever, because God had a plan.
Reminder:
Old Testament Prophecy ———> First Coming Fulfillment
Without water = without word
Stagger from seas to sea
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken.
Remember, John 15 takes place during the same conversation that started in John 13.
After Jesus washes the feet of his disciples physically, He then proceeds to wash their hearts spiritually with His words. He cleansed them.
Some view this as the moment when Jesus’ disciples received saving grace. This is what empowered them to then go and preach the gospel and heal others.
Let’s discuss further how Jesus provided this living water through His preaching, why He preached this message, and what His purpose was in doing so.
Reminder:
Jesus ——> open word ——> evangelizing, making disciples
3. Living Water (Springs)
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Jesus is speaking to this woman in figurative, parabolic language that she does not initially understand. At first, she thinks literally and responds, “Oh, give me some of this water so I won’t have to come back to this well.”
Often, people thought literally when Jesus spoke figuratively, just as Nicodemus did in John 3 when he asked, “How can a man who is old be born again into his mother’s womb?”
Jesus has to reframe her understanding and teach her the true meaning of his words.
The “water” that Jesus gives which rises up as springs within them is his word. Jesus’ words become springs of living water within someone when they grasp what he is teaching.
The one receiving this water of life has an internal spring of understanding opened up.
In the next lesson, we’ll look at the figurative springs, rivers, and the sea.
The spring as a source of water parallels how rain is typically formed at mountaintops. The rain falls first on the springs, collecting water in an underground reservoir. Then when that water surfaces, it wells up as a spring. The spring then delivers that water down as a river.
What Jesus meant is, “When the water that I give you from above…” Because Jesus did not speak his own words, did he?
He often had to remind people, “The words I speak are not my own.” As in John 17:8, “They belong to the Father who sent me.” And in John 14:23-24, “The one who loves me will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him.” The words I speak are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
So this word from above that Jesus sows into others washes and cleanses them. It makes them whole and gives them excitement that God is fulfilling what He promised through His Son standing before them.
Amazingly, this Samaritan woman had an impressive understanding of what to expect from the Messiah.
As John 4:25 shows, she grasped that the “water” they awaited, although not yet called water, was what the Messiah needed to provide.
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
I know that the Messiah, called Christ, is coming. What will he do?
He will explain.
Explain what? What was the knowledge that the people at the time of the first coming were missing?
What did they not yet have a complete understanding of? The open word of the Old Testament.
That’s the word that Jesus brought to the people. And when they heard this word, they understood who Christ was, why he was the way he was, and what he was doing.
This is why they were so excited. This is why the moment they understood, they immediately went back to their town and started evangelizing.
“The Christ is here!!” Go, and many people started to come.
That’s what it means for springs to well up within them.
We can’t contain their excitement. And now they’re spreading life to others, washing them with the words that they had received. That’s why it rises up to eternal life.
So let’s now look at water at the second coming. Because now we understand what water means for us at this time.
4. Water at the Second Coming!
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.
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let all who are thirsty come and receive the free gift of the water of life (Revelation 22:17).
What is the water of life that the Spirit and the Bride are asking people to come and receive?
In which book are the Spirit and the Bride mentioned? The book of Revelation.
So, just like John 4:25, what is the water of life we need to receive now?
It is the explanation of Revelation – the book that has been sealed with seven seals for 2,000 years (Revelation 5:1-3).
It is like living water that will well up into springs within us (John 4:14).
This is what the Spirit and the Bride are saying: come to understand the revelation of this book.
And where does this understanding flow from? The only place it can flow from – from God.
Reminder:
Spirit + Bride say: “Come”
Thirsty: Receive “Water of Life!”
Explanation of Revelation
down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
The water of life flows from the throne of God in Jesus. Wherever that water flows, life springs up around it.
In the next lesson, we will examine a spring and river prophecy in Ezekiel to better understand this concept.
From God’s throne flows the river with the water of life that people use to cleanse themselves, as noted in Revelation 22:14 which references washing robes.
Let’s revisit this verse to reflect on the living water that gives life and cleanses.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
Those who wash their robes will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
They need to wash their robes in the river of the water of life, as described in Revelation. The book of Revelation was intentionally kept sealed with seven seals by God until the appointed time of fulfillment.
What does it mean for the seals of Revelation to be opened? As a book of prophecy, the opening of the seals signifies that the foretold events are coming to pass.
The opening of the seals means that the prophecies are being fulfilled.
This water that flows from God’s throne when He declares “It is time” is the water that is needed. It signifies the crucial moment when God’s plan unfolds.
When people recognize this, they gain a sense of urgency to act. The time to act is now, without delay.
Of course, Satan also offers his counterfeit water which has always posed a threat and problem. But God’s pure water is what is truly needed.
Reminder:
When will the seals be opened?
Fulfillment must happen for them to open. When the words written are fulfilled, the seals open.
5. Satan’s Water
There’s Satan’s water.
And what Satan’s water does.
Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.
Your choice wine has now been diluted with water.
We’ll have a lesson on wine as well. Figurative wine is actually very important, but this wine that was pure from God is now being watered down, similar to a dishonest scale.
It is being corrupted. Satan’s water represents lies. His lies often infect people’s thoughts, diluting the pure water of God. Unfortunately, lies are the only thing Satan can speak.
However, if we understand how to discern truth from lies, we can recognize where Satan is working and avoid those traps. That is the nature of Satan’s water.
As we study the figurative sea in future lessons, we will understand more.
One key trait of the sea is that it contains a mixture of many things – salt, minerals, diverse creatures. Thus the sea depicts a place abundant in Satan’s corrupting waters.
We will examine this idea further in coming lessons.
Memorization
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
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