The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-23, titled "Questions and Answers--Part 51."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 2001 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

Answer

Right. This is true. What’s going to happen if you read--we won’t go into the specifics--but if you read the prophets, they say that there’s going to be a valley created called the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Jerusalem. It’s going to be an east-west valley, the Mount of Olives is going to be split and there’s a valley created and a river is going to run through that valley, down the hill--back of Jerusalem, goes way down, you know Jerusalem is almost a mile high. The Dead Sea is what? 1500 feet plus, below sea level? It’s just a severe drop and the water is going to run out into there and flourish and cause the desert to blossom like a rose.

Deserts are part of the curse. Deserts are part of the fall. Eden was a place of beautiful vegetation; the desert came about because of the fall. When paradise is restored in the millennial kingdom of Christ, I think deserts disappear. Certainly in the land of Israel for certain they do and God turns it into a garden again.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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