River of Life

Holy City Jerusalem

English Standard Version Chapter 21

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

Visions are important for the church. It is often times the way we receive the Word of God. John lets us know that this is a Word from God because of the way he describes what happens to him.

In Greek (the original language) it simply says he showed me. But my Bible ESV says that the Angel showed him. I think we can assume after the opening line from 21:10 that he was having a heavenly moment and the one leading him was heavenly. 22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 22:1–2.

We should remember that this is a vision of things that a human like John might struggle to describe. So, we see that John describes the river as bright as crystal. This is perhaps what he imagines as he tries to put into words what he sees.

The River of Life flows through the city but not out of the city. The redeemed are in the city and it supplies their needs. The trees that stood on either side of the river were trees of life that grew twelve kinds of fruit. The number twelve is symbolic for God, the twelve tribes of Jerusalem. Now the fruit was not specifically twelve different fruits but fruit every month. Realistically, because there is no sun or moon there will be no monthly calendar and John’s description is basically a vision of abundance. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 22:2–3.

The curse was that people from the original sin were headed for destruction. Our bodies were trapped in a cycle of life and death. The leaves are for the healing. When I see spring coming the first thing I notice is the leaves coming on the trees.

English Standard Version (Chapter 22)

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.