Free Bible Commentary
“Revelation 22:1-5”
Categories: Revelation“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”
---End of Scripture verses---
John was previously shown visions of and has given us glimpses into the stunning materials and structures of the beautiful city of God in heaven (21:9-27), and of its holy inhabitants (21:1-7). In today’s verses we see how blessed and wonderful life will be for those saints privileged enough to claim heaven as their home. We are carried back to the beginning perfection of the Garden of Eden before the earth and humanity were corrupted by sin and its destructive consequences. In heaven, the reverse of the “curse” (verse 3) will bring about the “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21). The presence of God (Genesis 3:8), the “tree of life” (Genesis 2:9), a living “river” (Genesis 2:10), and the absence of sin (Genesis 3:22-24) are the markings of an everlasting habitation perfectly equipped for sustaining eternal life. Paradise lost will be fully recovered in heaven for God’s people, and His purposes will be ultimately and completely accomplished.
Unlike the waterways of the world that are tainted with pollution and corrupted because of the curse of sin, the “river of the water of life” is as “clear as crystal” that brilliantly sparkles with purity and splendor. This river is spotless and pure because its wellspring is “the throne of God and of the Lamb,” where the Father and the Son sit as coregents ruling as benevolent Monarchs, ever supplying spiritual sustenance and refreshment. “The tree of life” is firmly planted beside the river of life “bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month” (verse 2). This tree actually provides perpetual and plentiful “healing” from its “leaves” as well as nourishment from its life-giving fruit.
Robert Harkrider wrote concerning verse 3 and 4: “Even as sin was driven out of the original garden of Eden, so the ‘curse’ of sin with its pain, sickness, sorrow and death shall be entirely absent in heaven. ‘His servants shall serve’ shows that heaven will not be a place of indolence… Man’s yearning to meet God was first expressed by Moses (Exod. 33:17-23) and later by Philip (John 14:8). But to see God’s face is not possible while man lives in the flesh (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12); however, this desire shall be realized in heaven. The thought is that the people of God shall be clearly identified because His name will be engraved in their foreheads (3:12; 7:3; 14:1). They shall see Him as He is because they will be forever in His presence (1 John 3:1-2).”
“In the land of fadeless day
Lies the city foursquare;
It shall never pass away,
And there is no night there.
God shall wipe away all tears,
There’s no death, no pain, nor fears,
And they count not time by years,
For there is no night there.”
(John R. Clements)
Please read Revelation 22:6-9 for tomorrow.
Have a bright and shining day!
-Louie Taylor
