A pure "river of the water of life" flows from the "throne of God and of the Lamb" down the "middle" of the "street." On "either side" of the river grows the "tree of life" with its "twelve fruits," whose consumption is no longer forbidden. This signifies that God continuously provides for every season. "The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations." This is a symbolic statement that the nations will always remain healthy.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-07-07 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
A River of the Water of Life
[Verse 1]. The words “then he showed me” introduce a new section. Nevertheless, this section forms a whole with the previous one, for it still deals with the city. John gets to see “a river of the water of life”. This river is a picture of the Lord Jesus (cf. [Rev 21:6]). The river also speaks of the eternal life that God’s children now already are allowed to enjoy through the Spirit [John 7:38].
The water is “clear as crystal”. There is no pollution at all; the water is totally pure, without any mixture with something else. That could not happen of course, for the origin of this water is “the throne of God and of the Lamb”. The throne speaks of a kingdom, of authority. Wherever God and the Lamb have authority, there comes room for life in wonderful refreshing streams. Death and curse have no chance to disturb the enjoyment of life. Life can be enjoyed to the full.
What John sees makes one think of the scene in Ezekiel 47 [Ezek 47:1-12]. But there is a great difference. There it is about a literal river in the earthly Jerusalem, while here it is about the heavenly Jerusalem with a symbolic presentation of matters.
[Verse 2]. Then the gaze is turned to “the tree of life”. It is “in the middle of its street”, that is the street of the city, and at the same time on either side of the river. It is one tree, though it is on several places at the same time. That cannot be explained logically. Anyway, this tree of life is a picture of the Lord Jesus.
At the very beginning of the Bible you also read about the tree of life [Gen 2:9]. God put the tree of life in the middle of the paradise. Next to it He put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You don’t hear anything anymore of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil here. Here we see only the tree of life. Here the Holy Spirit connects the beginning and the end of the Scripture.
In Genesis 2 there is mention of two trees. There a river is also mentioned, which divides and becomes four rivers [Gen 2:10]. Here, however, is only one tree and one river. Here there is no mention any more of the responsibility of man. Man cannot be tempted by satan in the kingdom of peace as happened in paradise. After all, satan is bound during the time of the kingdom of peace [Rev 20:1-3]. Therefore only the tree of life is here. Man is allowed to eat from it all the time to enjoy the continuous blessing of the kingdom of peace.
It indicates a continuous dependence on the Lord Jesus. He gives power to walk on that one street and He gives refreshment, regardless which side of the river a person lives. The church will be allowed to enjoy Him in a new way “every month” of the thousand years, for the fruits will be for the inhabitants of the city.
The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations on earth. All conflicts and disagreements will be ended by the Lord Jesus. There will no longer be war, all wounds will be healed.
[Verse 3]. “There will no longer be any curse” in this wonderful situation, for the Lord Jesus reigns. To His reign blessing is attached and no curse. Curse is a result of sin. Everything that has to do with sin will in no way get a chance to exercise its influence in the new Jerusalem. Also the removal of the curse makes one think of the beginning when the curse entered the world [Gen 3:17]. Here it has been removed. In this way the end condition is the counterpart of the start condition in every view. Sin will still be found on earth [Ps 101:8]; [Isa 65:20]. In the city, this will not be the case.
Again the emphasis is put on the throne of God and of the Lamb as the source of blessing. Enjoying the blessing does not mean that no service is being done. The believers who form the new Jerusalem are here called “bond-servants”. That is not a name for oppressed people, but a title for voluntarily obedient people. They want to serve Him out of love for Whom they have been bought, God, and by Whom they were bought, the Lamb. Serving here also doesn’t mean performing slave labor, but serving in a religious sense, serving as priest in a worship service. This is the greatest privilege of human being.
It is also noticeable that it is written that they will serve “Him” (singular), while it refers to two Persons: God and the Lamb. This indicates that God and the Lamb are one God. You have come across this way of writing about God and the Lord Jesus also in the letters written by John. Sometimes you do not know whether he is talking about God or about the Lord Jesus. That does not matter, for with both Persons it is about God.
[Verse 4]. Besides being surrounded by blessings and the unlimited possibility to enjoy them, there is an even greater privilege. That privilege is seeing the face of God and of the Lamb. That is, there will be free access to and relationship with God and the Lamb. It is the reward for those who are pure in heart [Matt 5:8]. Outwardly His Name will be “on their foreheads”. It is the open proclamation that they are worshipers of God and the Lamb (cf. [Rev 13:16]; [Rev 17:5]).
[Verse 5]. There will no longer be need of natural light sources in the city [Rev 21:23]. God Who is light [1John 1:5], has driven out all darkness. What John already has announced in his first letter as the principle of the new life – that the believer, regarding the new life he has received, walks in the light [1John 1:7] –, has then become reality for the heavenly order of things.
It is not possible for the darkness to return. In the new Jerusalem, which is formed by men who all have the new, eternal life in the Son Who is the eternal life, it will be day forever. Also after the millennial kingdom of peace that situation will not change. We shall reign with Christ forever. After the kingdom of peace our government with Christ will not cease, but the form of government will change [1Cor 15:24]. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man will last for a thousand years. As the Son of God, He will reign forever, without ceasing to be Man.
[Verse 6]. John gets the assurance that there is no doubt that what is said is true: “These words are faithful and true.” They are indeed because He Who has spoken those words, is faithful and true [Rev 19:11]. God’s Word is beyond all doubts. It has always been like that of course, but nevertheless, it is emphasized here.
God gives such assurance concerning His Word because He knows that you can be weak in your faith in His Word. Just hold on to what the prophets have spoken about it in a way that mistakes are not possible. The Lord, He Who has authority over all things, is “the God of the spirits of the prophets”. That is, He has directed the spirit of the prophet in what he had to write down.
It is about “things which must soon take place”. You also encountered these words also at the beginning of this book [Rev 1:1], so that the end of this book closes the circle, so to speak. It is a remembrance of the purpose of the book, which is that you will look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus. There is nothing left that still has to take place before the coming of the Lord Jesus for the church. If that already applied to John and Paul, how much more does that apply to us.
[Verse 7]. The angel has told John that the events of this book will soon be fulfilled. That makes your desire for the Lord to grow more and more. How wonderful it is then to hear the Lord Himself saying that He is coming quickly. It is as if He wants to focus your eye, concerning the future things, on Himself. His desire is to fulfill everything written in this book. Therefore, you do not look forward to events in the first place, but to a Person.
Until then, “the words of the prophecy of this book” are at your disposal. If you heed them, you are “blessed”. Heeding the Word of God has always been a source of blessing. It gives you light on your way and it shows you what your future is, because your future is connected with Christ. The Lord connects special blessings to the reading of this book, which unfortunately is often considered to be an incomprehensible book and left unread by many believers.
The water is “clear as crystal”. There is no pollution at all; the water is totally pure, without any mixture with something else. That could not happen of course, for the origin of this water is “the throne of God and of the Lamb”. The throne speaks of a kingdom, of authority. Wherever God and the Lamb have authority, there comes room for life in wonderful refreshing streams. Death and curse have no chance to disturb the enjoyment of life. Life can be enjoyed to the full.
What John sees makes one think of the scene in Ezekiel 47 [Ezek 47:1-12]. But there is a great difference. There it is about a literal river in the earthly Jerusalem, while here it is about the heavenly Jerusalem with a symbolic presentation of matters.
[Verse 2]. Then the gaze is turned to “the tree of life”. It is “in the middle of its street”, that is the street of the city, and at the same time on either side of the river. It is one tree, though it is on several places at the same time. That cannot be explained logically. Anyway, this tree of life is a picture of the Lord Jesus.
At the very beginning of the Bible you also read about the tree of life [Gen 2:9]. God put the tree of life in the middle of the paradise. Next to it He put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You don’t hear anything anymore of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil here. Here we see only the tree of life. Here the Holy Spirit connects the beginning and the end of the Scripture.
In Genesis 2 there is mention of two trees. There a river is also mentioned, which divides and becomes four rivers [Gen 2:10]. Here, however, is only one tree and one river. Here there is no mention any more of the responsibility of man. Man cannot be tempted by satan in the kingdom of peace as happened in paradise. After all, satan is bound during the time of the kingdom of peace [Rev 20:1-3]. Therefore only the tree of life is here. Man is allowed to eat from it all the time to enjoy the continuous blessing of the kingdom of peace.
It indicates a continuous dependence on the Lord Jesus. He gives power to walk on that one street and He gives refreshment, regardless which side of the river a person lives. The church will be allowed to enjoy Him in a new way “every month” of the thousand years, for the fruits will be for the inhabitants of the city.
The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations on earth. All conflicts and disagreements will be ended by the Lord Jesus. There will no longer be war, all wounds will be healed.
[Verse 3]. “There will no longer be any curse” in this wonderful situation, for the Lord Jesus reigns. To His reign blessing is attached and no curse. Curse is a result of sin. Everything that has to do with sin will in no way get a chance to exercise its influence in the new Jerusalem. Also the removal of the curse makes one think of the beginning when the curse entered the world [Gen 3:17]. Here it has been removed. In this way the end condition is the counterpart of the start condition in every view. Sin will still be found on earth [Ps 101:8]; [Isa 65:20]. In the city, this will not be the case.
Again the emphasis is put on the throne of God and of the Lamb as the source of blessing. Enjoying the blessing does not mean that no service is being done. The believers who form the new Jerusalem are here called “bond-servants”. That is not a name for oppressed people, but a title for voluntarily obedient people. They want to serve Him out of love for Whom they have been bought, God, and by Whom they were bought, the Lamb. Serving here also doesn’t mean performing slave labor, but serving in a religious sense, serving as priest in a worship service. This is the greatest privilege of human being.
It is also noticeable that it is written that they will serve “Him” (singular), while it refers to two Persons: God and the Lamb. This indicates that God and the Lamb are one God. You have come across this way of writing about God and the Lord Jesus also in the letters written by John. Sometimes you do not know whether he is talking about God or about the Lord Jesus. That does not matter, for with both Persons it is about God.
[Verse 4]. Besides being surrounded by blessings and the unlimited possibility to enjoy them, there is an even greater privilege. That privilege is seeing the face of God and of the Lamb. That is, there will be free access to and relationship with God and the Lamb. It is the reward for those who are pure in heart [Matt 5:8]. Outwardly His Name will be “on their foreheads”. It is the open proclamation that they are worshipers of God and the Lamb (cf. [Rev 13:16]; [Rev 17:5]).
[Verse 5]. There will no longer be need of natural light sources in the city [Rev 21:23]. God Who is light [1John 1:5], has driven out all darkness. What John already has announced in his first letter as the principle of the new life – that the believer, regarding the new life he has received, walks in the light [1John 1:7] –, has then become reality for the heavenly order of things.
It is not possible for the darkness to return. In the new Jerusalem, which is formed by men who all have the new, eternal life in the Son Who is the eternal life, it will be day forever. Also after the millennial kingdom of peace that situation will not change. We shall reign with Christ forever. After the kingdom of peace our government with Christ will not cease, but the form of government will change [1Cor 15:24]. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man will last for a thousand years. As the Son of God, He will reign forever, without ceasing to be Man.
[Verse 6]. John gets the assurance that there is no doubt that what is said is true: “These words are faithful and true.” They are indeed because He Who has spoken those words, is faithful and true [Rev 19:11]. God’s Word is beyond all doubts. It has always been like that of course, but nevertheless, it is emphasized here.
God gives such assurance concerning His Word because He knows that you can be weak in your faith in His Word. Just hold on to what the prophets have spoken about it in a way that mistakes are not possible. The Lord, He Who has authority over all things, is “the God of the spirits of the prophets”. That is, He has directed the spirit of the prophet in what he had to write down.
It is about “things which must soon take place”. You also encountered these words also at the beginning of this book [Rev 1:1], so that the end of this book closes the circle, so to speak. It is a remembrance of the purpose of the book, which is that you will look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus. There is nothing left that still has to take place before the coming of the Lord Jesus for the church. If that already applied to John and Paul, how much more does that apply to us.
[Verse 7]. The angel has told John that the events of this book will soon be fulfilled. That makes your desire for the Lord to grow more and more. How wonderful it is then to hear the Lord Himself saying that He is coming quickly. It is as if He wants to focus your eye, concerning the future things, on Himself. His desire is to fulfill everything written in this book. Therefore, you do not look forward to events in the first place, but to a Person.
Until then, “the words of the prophecy of this book” are at your disposal. If you heed them, you are “blessed”. Heeding the Word of God has always been a source of blessing. It gives you light on your way and it shows you what your future is, because your future is connected with Christ. The Lord connects special blessings to the reading of this book, which unfortunately is often considered to be an incomprehensible book and left unread by many believers.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. 7 ‹Behold, I come quickly:› blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-02-27 Source: Title: Revelation Author: Ger de Koning |
All streams of earthly comfort are muddy; but these are clear, and refreshing. They give life, and preserve life, to those who drink of them, and thus they will flow for evermore. These point to the quickening and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, as given to sinners through Christ. The Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, applies this salvation to our souls by his new-creating love and power. The trees of life are fed by the pure waters of the river that comes from the throne of God. The presence of God in heaven, is the health and happiness of the saints. This tree was an emblem of Christ, and of all the blessings of his salvation; and the leaves for the healing of the nations, mean that his favor and presence supply all good to the inhabitants of that blessed world. The devil has no power there; he cannot draw the saints from serving God, nor can he disturb them in the service of God. God and the Lamb are here spoken of as one. Service there shall be not only freedom, but honor and dominion. There will be no night; no affliction or dejection, no pause in service or enjoyment: no diversions or pleasures or man’s inventing will there be wanted. How different all this from gross and merely human views of heavenly happiness, even those which refer to pleasures of the mind!
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-5
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
A river of water of life, or of living water. It is spoken with allusion to the rivers of paradise and to the tree of life. (Witham)
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
Tertullian says, that we cannot explain this text literally. For in the eternal life there are no rivers or streets or trees. The symbolism of these descriptions is shown in his talk about the tree of life. The Apostle says, that it stands in the middle of the street of the city, and in the same time the tree itself stands on the shore of the river from both sides. How then can this be, if it is literally explained?!
1- The River of Life
Tertullian is of the opinion, that the river is the Person of our Lord Jesus who gave water to every soul. As well, He is the Lamb who saved us, and the Tree of Life who feeds His children. He is everything to those who are saved.
St. Ambrose (1) believes, that the river is the Holy Spirit that no one can drink from, other than he who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “‘if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive” [John 7:37-39].
This is the Spirit of the Father and the Son, proceeding from the Father and dwelling in the Son. The Son sent the Spirit from the Father to rebuke, to sanctify and guide us until we reach the heavenly wedding. This is the eternal river that watered, and still waters the bride.
This also refers to the delightful flow of God's blessings in eternity, which in its truth is nothing separated from Him who gives us Himself to enjoy, and be delighted with. And as the psalmist says, “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God. The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved” [Ps 46:4-5].
It also indicates the eternal peace with which heavenly Jerusalem is delighted. As it says, “Behold I will extend peace to her like a river... As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. When you see this, your heart shall be rejoice” [Isa 66:12-14].
2- The Tree of Life
Thycon the African thinks, that the tree of life indicates the Holy Cross to which we extend our hands to pick all kinds of pleasant fruits. Also St. Ephram the Syrian (2) and others call the cross, the tree of life.
With the cross, our Lord had conquered death and opened heaven to us. He gave us His body and blood, shed for us to make us children of grace, and heirs of eternal life.
By the cross, the Holy Spirit accomplishes the holy sacraments through the presbyters, in the Church. These sacraments are the food of the Church.
The work of the cross, as we know, extended backwards that the early Fathers of the Old Testament may pick up the fruits, and forward, that the people of the New Testament may eat from these fruits everyday. And in eternity we find our fullness in meditating on the wounds of the slaughtered Lamb.
The tree is in constant blossom, and its fruits are new for us. We eat of it and become satisfied, yet our hearts become ignited with longing to eat more. Again we eat from it, and we find its fruits are still new, thus we eat and have our fill. The more we eat the more we hunger for it. In this, Sirach says, whoever eats from it comes back more hungry, and whoever drinks from it comes back more thirsty. This makes us stand before the tree amazed and wondering without boredom.
Its fruits are ‘12,’ and this number indicates the children of the kingdom, as if the fruits are specially for them, in it everyone finds his needs and satisfaction.
The early Fathers as St. Basil, St. Augustine and Fr. John of Damascus (3) elaborated on how flourishing will eternity be, and the state of fullness in which man will be there.
The prophet realized that, when he said, “I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” [Ps 27:13].
1- The River of Life
Tertullian is of the opinion, that the river is the Person of our Lord Jesus who gave water to every soul. As well, He is the Lamb who saved us, and the Tree of Life who feeds His children. He is everything to those who are saved.
St. Ambrose (1) believes, that the river is the Holy Spirit that no one can drink from, other than he who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “‘if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit whom those believing in Him would receive” [John 7:37-39].
This is the Spirit of the Father and the Son, proceeding from the Father and dwelling in the Son. The Son sent the Spirit from the Father to rebuke, to sanctify and guide us until we reach the heavenly wedding. This is the eternal river that watered, and still waters the bride.
This also refers to the delightful flow of God's blessings in eternity, which in its truth is nothing separated from Him who gives us Himself to enjoy, and be delighted with. And as the psalmist says, “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God. The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved” [Ps 46:4-5].
It also indicates the eternal peace with which heavenly Jerusalem is delighted. As it says, “Behold I will extend peace to her like a river... As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. When you see this, your heart shall be rejoice” [Isa 66:12-14].
2- The Tree of Life
Thycon the African thinks, that the tree of life indicates the Holy Cross to which we extend our hands to pick all kinds of pleasant fruits. Also St. Ephram the Syrian (2) and others call the cross, the tree of life.
With the cross, our Lord had conquered death and opened heaven to us. He gave us His body and blood, shed for us to make us children of grace, and heirs of eternal life.
By the cross, the Holy Spirit accomplishes the holy sacraments through the presbyters, in the Church. These sacraments are the food of the Church.
The work of the cross, as we know, extended backwards that the early Fathers of the Old Testament may pick up the fruits, and forward, that the people of the New Testament may eat from these fruits everyday. And in eternity we find our fullness in meditating on the wounds of the slaughtered Lamb.
The tree is in constant blossom, and its fruits are new for us. We eat of it and become satisfied, yet our hearts become ignited with longing to eat more. Again we eat from it, and we find its fruits are still new, thus we eat and have our fill. The more we eat the more we hunger for it. In this, Sirach says, whoever eats from it comes back more hungry, and whoever drinks from it comes back more thirsty. This makes us stand before the tree amazed and wondering without boredom.
Its fruits are ‘12,’ and this number indicates the children of the kingdom, as if the fruits are specially for them, in it everyone finds his needs and satisfaction.
The early Fathers as St. Basil, St. Augustine and Fr. John of Damascus (3) elaborated on how flourishing will eternity be, and the state of fullness in which man will be there.
The prophet realized that, when he said, “I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” [Ps 27:13].
Footnote
(1) The Holy Spirit 3:21.
(2) St. Ephram the Syrian: Christmas Hymns (Mayamer).
(1) Cf. St. Augustine: The Confessions, Ch. 26.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-2
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-23 Source: Title: The book of Revelation Year (original): 1996 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 257 Publisher/Editor: St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria Print: Anba Reuis Press, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt Translation: Victoria and Ramzy Malaty |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
