"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."
Revelation 22:1
For the believer, our eternity with God is bright! He will provide for us in glory His refreshing water of life.
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,”
“He showed me.”
The angel is giving John a tour of Heaven, so that he may write down what he sees, that we may know something of the grandeur that awaits us. John is seeing the interior of the Heavenly City.
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” (Revelation 21:9-10).1
“A river of water of life.”
This river of living water flowing from the throne of God is water that gives life. This river is better than the river flowing from Eden (Genesis 2:10-14). It is also more significant than the figurative river flowing from Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel 47:1, 12; Zechariah 14:8).
“Their continuous flow from God, the Fountain of life, symbolizes the uninterrupted continuance of life derived by the saints, ever fresh, from Him: life in fullness of joy, as well as perpetual vitality.”2
“Clear as crystal.”
This river is absolutely clear (bright), with no impurities whatsoever, like crystal.
“‘Sparkling like rock crystal’ (Swete), shimmering like mountain water over the rocks,”3 (A.T. Robertson).
“And before the throne, there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind,” (Revelation 4:6).
“Proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
“Proceeding out of the throne of God.”
Ezekiel’s millennial river flowed from the Temple of God in Jerusalem. In heaven, the crystal river flows from God’s throne, from God Himself.
“Poole says that this point of this river is ‘To let us know, that in heaven there shall be no want of any thing that can make the saints happy,’”4 (Guzik).
“And of the Lamb.”
In the millennium Christ Jesus, the King-Priest, will sit on His throne in the Temple (Zechariah 6:13). In heaven, Jesus the Lamb will share His Father’s throne for eternity.
“[Jesus] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Hebrews 1:3).
“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,” (Revelation 22:3).
Believers take heart! Regardless of your circumstances in this life, heaven with all its glories and an eternity with Christ, our Redeemer awaits us! Be faithful and persevere to the end!
1. See also Revelation 1:1, and 4:1.
2. Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
3. A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
4. Guzik, David, David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.