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Rev. 22:1-21: The Water and the Tree of Life; The Thrones of God and of the Lamb!
CHAPTER 22
A New Dawn In God’s Old Eternity
Heaven-on-Earth
The Pure River: Water of Life
Chapter 22, Verse 1 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.
Continuing in his survey of the New Jerusalem, as led and conducted by the angel sent from God, John’s old eyes are drawn to a River of crystal-clear water, that flows directly from the Thrones of both God the Father and of God the Son. The Source of this water makes plain that this is not just any water, nor is it in any way commonplace. They are not ordinary, in any sense that we might think. Potable, though they may well be, in some sense of the word, they are not intended for drinking, or, for washing of the physical body, strictly speaking. Nothing will grow in these waters, yet, John says, they are the Waters of Life, inferring, given the circumstance, that they are critical to the acquisition of life eternal—for some. Thus, these waters are more than likely primarily symbolic of the eternal Presence of the Holy Spirit of God, by means of whom all saints will be given eternal life, on behalf of and in the interest of the Son (consider John 3:3, 5; 4:10, 14; 7:37-39). In this case, it appears that those for whom these waters are intended may be limited to those saints born again or saved during the tribulation (and, their multitudes of descendants born throughout the Millennium, Jews and Gentiles), certified righteous, justified but (like Adam before the fall, Genesis 3:22-24) not yet endowed with the permanent indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit—as will be the pre-tribulation saints.
The Tree of Life
Verse 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.
The next sight to catch John’s attention is the Tree of Life. It will be located in the middle of the main street of gold that runs through the City, as well as on either side of the River of Life. As it yields twelve types of fruit each month, its leaves will be for the healing of the nations (of all saints).
It is not altogether clear as to who is envisioned here in the term “nations”. As stated above, however, it does seem rational to assume that since the saints born before the Great Tribulation Period already have the righteousness of Christ permanently bestowed upon them (19:4-9), that by virtue of the Spirit of God actively resident within them, there would then be no reason why this scenario should be applicable to them. Thus, certainly they are excluded. On the other hand, of the Jews who survive the Tribulation period, this will not be true. Nor will it be true of those tribulation saints murdered for their faith and raised to newness of life, after that terrible time of hell on earth.
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By Alvin MitchellCHAPTER 22
A New Dawn In God’s Old Eternity
Heaven-on-Earth
The Pure River: Water of Life
Chapter 22, Verse 1 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.
Continuing in his survey of the New Jerusalem, as led and conducted by the angel sent from God, John’s old eyes are drawn to a River of crystal-clear water, that flows directly from the Thrones of both God the Father and of God the Son. The Source of this water makes plain that this is not just any water, nor is it in any way commonplace. They are not ordinary, in any sense that we might think. Potable, though they may well be, in some sense of the word, they are not intended for drinking, or, for washing of the physical body, strictly speaking. Nothing will grow in these waters, yet, John says, they are the Waters of Life, inferring, given the circumstance, that they are critical to the acquisition of life eternal—for some. Thus, these waters are more than likely primarily symbolic of the eternal Presence of the Holy Spirit of God, by means of whom all saints will be given eternal life, on behalf of and in the interest of the Son (consider John 3:3, 5; 4:10, 14; 7:37-39). In this case, it appears that those for whom these waters are intended may be limited to those saints born again or saved during the tribulation (and, their multitudes of descendants born throughout the Millennium, Jews and Gentiles), certified righteous, justified but (like Adam before the fall, Genesis 3:22-24) not yet endowed with the permanent indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit—as will be the pre-tribulation saints.
The Tree of Life
Verse 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.
The next sight to catch John’s attention is the Tree of Life. It will be located in the middle of the main street of gold that runs through the City, as well as on either side of the River of Life. As it yields twelve types of fruit each month, its leaves will be for the healing of the nations (of all saints).
It is not altogether clear as to who is envisioned here in the term “nations”. As stated above, however, it does seem rational to assume that since the saints born before the Great Tribulation Period already have the righteousness of Christ permanently bestowed upon them (19:4-9), that by virtue of the Spirit of God actively resident within them, there would then be no reason why this scenario should be applicable to them. Thus, certainly they are excluded. On the other hand, of the Jews who survive the Tribulation period, this will not be true. Nor will it be true of those tribulation saints murdered for their faith and raised to newness of life, after that terrible time of hell on earth.