Revelation 22:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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

NIV: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

NASB: And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb,

CSB: Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

NLT: Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

A river as clear as crystal flows from the throne of God and the Lamb in New Jerusalem. Many of the judgments seen in the tribulation involved pollution of water. Ceremonial uncleanness was meant to symbolize moral filth. In the modern day, rivers and oceans are filled with trash and waste, but nothing unclean—physically or morally—can enter New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27). The river that flows from the throne is perfect and pure. Fresh water will pour through the city.

Because it is the water of life and crystal clear, this river also symbolizes the nature of God and the Lamb. They are "holy, holy, holy," as the seraphim and the four living creatures declare (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). Ezekiel 47:1, 12 describes a similar river that flows from the temple in Jerusalem. Alongside the river, Ezekiel saw all kinds of trees for food. The rivers seem similar, but they are different. The one the apostle John saw is in New Jerusalem. The one Ezekiel saw flows from the temple in the millennial Jerusalem. There is no temple in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22). However, both rivers are sourced in God.

Revelation 22:1–5 provides further details of New Jerusalem, which was introduced in the preceding chapter. Based on the language used, some interpreters debate whether New Jerusalem will exist during the thousand-year reign of Christ, providing sustenance for those who live on the earth; or, if it will only appear after the end of the millennium. Either way, in New Jerusalem eternal conditions exist in perfection and peace.

John sees additional images of New Jerusalem. The city's depiction stands in contrast to the ruin experienced during the tribulation, and evokes comparisons to the garden of Eden from the book of Genesis. After this, John relates several commands and messages from Jesus Christ. Among these are a dire warning not to manipulate the words of this message. Revelation, along with the canon of Scripture, ends with a benediction and prayer for Jesus to return.

This passage completes the description of New Jerusalem. Earlier chapters in Revelation described the final judgments against sin and death. Genesis chapter 3 described humanity's loss of paradise; Revelation 22 describes paradise regained. Concluding remarks by Jesus begin in verse 6 and continue through verse 20. Verse 21 records the apostle John's benediction, which marks the end of the New Testament canon.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''