Revelation 22:1-6
In verse 1 John is shown a pure river called the water of life flowing out from the Throne of God and the Lamb.
Water in the New Testament is symbolic of the Word of God which is the source of cleansing and refreshment. Rivers signify the Holy Spirit.
While we are here on the earth, this river should flow out of us from God through our spirits and empower us to live Kingdom Living and do His will. When we are in this flow we are being refreshed and sanctified so that others can see and want what we have.
Unfortunately many Believers have not tapped into this flow, so they have nothing to offer to those that need this life, for they are all dried up by the scorching heat of this life.
However, all it takes is a decision to seek the Kingdom as Jesus said and tap into it again. The refreshing is worth it and others can benefit from it, that’s the Blessing in action!
So apparently we are still going to enjoy its life giving flow in Heaven and notice in the next verse the tree of life is also tapped into it.
We see in verse 2 this river is flowing down the middle of the street and on each side is the tree or trees of life that produce twelve types of fruit every month for us to enjoy. The leaves of the trees produce healing for the nations.
The roots of this tree are obviously tapped into the water of life, so this all works together to be another area of God’s great love and Blessing to His people.
There are many things we know not of in the eternal future. However we, the Church are being raised up to rule and reign with Christ on into the eternity. Evidently there is going to be nations of people to rule that do not have glorified bodies such as we will have soon and very soon.
This area of the water of life as well as the trees of life will apparently be accessible to the people groups on the earth and maybe even other planets to help them live well by the help of our gracious and merciful God. It may be what we understand as Paradise.
Verse 3 tells us there will be no more curse resident at this time, so the bodies of the people of these nations must still have need of healing for God to provide these trees of life to sustain them.
Since there will no longer be a curse, the healing that these nations will need could be the replenishment of their bodies to be able to live on and on.
This verse also indicates God and the Lamb’s eternal desire to be with their people and their people will desire to serve them.
Verse 4 states ‘they shall see his face.’ Throughout the Old Testament it was stated that ‘no man can look upon God’s face and live.’ Well that is in the past and this is the future where God will have the fellowship he enjoyed with Adam in the Garden prior to the fall of man.
Notice that God’s name will be in their foreheads. Isn’t it interesting that the anti-christ used the same place for his mark during the Tribulation, except he used it to glorify himself? We all know what that brought him!
In verse 5 this place that is being described in detail to be a wonderful place called Paradise will not need artificial light or the light of the sun. God’s glory will light it up forever.
That does not mean that in the physical creation of planets and solar systems that this is the case. There will be suns, moons and other forms of light which we are accustom to.
We see in verse 6 the Angel/Christian is saying to John that all the things he has heard and witnessed are faithful and true. He makes reference to the Word of God that was given to the prophets to speak in the earth is faithful and true as well.
Notice he says that these things will all be done “shortly.” Remember that time is only an issue with us in the earth; in Heaven time does not exist so in the spirit realm thousands of years is a short time!
