The river of life is a prominent feature of Heaven. This devotional reading looks at it and the tree of life that stands on both sides of the river.
Nuggets
- The purifying water gives life in Heaven.
- The river of life, coming from the throne of God and of the lamb, provides health and happiness.
- The river comes from the throne, God’s seat of power.
- The river flows in the middle of the golden street.
- The tree of life will stand on both sides of the river.
- We will be healed in Heaven.
Ooo, baby! We are starting the last chapter of Revelation! Part of me wondered if we would get this far because I threw my hands up in frustration at not understanding anything.
I don’t know about you, but I have learned a lot!
I am thinking that there are going to be about six devotions out of this chapter. Then I’ve been throwing random thoughts into a wrap-up folder. I don’t have any clue how I am going to address those, but there will probably be a couple devotions of them.
I figured we would run into 2025. But let’s get this chapter started.
Let's Put It into Context
To read devotions in the On the Day of the Lord theme, click the button below.
Devotions in the Eternity Begins series
The River of Life
“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” (Rev. 22: 1 ESV)
John’s tour guide was still showing him around. We don’t know if the angel explained some things to him or if he just knew.
Probably a bit of both.
River of the Water of Life
The river of life, coming from the throne of God and of the lamb, provides health and happiness.
Grace flows freely from God, just as a river flows. The river isn’t going to dry up because of a drought. It will always be flowing.
Translation — God will provide abundantly in Heaven.
The river is crystal clear, showing its purity. God has long used water as a purifier.
- “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10: 22 ESV).
- “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezek. 36: 25-27 ESV).
- “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’” (Jn. 3: 5 ESV).
- “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (Jn. 7: 38 ESV).
Bonar preferred the word bright as translated here over the word crystal. Both are used in the Oxford Jewish Bible.
Resource
- “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Rev. 22: 16 ESV).
- “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!” (Isa. 14: 12 ESV).
Our cleansing comes only from God through the blood of Jesus. This is how it is the water of life.
All good things come from God and Jesus.
We had a creek flowing through the pasture of the farm on which we grew up. It was a nice, little creek.
This, on the other hand, is a nice, big river.
Exell didn’t see this as a meandering river. He saw it as gushing water. He wrote,
“The things of earth are dead and barren, but when touched by the influence and grace of the Divine Spirit they teem with vitality. But the life of the soul now is nothing in intensity as compared with what it will be when it attains the enjoyment of heaven. Then it will become possessed of an immortal vitality which shall know from decay or decline.”
Resource
John would have remembered what Isaiah said.
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food” (Isa. 55: 1-2 ESV).
In the river, John would have seen power and the promise to provide. The spiritual blessings would be readily available for God’s people.
From the Throne of God and of the Lamb
The river comes from the throne, God’s seat of power. The Homilist explained that. It was written in Christianity a Transcendental System that the river “… proceeds from ‘the throne’ — the centre of universal authority. Christianity is a code rather than a creed, more regulative than speculative.”
Resource
This authority will be everlasting.
It is interesting that throne is singular, not plural. To me, this says there will be two Persons sharing one Throne.
Bushnell called it a partnership. But that is logical.
Resource
God and Jesus have one nature. They have one mission — our salvation.
But then, go back to Revelation 7: 17. “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
In some versions, the word midst is translated center. This is a position of victory, authority, and vindication.
The only way back to God’s rule was through Jesus’ death. The Plan of Salvation was created around Him.
All that being said, Jesus is probably standing in front of the throne. Oh, I can see that. Jesus was always acknowledging God’s authority in His life.
Spurgeon took it another way. The only way we can come to the throne of God is through the throne of the Lamb that was slain. We get the righteousness, grace, and mercy there.
We have to think that, if the river is coming from the throne of the Lamb, that it is living water. “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water’” (Jn. 4: 10 ESV).
Make no mistake. The throne is in New Jerusalem — Heaven.
The Tree of Life
“through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22: 2 ESV)
Through the Middle of the Street
The river flows in the middle of the golden street.
There is significance of the river being in the middle of the street. King explained that. He wrote,
“To understand the symbolism here, we must remember that the street is the place where men meet together, where they pursue their varied occupations. And the golden undefiled street of the New Jerusalem represents the scene of the common activities of the life there. And the position of the river flowing in the midst of the street teaches the truth that whatever the occupations may be, there will be nothing in them antagonistic to the highest interests of the spiritual life.”
Resource
From that explanation, we see the unity that will be enjoyed in Heaven. We see activity occurring. We aren’t going to just sit around and eat bonbons.
We will continue to grow in our spiritual faith.
We currently have an incomplete picture of God. It can only become complete when we are with Him.
Harris agreed. He believed there will be daily discoveries. He wrote, “Abandonment to God must mean advancement in God.”
Resource
It will probably take all of eternity, and there will still be things we don’t know about God.
Tree of Life
The tree of life will stand on both sides of the river.
The tree of life is mentioned only a few times in God’s Word until we get to this chapter. Some of them are
- “And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2: 9 ESV).
- “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever’” (Gen. 3: 22 ESV).
- “She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed” (Prov. 3: 18 ESV).
- “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov. 13: 12 ESV).
- “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Prov. 15: 4 ESV).
- “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Rev. 2: 7 ESV).
It is imperative that we have eaten of its fruit. This is the only way that we will gain eternal life in Heaven. Eating of the tree of life means ABCDing.
Having eaten of the tree of knowledge alone isn’t good enough. That is what Adam and Eve did.
- “But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die’” (Gen. 2: 16-17 NLT).
- “‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, “You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.”’ ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil’” (Gen. 3: 2-5 NLT).
We need the tree of life.
Newbolt told us why the tree of life is on both sides of the river of life. He wrote, “And the tree of life is accessible to all; multiplied it stands on each side of the river, in the wilderness, and in the promised land. There is an open church, and an open Bible, and open privileges for every one.”
Resource
That makes sense. This life is the wilderness. We must accept Jesus as our Savior now to gain eternal life in Heaven.
It is interesting that the tree of life has 12 kinds of fruit. Hmmmm. Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23)? Add in the virtues listed in II Peter 1: 5-7?
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
- Knowledge
- Steadfastness
- Godliness
That would be a good list.
Mackennal noted that the Church needed the complete set. Love of Christ gets us nowhere if we do not have faithfulness with it. Knowledge is nothing without godliness.
Resource
We need all of the spiritual graces.
Davies thought the 12 fruits may symbolize the 12 months. We must consistently be fruitful.
Resource
The leaves of the tree of life heal our spiritual condition. It purifies our souls.
Goodwin took it a different way. He saw the fruit as being different levels of maturity, which correspond to the months of the year. There is no being out of season for this fruit.
Resource
Erskine called Jesus the tree of life. He is/was a citizen of both worlds. (I added to Erskine’s list some verses I thought were appropriate.)
Resource
- “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener” (Jn. 15: 1 NLT).
- “Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit” (Isa. 11: 1 ESV).
- “Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people” (Isa. 53: 8 NLT).
- “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit” (Jer. 17: 7-8 ESV).
Leaves for Healing
We will be healed in Heaven.
Back in Revelation 21, we talked about what wouldn’t be in Heaven. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev.21: 4 ESV).
Those are just some of the things that won’t be in Heaven. Revelation 22: 2 sets no limits.
They are removed through the healing properties of the leaves of the tree of life.
Notice, the verse says “… The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22: 2 ESV). There is no qualifier on nations.
Every nation and all tribes and peoples are diseased. The original sin infected all mankind — no exceptions.
Therefore, every nation is offered the antidote. There is only One.
This goes back to an earlier verse in Revelation. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Rev. 7: 9 ESV).
Everyone can enjoy the healing properties of the tree of life. We just have to agree to obey God’s laws and commandments.
Making the Connections #1
King argued that — other than our new spiritual bodies — life would pretty much be the same once we get to Heaven. He felt that our outward condition of life will; our inward condition won’t.
I agree. God wouldn’t be growing us in this life to do an automatic download too change us from who we are for eternity. He has too much invested in us.
King put it this way. He wrote, “Grace is the infancy of glory, and glory is the manhood of grace.”
Resource
- We cannot even step up to the start line without grace.
- Grace brings us glory as we are obedient to God, but glory is a pale shade of what it will be like in Heaven.
- Our Sanctification Road are designed to grow us from milk babies to steak adults.
- We will be on that Road — growing — until we reach Heaven.
- When we achieve steak adulthood and are perfected through being changed into our new bodies at death, we will achieve perfect glory.
- Sanctification only occurs through grace.
Yeah, it is kind of circular. We must learn what the future will hold through our present experiences with God so that the glory we receive in the future is the reward for getting it right.
Making the Connections #2
Harris made an interesting comment. If he had his way, the word revival would be taken out of our The Disciples’ Dictionary.
Resource
I see where Harris is coming from. We aren’t called to be part-time disciples. We definitely are not called to be dead disciples.
We are called to be fully charged, fully functioning disciples.
Unfortunately, we are not like the river of life. We ebb and flow. Truth be known, there is a lot of ebb in our flow.
Our goal should be to be gushing.
How Do We Apply This?
- Accept God’s invitation to join in His spiritual blessings.
- Look for future blessings while valuing the blessings God gives us know.
- View Heaven is the hope of this life.
- Value more what Grace and Mercy have already given us.
- Depend on God.
- See the altar and the throne as one.
- Taste the tree of life by ABCDing.
- Be fully rooted and grounded in Christ.
- Cultivate our spiritual life.
- Produce much for Christ.
- Live daily for Christ.
Resource
Father God. Thank You so much for the river and tree. Thank You especially for what they do – bring life. Help us to walk with You daily until we can walk in Your presence. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.