Revelation 22:1; A Pure River of Life Proceeding Out of the Throne of God

Revelation 22:1 (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. 

Revelation 22:1-5 gives a view of the inner life of the city. The final part of the intercalation about the Holy City focuses upon the conditions within the city, particularly as pertains to the city’s citizens.

A pollution-free river is the first feature – 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. 

The words “And he shewed me” reflect a break in the description of the New Jerusalem. The angel now divulges to John a new aspect of the city (Hailey). This is the same angel who began this tour in Revelation 21:9-10 (cf. Revelation 21:15).

Revelation 21:9-10 (KJV)  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 21:15 (KJV)  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 

The new details exhibit the Paradise-like qualities of the city (cf. Revelation 2:7).

Revelation 2:7 (KJV)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Aside from God and the Lamb, the Tree of Life and the water of life are her main distinguishing marks.

The earliest description of Paradise is in Genesis 2 . Man’s banishment from it is in Genesis 3. Luke 23:43 tells of a restoration to it, and 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 speaks of a vision of it.

Luke 23:43 (KJV)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

2 Corinthians 12:2 (KJV)  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 

2 Corinthians 12:4 (KJV)  How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

A promise of a future enjoyment within it is in Revelation 2:7 (Bullinger). The five verses that begin Revelation 22 show that God’s redemption will return the new creation to the Garden of Eden state and to the Creator’s intention for humanity.

Earlier words about the city (Revelation 21:9-27) have dealt with her visible splendours and relation to the nations of the earth. The account now turns to tell what nourishes and enriches the life of God’s slaves who reside in her (Beckwith).

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 480-481]