Revelation 22:1 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Revelation 22:1

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The description of Jerusalem continues without a break. Water is that universal symbol of life, that substance for which our bodies crave more strongly than any other. John sees a river full of this precious life sustaining liquid. As with all rivers, we are to imagine a vast supply, far more than all those who drink from it can take. This plentiful supply dispels all concern about shortage, for there is sufficient to abundantly sustain all who are in the city. The Lord willingly supplies his people forever. The saints will forever be dependent on the Creator for the preservation of life. That confidence comes from his knowledge of the goodness of God who generates this river. As this tremendous supply goes out from God, he is not diminished in any degree. There is a further infinite supply of precious life to come forth from him. The experience of God’s people in heaven is ever new. We will never grow tired of heaven’s experience or complacent about the Lord’s goodness. We will be kept in a state of wonder at the amazing nature of our God.Every river has a source and it is instructive to trace a river to its source to determine its quality. This river comes from the very throne of God. It does not merely flow past the throne, but flows directly out of it. It is a miraculous river, a supernatural river. It is generated directly from God’s being. It is not part of some water cycle but is fresh clean water, prepared immediately for the consumption of God’s children. God does not delegate to another the task of supplying life but reserves it for himself alone. He is the only source of life and only he could produce such vast quantities needed to satisfy a multitude which no man can number. The imagery is rooted in the prophets. Ezekiel 47 uses essentially the same picture, and Zechariah 14:8 does the same. This river comes not only out of the throne of God but of the Lamb. The Lamb too is the source of this river. He too is an infinite person. Though he came and walked on earth and dwelt among us; though he gave his life for us and took our sins upon himself, he is the everlasting infinite Lord of Glory.

Application

The water of life is all that God communicates to the saints. It is the sum total of every blessing that comes from the infinite God to man. Behind all of these blessings is, as Gill says, the love of God. Love sends forth this great stream of life and is mixed with it. It is the same stream that goes out to us in this fallen world bringing us mercy and salvation in our lost state. It regenerates us and transforms us into the image of God. It reveals the Son of God to us through the Spirit, so that knowing him we have life. The same stream continues to flow in heaven, revealing new aspects of the divine nature and allowing us to drink ever deeper of the being and goodness of God. It is the Lord God himself, our exceedingly great reward. It is a river that brings life to the dead when we first encounter it and then continues to make that life flourish and grow in within us.

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Revelation 22:1 Commentary and Bible Study