We are looking at the last book of the Bible. In Revelation 22 we are looking at the eternal state, the city of new Jerusalem and what life will be like there. There are some details found here in Revelation 22 that are found nowhere else in Scripture. Although, as we will see going through these verses there is a draw from other scriptures, both New and Old Testament, to some of the pictures and symbols we will see here. As we jump in, we do want to say that we are not sure always how literally to take some of these symbols. The book of Revelation is about literal truth, and much that is here is very literal, but there are a lot of symbols in the book of Revelation as well. We always have to be very careful and humble in the interpretation of symbols and these types of things. As we look at these, perhaps there is overlap on occasion. For example, we look at the river of life today. So, there is apparently a literal river called the river of life in the new Jerusalem, but there is also symbolism attached to that river of life. So, we try our best to put these together realizing that we have to be humble. We may not have all of the pieces, but we will go as far as we can.
Let’s look at Revelation 22:1, John says, “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” So, we see this river of life and it is coming, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The throne is singular implying both God and the Lamb, Christ, is on that throne. So, the rulers of eternity. The ruler of the new Jerusalem is the sovereign Lord who is represented here by both the Father and the Son. It speaks of this water of life. It is clear as crystal coming from the throne of God. So, what is this water of life? The first thing we know is that it has to do with life. Scripture speaks a lot of life. People want life. You want life. I want life. We all want life now. We want a life worth living. We want to live, and we also want eternal life. Even those that reject the things of God want to know about their eternal destiny. They want to believe that there will be some life beyond the grave which will really represent a life worth living . . .
