1He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
6He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”
7“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9He said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10He said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”
12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
18I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book. 20He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus!
21The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.
Life in the New Jerusalem will be free of the curse as righteous men enjoy the river and tree of life in the presence of God. These verses continue the description of New Jerusalem. What John sees next is the heavenly River of Life. As with everything else in heaven, its waters are pure, described as “clear as crystal.” Like the river in Ezekiel 28, it flows from the throne of God. This symbolizes that life flows from God and Jesus. Jesus is eternal life incarnate. God the Father is as much the source of life as Jesus and the Holy Spirit are. All life flows from God, from all three members of the Godhead.
The tree of life is not a single tree, but a kind of tree growing on both sides of the river. Where in Ezekiel 47 there were many trees on each side of the river flowing from the Messiah’s throne, here it is a single kind of tree. Where the various trees produce fruit every month in Ezekiel, the tree of life in heaven will produce twelve kinds of fruit. And like in Ezekiel 47, the tree of life’s leaves are described as healing, just as the leaves of the trees during the reign of Christ will be healing.
The removal of the curse from creation is now stated. Death will be abolished along with Adam’s curse.
The throne of heaven will belong to both God the Father and to “the Lamb,” God the Son. As was seen in Chapter 4, the Holy Spirit will be included with the throne. Additionally, we, His servants, will dwell with God and serve Him eternally.
Where till now no one has seen God’s face, the heavenly residents, all the redeemed saints, will see God’s face and live. Names on their foreheads denote possession and protection. They belong to God, and He blesses them.
The absence of night is stated and explained. God’s glory will continuously illuminate heaven such that the sun and moon will be redundant for the city’s residents.
The body of the Revelation ends with the statement that the saints of heaven, who are the servants of God, will reign eternally.