Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Then the angel showed me
This phrase indicates a continuation of the vision that John, the author of Revelation, is experiencing. The Greek word for "angel" is "ἄγγελος" (angelos), meaning "messenger." In the context of Revelation, angels often serve as divine guides, revealing God's plans and mysteries to John. This highlights the role of angels as intermediaries between God and humanity, emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the revelation.

a river of the water of life
The imagery of a river is rich with biblical symbolism. In the ancient world, rivers were vital sources of life and sustenance, and in Scripture, they often symbolize God's provision and blessing. The "water of life" echoes Jesus' promise in John 4:14, where He speaks of giving "living water" that leads to eternal life. The Greek word for "life" here is "ζωή" (zoe), which refers to the eternal, divine life that God imparts to believers. This river represents the fullness of life and the eternal sustenance provided by God.

as clear as crystal
The description of the water being "as clear as crystal" emphasizes its purity and perfection. In biblical symbolism, clarity and purity often represent holiness and the absence of sin. The Greek word for "crystal" is "κρύσταλλος" (krystallos), which conveys the idea of something that is both beautiful and pure. This imagery assures believers of the untainted and perfect nature of the life that God offers.

flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
The source of the river is significant, as it "flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb." The throne symbolizes God's sovereign rule and authority, while the Lamb represents Jesus Christ, the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Greek word for "throne" is "θρόνος" (thronos), indicating a seat of power and dominion. This phrase underscores the unity and co-reign of God the Father and Jesus Christ, highlighting the divine origin of the life-giving water. It reassures believers that the eternal life they receive is rooted in the authority and love of both God and the Lamb, emphasizing the centrality of Christ's redemptive work in the divine plan.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Angel
A divine messenger who guides John in his vision, revealing the heavenly realities.

2. The River of the Water of Life
Symbolizes eternal life and the sustenance provided by God, pure and life-giving.

3. The Throne of God and of the Lamb
Represents the authority and sovereignty of God and Jesus Christ, the Lamb, in the New Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
The Source of Life
The river flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, emphasizing that true life and sustenance come from God alone.

Purity and Clarity
The water is described as "clear as crystal," symbolizing the purity and holiness of God's provision.

Eternal Sustenance
Just as physical water sustains life, the water of life represents the eternal sustenance and satisfaction found in a relationship with God.

Unity of God and the Lamb
The shared throne of God and the Lamb highlights the unity and co-reign of the Father and the Son in the divine plan of salvation.

Invitation to All
The imagery of the river invites all who are thirsty to come and receive the life that God offers freely through Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of the river of life in Revelation 22:1 enhance your understanding of God's provision and sustenance?

2. In what ways does the description of the river as "clear as crystal" challenge you to pursue purity in your own life?

3. How can the unity of God and the Lamb on the throne inspire your worship and devotion?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's life-giving presence in a tangible way. How did it impact your faith journey?

5. How can you invite others to experience the "water of life" that Jesus offers, and what practical steps can you take to share this message?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 2:10
The river in Eden, which watered the garden, parallels the river of life, symbolizing God's provision and life-giving presence.

Ezekiel 47:1-12
Ezekiel's vision of a river flowing from the temple, bringing life wherever it goes, prefigures the river of life in Revelation.

John 4:14
Jesus speaks of the living water that He provides, which becomes a spring of eternal life within believers.

Psalm 46:4
Describes a river whose streams make glad the city of God, indicating God's presence and blessing.
Christianity a Transcendental SystemHomilistRevelation 22:1
Christianity a Transcendental SystemD. Thomas Revelation 22:1
Divine Love a RiverD. Thomas Revelation 22:1
Divine Love RiverHomilistRevelation 22:1
Gleaming as CrystalJ. Rendel Harris.Revelation 22:1
HeavenW. H. King.Revelation 22:1
Subjective Christianity: 1. a RiverD. Thomas Revelation 22:1
The Coronation of the LambH. Bushnell, D. D.Revelation 22:1
The Life RiverH. Bonar, D. D.Revelation 22:1
The River of LifeJ. S. Exell, M. A.Revelation 22:1
The River of LifeE. H. Hopkins.Revelation 22:1
The Throne of God and of the LambC. H. Spurgeon.Revelation 22:1
The Conditions of BlessednessR. Green Revelation 22:1-6
People
David, John
Places
Patmos
Topics
Bright, Clear, Crystal, Flowing, Forth, Glass, Issuing, Lamb, Proceeding, Pure, River, Seat, Shewed, Showed, Throne
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 22:1

     4112   angels, messengers
     5581   throne

Revelation 22:1-2

     3290   Holy Spirit, life-giver
     4260   rivers and streams
     4293   water
     4430   crops
     4450   fruit
     4526   tree of life
     9105   last things
     9411   heaven

Revelation 22:1-3

     2312   Christ, as king
     2315   Christ, as Lamb
     4241   Garden of Eden
     5059   rest, eternal
     5297   disease
     5580   thirst

Revelation 22:1-4

     5006   human race, destiny

Revelation 22:1-5

     4209   land, spiritual aspects
     5256   city
     8321   perfection, divine
     9110   after-life
     9165   restoration

Library
Come and Welcome
Nay, further than this, this is not only Christ's cry to you; but if you be a believer, this is your cry to Christ--"Come! come!" You will be longing for his second advent; you will be saying, "Come quickly, even so come Lord Jesus." And you will be always panting for nearer and closer communion with him. As his voice to you is "Come," even so will be your prayer to him, "Come, Lord, and abide in my house. Come, and consecrate me more fully to thy service; come, and without a rival reign; come, occupy
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Sanctification and Justification (Continued).
"He that is holy, let him be holy still." --Rev. xxii. 11. The divine Righteousness, having reference to the divine Sovereignty, in one sense does not manifest itself until God enters into relationship with the creatures. He was glorious in holiness from all eternity, for man's creation did not modify His Being; but His righteousness could not be displayed before creation, because right presupposes two beings sustaining the jural relation. An exile on an uninhabited island can not be righteous nor
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Need of the New Testament Scripture.
"For I testify onto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book."--Rev. xxii. 18. If the Church after the Ascension of Christ had been destined to live only one lifetime, and had been confined only to the land of the Jews, the holy apostles could have accomplished their task by verbal teaching. But since it was to live at least for eighteen centuries, and to be extended over
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Rivers in the Desert
T. P. Rev. xxii. I Glorious River of God's pleasures, Well of God's eternal bliss, Thirsting now no more for ever, Tread we this waste wilderness. O for words divine to tell it, How along that River's brink, Come the weak, the worn, the weary, There the tides of joy to drink! "Drink abundantly, beloved," Speaks the Voice so sweet and still; "Of the life, and love, and glory, Freely come and drink your fill." Every longing stilled for ever, As the face of God we see-- Whom besides have we in heaven,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Wesley at Sevenoaks
Monday, October 16.--I went to Tunbridge Wells and preached to a serious congregation on Revelation 22:12. Tuesday, 17. I came back to Sevenoaks and in the afternoon walked over to the Duke of Dorset's seat. The park is the pleasantest I ever saw; the trees are so elegantly disposed. The house, which is at least two hundred years old, is immensely large. It consists of two squares, considerably bigger than the two quadrangles in Lincoln College. I believe we were shown above thirty rooms, beside
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The Water of Life;
OR, A DISCOURSE SHOWING THE RICHNESS AND GLORY OF THE GRACE AND SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL, AS SET FORTH IN SCRIPTURE BY THIS TERM, THE WATER OF LIFE. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'--Revelation 22:17 London: Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Often, and in every age, the children of God have dared to doubt the sufficiency of divine grace; whether it was vast enough to reach their condition--to cleanse
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
OR, GOOD NEWS FOR THE VILEST OF MEN; BEING A HELP FOR DESPAIRING SOULS, SHOWING THAT JESUS CHRIST WOULD HAVE MERCY IN THE FIRST PLACE OFFERED TO THE BIGGEST SINNERS. THE THIRD EDITION, IN WHICH IS ADDED, AN ANSWER TO THOSE GRAND OBJECTIONS THAT LIE IN THE WAY OF THE THEM THAT WOULD BELIEVE: FOR THE COMFORT OF THEM THAT FEAR THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST. BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. London: Printed for Elizabeth Smith, at the Hand and Bible, on London Bridge, 1691. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR.
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Last Words of the Old and New Testaments
'Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.'--MALACHI iv. 6. 'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.'--REVELATION xxii. 21. It is of course only an accident that these words close the Old and the New Testaments. In the Hebrew Bible Malachi's prophecies do not stand at the end; but he was the last of the Old Testament prophets, and after him there were 'four centuries of silence.' We seem to hear in his words the dying echoes of the rolling thunders of Sinai. They gather up the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God's Will and Man's Will
The great controversy which for many ages has divided the Christian Church has hinged upon the difficult question of "the will." I need not say of that conflict that it has done much mischief to the Christian Church, undoubtedly it has; but I will rather say, that it has been fraught with incalculable usefulness; for it has thrust forward before the minds of Christians, precious truths, which but for it, might have been kept in the shade. I believe that the two great doctrines of human responsibility
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

The Properties of Sanctifying Grace
By a property (proprium, {GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PSILI AND OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON}{GREEK SMALL LETTER NU}) we understand a quality which, though not part of the essence of a thing, necessarily flows from that essence by some sort of causation and is consequently found in all individuals of the same species.(1155) A property, as such, is opposed to an accident (accidens, {GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON}{GREEK
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Of Love to God
I proceed to the second general branch of the text. The persons interested in this privilege. They are lovers of God. "All things work together for good, to them that love God." Despisers and haters of God have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread, it belongs only to them that love God. Because love is the very heart and spirit of religion, I shall the more fully treat upon this; and for the further discussion of it, let us notice these five things concerning love to God. 1. The
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

"The Lord Hath Need of Him. " Mark xi, 3
What! of an Ass? Yes, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world." He gets renown to Himself by "using things which are despised." Let us never despair of the most foolish of men, if he become the servant of Jesus. It is said of the great John Hunt, that when a young man, he gave no promise of the talents he shewed in the work of the Ministry. We have spoken with one who knew him before his conversion, who made us smile as he described his gait and style of life. Yet this ungainly ploughboy
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Luke's History: what it Professes to Be
AMONG the writings which are collected in the New Testament, there is included a History of the life of Christ and of the first steps in the diffusion of his teaching through the Roman world, composed in two books. These two books have been separated from one another as if they were different works, and are ordinarily called "The Gospel according to Luke" and "The Acts of the Apostles". It is, however, certain from their language, and it is admitted by every scholar, that the two books were composed
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay—Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?

Three Inscriptions with one Meaning
'Thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it ... HOLINESS TO THE LORD.'--EXODUS xxviii. 36. 'In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.'--ZECH. xiv. 20. 'His name shall be in their foreheads.'--REV. xxii. 4. You will have perceived my purpose in putting these three widely separated texts together. They all speak of inscriptions, and they are all obviously connected with each other. The first of them comes from the ancient times of the institution
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Thirty-First Day. Holiness and Heaven.
Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of men ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness?'--2 Pet. iii. 11. 'Follow after the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord.'--Heb. xii. 14. 'He that is holy, let him be made holy still.... The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones. Amen.'--Rev. xxii. 11, 21. O my brother, we are on our way to see God. We have been invited to meet the Holy One face to face. The infinite mystery of holiness, the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

All are Commanded to Pray --Prayer the Great Means of Salvation
CHAPTER I. ALL ARE COMMANDED TO PRAY--PRAYER THE GREAT MEANS OF SALVATION, AND POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES BY THE MOST SIMPLE. Prayer is nothing else but the application of the heart to God, and the interior exercise of love. St Paul commands us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. v. 17). Our Lord says: "Take ye heed, watch and pray." "And what I say unto you, I say unto all" (Mark xiii. 33, 37). All, then, are capable of prayer, and it is the duty of all to engage in it. But I do not think that all are
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

That Worthy Name.
James ii:7. IN the second chapter of the Epistle of James the Holy Spirit speaks of our ever blessed Lord as "that worthy Name." Precious Word! precious to every heart that knows Him and delights to exalt His glorious and worthy Name. His Name is "far above every Name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." (Ephes. i:21.) It is "as ointment poured forth" (Song of Sol. i:3); yea, His Name alone is excellent (Psalm cxlviii:13). But according to His worth that blessed
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

The Apostles Chosen
As soon as he returned victorious from the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus entered on the work of his public ministry. We find him, at once, preaching to the people, healing the sick, and doing many wonderful works. The commencement of his ministry is thus described by St. Matt. iv: 23-25. "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

An Essay on the Mosaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man
THERE are not a few difficulties in the account, which Moses has given of the creation of the world, and of the formation, and temptation, and fall of our first parents. Some by the six days of the creation have understood as many years. Whilst others have thought the creation of the world instantaneous: and that the number of days mentioned by Moses is only intended to assist our conception, who are best able to think of things in order of succession. No one part of this account is fuller of difficulties,
Nathaniel Lardner—An Essay on the Mosaic Account of the Creation and Fall of Man

Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome.
IT pleased God, to whom all his works are known from eternity, to prepare Gregory by a twofold process, for the great and difficult work of the guidance of the Western Church, then agitated by so many storms. Destined to be plunged into the midst of an immense multitude of avocations of the most varied character, he was trained to bear such a burden by administering, until his fortieth year, an important civil office. Then, yielding to a long-felt yearning of his heart, he retired into a monastery,
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone].
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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