Eternity: A Glorious River of Pure Truth

Please pray for the Word of God to continue going out through this blog. As Paul put it "that the Word of God may have free course." I encourage you to keep pointing your friends & family to this blog so they too may begin to study and understand the Word of God.

Revelation 22:1  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. 

John saw a river containing the water of life. This is not the same river seen by Ezekiel (47:1; 12) or Zechariah (14:8) as the river those prophets saw that are connected to the millennial  kingdom reign of Christ. 

John has taken us into eternity by this point in his book and this river is flowing from New Jerusalem. There appears to be two primary ways to understand the river carrying the water of life. 

The first aspect that we need to understand is this will be a literal river flowing down the middle of the main street in the new Holy City. It will be a pure river in the sense of clean, clear and of course, pure. 

Most rivers I have seen in Ohio are not usually very clean, clear and pure. Normally the current of a river picks up dirt and silt from the bottom, turning the water a murky greenish brown color. John is describing a river that will be so clean, clear and pure that he says it is clear like crystal. 

John describes a river that will flow out from the throne of God and the Lamb. This also means that the reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords is not just for one thousand years. Rather, it is an eternal reign. The fact that this river flows from God's throne indicates it is a blessing to be enjoyed by all the saints. 

However, there is a powerful symbol connected with this specific river that we need to understand. In the Bible we learned that water is a symbol of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26). We also learned that water is a symbol of the Spirit of God indwelling each believer (John 4:13-24; 7:37-39).  

Purity of Scripture

Psalm 19:8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Proverbs 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

The commandments of God are pure and illuminate the soul of man.  

The word of God is pure and causes us to long for it and have a love for God's truth. 

Every Word of God is pure and we can fully trust that He will always do what He says He will do. His wonderful Word is a shield for the soul of each believer.

Life Giving Power of Scripture.

John 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Jesus asked His disciples if they were going to leave Him like the multitude that left. Peter's answer highlights the life giving power of the Word of God. Jesus speaks the words of eternal life. 

Jesus will give all the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:5-6  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6)And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

In Revelation 21, Jesus spoke and said that all scripture is true and faithful. Right before Christ declared that He would make a new heaven, new earth , new Jerusalem and many other new things, He said He will give freely and abundantly the water of life to all who come.

The symbolic picture of the pure river carrying the water of life is that it shows us the word of God is pure, undefiled, true and holy. 

We live by what God says.

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

How are believers supposed to live out their faith? We are to live by every word that God speaks. The pure river carrying the water of life is a picture of God's Word and it's life giving powers.

Both Water & the Word give life.

Isaiah 55:8-11  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10)  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

Physical water gives life to seeds planted in the earth, resulting in an abundant harvest of fruits, grains, vegetables. Pure water is necessary for sanitation, bathing, cooking and drinking. Isaiah compares how physical water has life giving qualities with how the Word of God changes people, brings spiritual life into a previously dead soul and transforms our thinking.  

We stay in the Word to be shaped by God.

2 Timothy 3:14-17  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

Paul wrote to young Timothy to continue studying, learning, meditating and memorizing the scriptures. The apostle reminded his young protégé  that holy scripture brings sinners to salvation through repentant faith in Jesus Christ. He explained the four essential purposes God has for His Word. It gives us true doctrine. It points out our sins and errors. It gives us the corrective needed to get back on track and it instructs us so that we can stay on track. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

As we move into the last chapter of Revelation, John continues to describe some of the amazing features belonging to eternity. These are things that all saints will see, hear, taste and experience and it will be glory. 

The pure river carrying the water of life reminds us about the vital importance of the Word of God. It gives life to dead souls of sinners. It sustains life in the soul. It shapes and transforms us into usable vessels to serve God. It gives us hope because God's promises are sure and secure. Notice that John said the "water" of life because there is only One Lord, one Savior, One God, and One Source of Truth, the Word of God. 

Do we love the Word of God? Do we have a longing to learn more of its truth? Do we seek to better understand God's Word? Are we ready to see how God will change us as we absorb His Word? 

What a powerful picture of the Word of God is set before us at the beginning of this final chapter. May we choose to honor God with our response to His Word.

Bob