Revelation 22:1 (NKJV)
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Bible Commentary
Revelation 22:1 is a Bible verse from the last chapter of the last Book of the Bible, which describes what John saw in the spiritual realm coming from the throne of God.
There is something about bodies of water that draw people to them—rivers, oceans and lakes. We pay top dollar for a vacation spot with a water view. What is it about the water? Let’s look at the very first words of the Bible, Genesis 1:1-3.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Before the earth was even created, when it was without form and void, there was water. Just like an artist choosing their medium of paint, clay or charcoal, the medium God chose to create the earth was water.
Unlike land, water has a continual movement. Though it stays within the boundaries God established, it is fluid and free to move within those boundaries. Maybe that is what attracts us—freedom of movement.
Freedom of Movement
The water spoken of in Revelation 22:1 is also moving.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Can you imagine what this pure river of water of life looks like as it proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb? It is not only clean; it is pure. In Webster’s, “pure” is defined like this: free from anything that adulterates, taints; blameless; virgin.
Just like a virgin who has never been touched by a man, she is free from anything that adulterates or taints her. This is what God requires of His church, the bride of Christ.
Jesus came to earth to “sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26-27)
Unlocking the Truth – Filled Up and Covered Up
As we walk with Christ and abide in His Word, He sanctifies us and cleanses us with the washing of water by the word. The Word of God, which is God (John 1:1), covers us.
Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the living water in John 4:10 and 7:38. The living water lives within us, and the Word of God covers us. So in essence we are saturated—cleansed from within and without. We are filled up and covered up with the pure river of water of life.
Note in Revelation 22:1 that the river of water of life is clear as crystal. Crystal is clear, pure and beautiful just like the river, but it has a hard surface so that nothing from the outside can pollute it. This is how Christ describes the New Jerusalem in Revelation 22:14.
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
The crystal river is the union of Jesus Christ and His bride, who has been made ready for Him—pure and clear, holy and without blemish, just as He described.
Holy Matrimony with Christ
The ultimate reconciliation, this is the restoration of the Holy Matrimony of Jesus Christ and His bride. Because we are free to be who we were created to be in Christ, there is freedom of movement in this river of water of life.
And here in the river there is also perfect protection because the surface is like crystal, so that nothing from the outside can penetrate it. We are no longer subject to the devil and his army of demons. He has been cast out, and we are safe inside.
Because we are in Christ, we proceed from the power of the throne of God and of the Lamb–the ultimate authority.
Like floating downstream in the lazy river, we are carried along in the perpetual motion of the living water, Jesus Christ. It is peaceful, easy, restful and joyful. We are completely safe and completely free, and forever will be. Study the Bible verse of Revelation 22:1 and discover the joy and freedom of the river of life in Christ.
More Bible Verses about End Times
