However, Revelation 22:1-3 describes something much different in our future as believers in Jesus; it describes a New Eden, an Eden that is restored from the original garden. An angel showed the author of the Book of Revelation, who we know only as “John,” many wonderful things about this New Eden that will be rebuilt into something perfect, beautiful, and sinless, as the original Eden was meant to be. 

 

The angel showed me the river of the water of life: The imagery of the “river of the water of life” represents eternal life and abundant blessings that flow from God to his people, we as believers in Jesus Christ.

 

Its pureness “as clear as crystal” illustrates God’s holiness and the sinless perfection he will bring when Jesus rules on earth.

 

God’s never-ending benefits to us and his all-encompassing holiness is illustrated as the river is flowing. This flowing river is essential to sustain spiritual and eternal life. Jesus said in John 4:14, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” In Revelation 21:6, Jesus says, "To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."

 

From the throne of God: God’s throne represents all divine authority, majesty, and sovereignty as Creator and Ruler of the Universe. 

 

And of the Lamb. Who is this Lamb? Jesus, of course! John the Baptist identified Jesus as “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Isaiah prophesied Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross as the “lamb that is led to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:7) Lamb is His sweet title that emphasizes his sacrifice and slaughter for our sins. It describes his role as the Sacrificing Savior. 

 

I’d like to also point out that God and the Lamb share the throne, which emphasizes their unity and equality. 

 

Down the middle of the great street of the city. The Great City in the is the New Jerusalem; Isaiah 60:14 says it is "the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." That the river flows down the middle of the street means that it is accessible to all. All of God’s eternal blessings and spiritual, eternal life, are accessible to everyone. God’s provision is consistent and sufficient, coming only from Him as a source. There is no lack, and we as God’s people are and always will be satisfied in Him. Ezekiel glimpsed this hope in 47:12, "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”

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On each side of the river stood the tree of life: We’ve seen this tree of life before, in the original Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:9 says, “Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”

 

Now the tree of life is really what I wanted to talk about today. It is a symbol of God’s divine wisdom, as well as provision, satisfaction, and divine blessing. Proverbs 3:18 describes wisdom as “a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.” 

 

The tree of life also represents eternal life. Revelation 2:7 says, “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Those who conquer are those believers who remain faithful to Jesus Christ, despite trials, temptations, and persecution. The tree of life represents our hope of our eternal future.

 

Bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. These monthly crops of fruit are God’s constantly wonderful provision for us, granting us every blessing we can even imagine. It’s an unending supply to sustain our every need.

 

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The leaves are for not only healing individuals spiritually, mentally, and physically, but also entire nations. All of the nations will be reconciled and at peace with one another and with God in this New Eden, because He is the ultimate Healer.

 

The broken world will be mended and completely healed of sin, violence, corruption, oppression, war, disease, broken promises and hopeless relationships. This universal healing is only possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; now we have the hope of peace at last. His sacrifice of crucifixion is the salve to soothe our broken hearts, the balm to cool conflict and heartbreak. This is why we hope in Him, because all things will be made whole and new.

 

Revelation 22:23-24 describes the New Jerusalem, in part, “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb (Jesus). By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.”

 

The moral sickness and disease of corruption, the blood lust and greed of the world we live in right now will be completely done away with when the New Eden is here. I am tempted to doom scroll to understand the horrors of war, the terror of violence and I burn with the indignation of injustice. I want to wring my hands or spout righteous indignation. But the Lord has something better for me: I can eat of my daily bread of peace; I can drink my fill in the river of joy. I am not meant to comprehend all of war’s atrocities, all of the world's oppression and suffering; I must only plead to the Lord the burning grief in my heart. My heart is not meant to soak up all other’s griefs; it is too heavy a burden for me. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). 

 

For today, for this moment, let’s snuggle into the breast of the Lord as a little child and lean on Him for comfort and safety. I love Psalm 131, that describes giving up all the complexities and worries of our life and simply trusting God to uphold justice, to keep me in his safety, to bring me comfort: 

1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
   my eyes are not raised too high;
    I do not occupy myself with things
   too great and too marvelous for me.

 

2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
   like a weaned child with its mother;
   like a weaned child is my soul within me.

 

3 I put my hope in the Lord
   from this time forth and forevermore.

 

Let’s take a leaf of faith from this tree of life as a salve for our souls. Let it soothe us as we pray our faith in God, “As I wait for the New Eden, I am only safe in you, and so is my family. I trust that you will rule and reign with justice and holiness in the New Eden. The plight of this world is not the end; all will be made new.”

 

 

Further reading: Psalm 49, Revelation 5

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