Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 22

And he shewed me a pure river . . .—The adjective “pure” must be omitted, as it is lacking in the best manuscripts.

The river is full of water, and that water is the emblem of life: it is the beautiful symbol of life in its gladness, purity, activity, and fullness. The garden of Eden (Genesis 2:10) had its river. Even in the wilderness Israel had from the smitten rock the water which gushed out like a river (Psalms 105:41).

Prophets, in their pictures of the ages of blessing, almost invariably introduced the river, or broad stream. Joel saw a fountain out of the house of the Lord (Joel 3:18). Zechariah spoke of living waters from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:8); but Ezekiel had the fullest vision when he beheld the stream which deepened and broadened in its onward progress from under the threshold of the house of God, and carried life in its train: everything lived whither the water came (Ezekiel 47:9); thus did all prophets speak of the river of God’s pleasures (Psalms 36:8).

The teaching of our Lord threw new light on the prophetic imagery; the pure delights of spiritual joy and communion with God were granted to men by the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life. In the bestowal of that Spirit of life, Christ gave true satisfaction to the thirsting souls of men (John 7:37–39).

The source of the river is in the throne. Ezekiel’s river arose in the temple; but in our vision there is no temple (Revelation 21:22). We are brought nearer, even to the throne: it is the throne (not “thrones”)—one throne of God and the Lamb .

In the midst of the street of it ...—Or rather, In the midst of the street of it, and of the river, on one side and on the other (was) a tree of life, yielding twelve fruits, according to each month giving its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for healing of the nations.

The hunger as well as the thirst of the spirit is to be satisfied (Matthew 5:6). The tree of life, as well as the river of life, is to be found in the new and better Eden (Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22). The vision of Ezekiel is exactly parallel to the present: On the border of the river there was wood very much, on both sides: every kind of tree; its leaf withers not, and its fruit ceases not; all months does it ripen; its fruit serves for food, and its leaf for healing (Ezekiel 47:7–12).

The twelve manner of fruit: The recurrence of the number—twelve—is to be noticed, for here, too, as well as in the foundations and gates of the city, we have variety allied with unity. Diverse and seasonable fruits, and yet one tree of life.

Thus, Almighty wisdom feeds His people with food convenient for them (Proverbs 30:8), though, in one sense there is but one food for all (John 6:31); for true divine wisdom is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her (Proverbs 3:18).

That wisdom is not the mere knowledge of things (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has no place in new Eden); but it is rather the knowledge of life which makes the knowledge of things available to the highest good. (Compare to 1 Corinthians 1:22–24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; James 3:17; Proverbs 8:0)

And there shall be no more curse... Better, And every curse, or accursed thing, shall not be any longer. There may be an allusion to Joshua 7:12; there is certainly a borrowing of language from Zechariah (Zechariah 14:11). All accursed things are removed, and with them the curse passes. The blessing of God’s presence and the blessing of God’s rule take the place of the ascendancy of evil over the groaning creation (Romans 8:22). The throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it. The song of the Psalmist receives new force: the Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitudes of the isles be glad thereof; the accursed things, even all things that offend, are gathered out of the kingdom (Matthew 13:41).

On verses 3-4:

And his servants shall serve him... —We turn from the city to the inhabitants. They are described as serving Him, seeing Him, and resembling Him. They shall serve Him: they shall offer Him the service of the priesthood—the word employed is that used of temple service. The word translated “servants” is the word which the Apostles used when they spoke of themselves as slaves of Jesus Christ, owned as well as employed by Him (Philippians 1:1; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 1:1).

Their service here was discharged in the midst of discouragements and in difficulty; and they walked by faith, not by sight. Now the servants shall serve without hindrance or opposition, and they shall be encouraged by His immediate presence.

They shall see his face; they shall know even as they are known (1 Corinthians 13:12); they shall see Him as He is. No wonder, then, that he should add (and observe that the thought is exactly that which occurs in the First Epistle of St. John (1 John 3:2)): His name shall be in (or, on) their foreheads.

The name stands for what God is in holiness and righteousness, purity and love. The name on the forehead indicates their resemblance to their Master.

On earth the servants of God are changed from glory to glory into the same image (2 Corinthians 3:18). They aim to be perfect, as their Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48); but when they see God as He is, they shall be like Him.

His name is on their foreheads, for they behold His face: they wake up after His likeness, and they are satisfied (Psalms 17:15). There is a divine paradox in the double truth: those who are like God see Him, and those who see Him are like Him (Matthew 5:8).

“There will come a time when the service of God shall be beholding Him; and though in these stormy seas, where we are now driven up and down, His Spirit is dimly seen on the face of the waters, and we are left to cast anchors out of the stern and wish for the day, that day will come, when, with the evangelist on the crystal and stable sea, all the creatures of God shall be full of eyes within, and there shall be no more curse, but His servants shall serve Him, and shall see His face” (Ruskin).

And there shall be no night there...—Rather, And night shall be no more, and (they shall not have) need of the light of a lamp, and of the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall shine upon them, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

There will be no night. It is said twice (Revelation 21:25) that all darkness will cease; the darkness in which the saints and sorrowing walked will be dispelled, when God gives them light. No artificial light is needed, since He who is Light is their light. Those who were children of light now dwell in the light of God’s countenance; and they reign who were made kings and priests to God (Revelation 1:6).

With this utterance the visions of the Apocalypse close. The saints of God have been seen in the bitterness and toilfulness of their struggle and pilgrimage towards the Holy City; but from point to point they have made progress. They have gone from strength to strength; before the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Zion. The Lord God is their sun and shield. He has given grace; He now gives glory. No good thing has been withheld; light, life, and love are theirs. O Lord God of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee (Psalms 84:11–12).

WORDS OF CONFIRMATION AND WARNING.

And he said to me . . .—It is the angel who speaks. (Compare Revelation 21:0 and Revelation 22:9 of this chapter.) In Revelation 22:7 we hear the words of Christ Himself.

These sayings (or, words) are faithful and true. The reference is to the whole book. The book contains the Revelation of the faithful and true witness (Revelation 3:14), whose words are faithful, trustworthy, and fulfilling the desire of them that fear Him.

Nor is there reason to doubt this; for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the Prophets—the God whose spirit moved the holy men of old to speak (2 Peter 1:21)—sent His angel to show to His servants things which must come to pass shortly. (Compare Note on Revelation 1:1.)

On verses 6-21:

These verses contain the concluding words. It is the Epilogue of the Book; it deals with practical exhortations, warnings, and blessings.