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Through analyzing the symbolism of Revelation 21-22, we have seen
the outline of the future: God plans to eliminate the "sea" of evil
(Bare Roots 14.2) and establish His Kingdom Rule over all (14.1).
The Lord will incorporate the splendor of all nations (14.5) into His New
Covenant community (14.3). The redeemed will live in the presence of God
(14.4), enjoying the intimate relationship of a favored "son" or a beloved
"bride" (14.6).
John shows that this blessed life with God will endure forever and
ever. To express this truth, he adapts imagery from Genesis and
Ezekiel.
Genesis describes the Garden of Eden as a place where the tree of
life grows and life-giving water flows:
Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there
he put the man He had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of
trees grow out of the ground -- trees that were pleasing to the eye and
good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of
life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A river watering the garden flowed from
Eden.... (Genesis 2:8-10a, NIV)
Centuries later Ezekiel receives a vision of the Temple, the place of
God's presence (see Bare Roots 14.4), as a source of life:
The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple, and I saw
water coming out from under the threshold of the Temple toward the
east...I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said
to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into
the Arabah, where it enters the Sea (= the Dead Sea, which is so salty
that fish cannot live in it). When it empties into the Sea, the water
there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the
river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water
flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows
everything will live...Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks
of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.
Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows
to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."
(Ezekiel 47:1a, 7b-9, 12)
John combines these images, placing both the tree of life and
the water of life in the consummated Kingdom of God:
To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the
spring of the water of life ....
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of
life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of
the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side
of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of
fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are
for the healing of the nations...And they will reign for ever and ever.
(Revelation 21:6b; 22:1-2, 5b)
By comparing the heavenly Jerusalem to Eden, John presents God's
Kingdom as Paradise restored -- as the world returned to its original
goodness (see Genesis 1:31; compare Revelation 2:7)
John sees not one "tree of life" but multiple "trees of life," for they
stand "on each side of the river." The trees bear "twelve crops of fruit"
-- one for "every month" of the year. In the Kingdom community, God's gift
of life is always available in abundance. It never goes "out of
season."
Likewise, John sees life-giving water flowing endlessly from God's
throne. The Lord says, "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without
cost (literally, "as a gift") from the spring of the water of life." Since
God continually gives the gift of life to His people, we "will reign
for ever and ever" with Him.
Reflect...
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Review the symbolism John uses throughout Revelation
21-22. What truth does each symbol communicate concerning the nature of
"New Jerusalem"?
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Which aspects of God's Kingdom are we already beginning
to experience in the present? Which aspects will we experience
only in the future after Christ comes again?
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Why do so many people view God's Kingship or Lordship as
a repressive "tyranny"? How can Christians help others to hear the "good
news" of the gospel more clearly?
Publisher's Note...
This concludes our series on The New Jerusalem. To
learn more about John's Apocalypse, see Christopher A. Davis, The
College Press NIV Commentary: Revelation (Joplin, MO: College Press,
2000).
After a brief break to tend to travel and other
responsibilities, we will launch a new series on The Church in
Ephesians, beginning during the week of September 23. Thank you for
receiving Bare Roots.--CD | 