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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_22:1-5
1Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
Rev_22:1 "Then he showed me a river of the water of life" There should be no chapter division here. The concept of a river flowing from the presence of God is an allusion to the OT (cf. Psa_46:4; Eze_47:1-12; Joe_3:18; Zec_14:8). Water is a common metaphor referring to God abundantly supplying the spiritual needs of His people (cf. Isa_12:3; Isa_44:3; Isa_49:10; Jer_2:13; Jer_17:13; Joh_4:10-15; Rev_7:17; Rev_21:6). Only John uses the term life (zoç) to refer to resurrection life.
▣ "clear as crystal" This speaks of the purity of God's heavenly city (cf. Rev_4:6).
▣ "coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb" There is only one throne (cf. Rev_21:22). This is anthropomorphic language from ancient eastern royal court imagery. God is an eternal spirit; He does not sit on a physical throne. It is a metaphor of His sovereign rule.
Rev_22:2 "On either side of the river was the tree of life" This same tree is alluded to in Rev_2:7. This whole vision is from Eze_47:1-12 (here, Rev_22:12). There are many references in Jewish apocalyptic literature to the tree of life found in Gen_2:9; Gen_3:22 (cf. Enoch 25:2ff; IV Ezra 7 :53; 8:52; II Enoch 8:3). That which Adam forfeited from God (fellowship, knowledge, eternal life), God now freely gives to redeemed mankind (cf. Php_2:6).
▣ "bearing twelve kinds of fruit" See hyperlink at Rev_7:4.
▣ "and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" This is highly unusual because there should be nothing left to cure! However, this may simply be a quote from Eze_47:12; possibly the recurrent theological theme is that God wants all ("the nations") to be saved (cf. Isa_2:3-4; Isa_45:22-25; Isa_60:3; Isa_66:18-19; Zec_2:11; Zec_8:20-23).
Rev_22:3 "There shall no longer be any curse" This is an allusion to Gen_3:17 and Zec_14:11. The new age has come and the curse of the OT (cf. Eph_2:15-16; Col_2:14) has been removed by Christ's death (cf. Rom_8:18; Rom_8:25; Gal_3:13; Eph_2:13; Eph_2:16). In Revelation the crystal sea of Rev_4:6 symbolizes God's transcendent holiness. Fallen mankind could not approach God, but now the sea is removed (cf. Rev_21:1).
It is possible that the term represents the Hebrew charam, meaning destroyed or totally destroyed (cf. Zec_14:11). If this is the OT allusion, then this verse refers to the security of the new Jerusalem and would be similar to the promises of 1Pe_1:4-5.
▣ Notice the unusual grammatical features of this phrase. There is one throne, but two on it (i.e., God and the Lamb). However, the servants serve "Him" (singular). This involves the mystery of monotheism and incarnation. One God, but also a divine Messiah (and a personal Holy Spirit).
Rev_22:4 "they will see His face" In the OT to see God meant death. Moses was not allowed to see God's face (cf. Exo_33:20). Seeing God or dwelling with God are rewards to those who are pure (cf. Psa_11:7; Psa_16:11; Psa_17:15; Psa_140:13; Mat_5:8). The original intimacy intended in Eden has been fully restored (cf. Psa_42:1-2)!
▣ "and His name will be on their foreheads" As Satan marked his followers (cf. Rev_13:1-17; Rev_14:9; Rev_20:4), God marked His (cf. Rev_3:12; Rev_7:3; Rev_14:1). It was a symbol of ownership and security. See note at Rev_7:2.
Rev_22:5 "there shall no longer be any night" (cf. Rev_21:23-25; Isa_60:19-20; Zec_14:7)
▣ "and they will reign forever and ever" Who rules with Christ during the millennial kingdom? Rev_20:4-5 suggests only Christians who lived during the end-time persecution, but Rev_2:26; Rev_5:10 imply that all saints will rule with Christ on the earth. There is no clear differentiation in the Bible between the eternal reign (cf. Dan_2:44; Dan_7:14; Dan_7:18; Isa_9:7; Luk_1:33; 2Pe_1:11; Rev_11:15) and the millennial reign. It is hermeneutically inappropriate to derive a major doctrine from an apocalyptic passage. This verse implies an eternal reign.
The imagery of God's people experiencing an evil invader, who is totally destroyed by God, is taken from Ezekiel 37-39. John never intended this to be interpreted literally! It is an abuse of authorial intent to turn apocalyptic imagery into historical literalness! Our love for the Bible and our curiosity about the future have caused the modern western church to interpret prophecy and apocalyptic literature in strange and strained ways! See Special Topic: Reigning in the Kingdom of God at Rev_5:10.