Revelation 21: 9 – 22: 5
Having given a description of the city’s exterior, John now tells what he sees of the interior. One of the first things he notices is that the street is glass-like, made of gold. And he observes the absence of a sun and moon. Their replacement is a light that perpetually saturates the city; a light that emanates from the Father and Son’s glory. Nighttime in the city is a thing of the past.
Additionally, John notices that the gates are always open. This signified the allowance for all the redeemed from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, and from all ages, to enter the city. As kings and priests to God, they are glorified and welcomed to walk in God’s light. That isn’t the case, though, for the unclean; participants in abominations; and liars. They are part of yet another list of those who weren’t able to enter the holy city.
Next, John is shown a bright-as-crystal river. It is the water of life. Its source is in God who pours out eternal life. Perhaps the river nourishes the tree of life, and is emblematic of that which all believers receive – the Holy Spirit who as living water (John 7: 37-39) refreshes and invigorates the soul. Then there is Proverb 18:4 that associates waters with wisdom. Taken together, it is suggested by some that just as Jesus taught wisdom to His disciples, so will the Holy Spirit do likewise to the saved. If this is so, He will teach us, along the river’s water of life, truths of life that are now hidden mysteries to our human-limited minds.
On both sides of the river, John sees the tree of life. There is a tree trunk on one side and another tree trunk on the other side. Both trunks are united at the top. Thus there is one tree, and from it hangs life-giving fruit, which the tree yields every month due to the living water flowing from God’s throne. The tree’s twelve kinds of perpetual fruit represents life abundantly, enough so as to fill the needs of life throughout eternity.
The leaves of the tree, John is told, are for the healing of the nations. Healing in this case doesn’t mean preventing or curing disease. Disease and death have already been removed from the new earth because of the extinction of sin.
Figuratively speaking, “the healing of the nations” refers to the removal of barriers between the nations – separations caused by nationality, ethnicity, language, etc. The nations are united into one family. In other words, the tree’s leaves heal the differences between nations. “Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid” (Micah 4: 3, 4). “In that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree” (Zechariah 3: 10).
The angel’s next statement to John reminds us that our earth is cursed because of having fallen to sin (Genesis 3: 17-24). The statement is that on the new earth, with sin eradicated, there is no curse. Mankind is free to eat from the tree of life and toil doesn’t bring about sweat.
The curse is gone and in its place is the blessing that is the throne of God and the Lamb. From that throne is the source of eternal life and happiness. With the curse gone, all can now serve and worship God face to face. All of us will be like Him in righteousness, for on our heads will be His name, which is His character.