Scripture begins in a garden and ends in a city like a garden. In Genesis, a river flowed through Eden and the tree of life stood in the garden. In Revelation 22:1-5, the way the Fall had shut is flung wide open again. The river of the water of life flows, the tree of life stands on both sides of the river, and God’s servants see his face. These five verses, the Bible’s final picture, set before our eyes the hope of where we are going.
Today’s Memory Passage — Revelation 22:1-5 (WEB)
The English Scripture quotations in this article are from the World English Bible (public domain).
1 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,
2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.
(Revelation 22:1-5, WEB)
Restored Eden — Four Meditation Points
1. Proceeding out of the throne — The source of life
The river of the water of life does not rise from a mountain but flows out “of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1, WEB). Ezekiel’s vision of a river flowing from the temple was a preview of this scene. The water that trickled from under the temple threshold grew deeper until it became a river, and Scripture says: “By the river banks, on both sides, will grow every tree for food, whose leaf won’t wither, neither will its fruit fail. It will produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary. Its fruit will be for food, and its leaf for healing.” (Ezekiel 47:12, WEB). Life always flows from the presence of God. Every attempt to find life while staying far from the throne is like digging a dry well.
2. The tree of life on both sides of the river — The closed way is opened
In the middle of the garden of Eden stood the tree of life (Genesis 2:9). But after the Fall, God “placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24, WEB). Humanity was cut off from the tree of life.
Yet in the final chapter of Revelation, the tree of life is no longer a forbidden tree under guard; it now lines both sides of the river, bearing fruit every month. The way once guarded by the flaming sword has been opened again. In the next point we will see how the curse that barred that way was lifted. Jesus made this promise to the one who overcomes: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.” (Revelation 2:7, WEB).
3. No curse any more — The reversal of Genesis 3
The third verse opens with a short but profound announcement of victory: “There will be no curse any more” (Revelation 22:3, WEB). In Genesis 3, the ground was cursed, and toil, thorns, and death became humanity’s portion. That curse will be completely lifted. How can that be? Scripture answers: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13, WEB). This is why the one who shares the throne is called the Lamb. Because the Lamb bore the curse in our place, the way to the tree of life that had been shut is now open. Because the leaves are “for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2, WEB), restoration reaches beyond individuals to the nations. Here the Great Commission’s command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) reaches its goal. The gospel presses forward today toward the day when the nations are healed.
4. They will see his face — The highest blessing
“Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11, WEB). Yet when Moses asked to see his glory, God answered: “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20, WEB). God would put Moses in a cleft of the rock and let him see only his back after his glory had passed by (Exodus 33:22-23).
Yet the people of the new creation will see God’s face. This is the climax of the passage and the greatest blessing the saints will receive. Jesus promised, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8, WEB), and Paul confessed that though we now see dimly, “then face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, WEB). Not the river, not the tree, not even the jewels of the city, but God himself. Scripture speaks of this hope, which theologians have called the beatific vision, in a single sentence: “They will see his face” (Revelation 22:4, WEB).
The Setting — Scripture’s Final Vision
If Revelation 21 shows the exterior of the New Jerusalem, with its walls, gates, and foundations, then Revelation 22:1-5 shows life inside the city. This final vision, shown to John by the angel, mirrors Genesis 1-3 point by point. The light of the first creation (Gen. 1:3) is answered by “the Lord God will illuminate them” (Revelation 22:5, WEB), the river of Eden (Gen. 2:10) by the river of the water of life, the forbidden tree of life (Gen. 3:22-24) by the tree bearing twelve kinds of fruit, and the curse (Gen. 3:17) by “There will be no curse any more” (Revelation 22:3, WEB). The Bible is not the story of a paradise lost, but of a paradise restored and brought to completion.
Why Memorize These Five Verses?
First, because they fix the ending of the whole Bible in our hearts. Whoever knows how the story ends is not swallowed up by the darkness in the middle.
Second, because these are words to hold on to in the face of death. “There will be no curse any more … There will be no night” (Revelation 22:3-5, WEB) is solid ground for believers to stand on at a hospital bedside and at a graveside.
Third, because they show why we worship and serve: “his servants will serve him” (Revelation 22:3, WEB). Life in eternity is also service. Our worship and service here on earth are a rehearsal for that eternal service.
How to Memorize It — River · Tree · Throne · Face · Light
- First verse — River: Hold fast to the source: a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne.
- Second verse — Tree: Break it into four parts: both sides of the river · twelve kinds of fruits · every month · healing of the nations.
- Third verse — Throne: Build it around its opening words: no curse any more.
- Fourth verse — Face: Keep the pair together: seeing his face · his name on their foreheads.
- Fifth verse — Light: Close with three phrases: no night · the Lord God will illuminate them · reigning forever and ever.
Assign the five keywords River — Tree — Throne — Face — Light to your five fingers, and you can recall all five verses in order wherever you are.
Meditation Questions for Application
- Am I receiving life from the throne, that is, from the presence of God, or am I wandering from one dry well to another?
- How does the hope of a world with no more curse change the way I see my present toil and pain?
- If the leaves are for the healing of the nations, how am I taking part in that healing, the fulfillment of the Great Commission?
- Is seeing God’s face truly my highest hope, or am I only longing for the things he gives?
Scripture Reading Videos
References
- BibleHub Commentaries — Revelation 22:1
- BibleHub Interlinear — Revelation 22:2
- BibleHub Commentaries — Revelation 22:3
- GotQuestions (Korean) — What is the river of life?
- GotQuestions (Korean) — What is the New Jerusalem?
- Bible.com — Revelation 22 (Korean Revised Version, KRV)
- eBible.org — World English Bible, Revelation 22