Revelation 22:1–5 Commentary and Meaning – The River of Life
Quick Summary
Revelation 22:1–5 presents the climax of Scripture: the river of the water of life flowing from God’s throne, the tree of life bearing fruit for the nations, the curse lifted, God’s servants seeing his face, and reigning forever. It fulfills Eden’s story, Israel’s hopes, Christ’s promises, and the church’s endurance.
Introduction
The Bible begins with a garden, a river, and a tree. It ends with a city, a river, and the tree restored. What Adam and Eve lost through sin, Christ has regained through the cross. The Lamb sits on the throne, and his people see his face.
Revelation 22:1–5 is not a prefunctory epilogue but the destination of history. This is where the whole story of God’s people has been moving — from Eden to exile, from covenant to kingdom, from cross to crown.
Revelation 22:1–5 Explained Verse by Verse with Commentary
Revelation 22:1 Explained – The River of Life
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1)
The river flows from God’s throne, symbolizing that life is sourced in God himself. This river fulfills Ezekiel 47:1–12, where water poured out from the temple and brought life even to the Dead Sea. John fuses Ezekiel’s vision with Eden’s river in Genesis 2:10.
The river represents the Spirit’s life-giving presence. Jesus promised living water as the Spirit in John 7:37–39. The same Spirit who began the new creation at Pentecost will one day saturate all creation. Where Babylon’s waters poisoned (Revelation 8:10–11), the Lamb’s waters cleanse and give life.
Revelation 22:2 Explained – The Tree of Life
“On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:2)
The tree of life, cut off from humanity in Genesis 3:22–24, is restored. Its fruit is abundant, twelve kinds, producing monthly. This is the opposite of scarcity. God’s new creation does not know famine or lack.
In Proverbs 3:18, wisdom is described as a tree of life. In the New Jerusalem, Christ — who is wisdom embodied — is the source of eternal fruitfulness. The “healing of the nations” fulfills Isaiah 60, where nations come to God’s light, and Ezekiel 47:12, where leaves heal. The fractured world order under Babylon (Revelation 18:3) is made whole. The tree is Christ-centered abundance, not just Eden restored but Eden fulfilled.
Revelation 22:3 Explained – No More Curse
“Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” (Revelation 22:3)
The curse from Genesis 3:14–19 is lifted. Thorns, toil, pain, and death are undone. Instead of estrangement, God’s throne is present at the center of life. Worship, which Revelation has portrayed as the battleground of allegiance (Revelation 13:4), now fills creation without rival.
Paul says in Galatians 3:13 that Christ became a curse for us on the cross (carrying the thorns of the curse on his head). Because he bore the curse, the new creation is curse-free. The throne at the center underscores this exchange: where Adam was exiled east of Eden, the Lamb enthroned ensures God’s presence forever. The servants who worship are not menial slaves but royal-priestly children (see Revelation 5:10).
Revelation 22:4 Explained – Seeing His Face
“They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4)
Seeing God’s face fulfills the deepest longing of Scripture. In Exodus 33:20, Moses could not see God’s face and live. Here the redeemed do. This is the ultimate reversal of the fall — intimacy restored.
This is the fulfillment of the priestly blessing: “The Lord make his face shine upon you” (Numbers 6:24–26). What priests spoke as hope is now reality. His name on their foreheads recalls the sealing of the saints in Revelation 7:3. It is the counter-mark to the beast. Identity is settled: God’s people belong to him forever, visibly and fully.
Revelation 22:5 Explained – Reigning Forever
“And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5)
Night — symbol of danger, sorrow, and deception — is gone. God himself is the light. This continues the imagery of Revelation 21:23: “the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
“Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). The first creation began with light; the new creation ends with God as everlasting light. Believers reign “forever and ever,” fulfilling Daniel 7:27, where the kingdom is given to the saints of the Most High. What humanity lost in Eden’s dominion mandate (Genesis 1:28) is fully restored. This is not passive leisure but active, joyful reign with the Lamb.
Revelation 22:1–5 Meaning for Today
This is the Bible’s ending and the believer’s hope. The river of life, the tree restored, the curse lifted, God’s face revealed, and the saints reigning — all of it points to restoration beyond imagination. What was broken is made whole. What was lost is returned. What was feared is gone.
For John’s first readers, this vision meant Caesar was not the future — Christ was. For us, it means death is not the final chapter. It means the wounds of history are not permanent. It means the living water is ours already in Christ, and one day we will drink freely and forever.
FAQ: Revelation 22:1–5
What is the river of life?
It symbolizes the Spirit’s life-giving presence flowing from God and the Lamb.
Why is the tree of life important?
It reverses Genesis 3. Once barred, it is now abundant, offering fruit and healing for the nations.
What does “no more curse” mean?
The curse of Genesis 3 — sin, toil, pain, and death — is fully lifted by Christ’s reign.
How can we see God’s face?
Through Christ, intimacy with God is restored. What Moses could not see, the redeemed will see forever.
What does it mean that we reign forever?
It fulfills humanity’s calling from Genesis 1 and Daniel 7. Believers reign with Christ in joy and service for eternity.
Related Content
Revelation 21:22–27 Commentary and Meaning – The Light and Glory of the New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:9–21 Commentary and Meaning – The Vision and Dimensions of the New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:1–8 Commentary and Meaning – The New Heaven and the New Earth
Revelation 20:11–15 Commentary and Meaning – The Great White Throne Judgment
Works Consulted
Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, NICNT, rev. ed. (Eerdmans, 1998), ch. 22.
Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, 2nd ed. (Eerdmans, 2018), ch. 22.
Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Baker, 2002), ch. 22.
G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Eerdmans, 1999), ch. 22.
David E. Aune, Revelation 17–22, Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 52C (Thomas Nelson, 1998), ch. 22.
Craig S. Keener, Revelation, NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 2000), ch. 22.
M. Eugene Boring, Revelation, Interpretation Commentary (Westminster John Knox, 1989), ch. 22.
