When our Lord died, the earth quaked and dead saints came to life and the curtain was torn. The things God did when Jesus died are full of significance. But then, on the third day, God raised Christ from the dead. 1992 years ago this morning by my count. Think about that. What difference has it made, all these years, that Jesus lives? To the unbeliever, the world seems to carry on like it always has. Nations rise and fall. Governments come and go. People live and die. But Scripture tells us that the greatest effect of Christ’s resurrection is that He ascended to the throne of God and sent His Spirit to anoint His Church with power to preach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing disciples in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit. The Gospel calls people to come and know our Triune God, the Holy Three-in-One. The resurrection of Jesus has changed the world. It makes a difference today. But what I want you to hear this morning is that, as great as this difference is, there is so much more to come. The Holy Spirit regenerates sinners and brings them as believers to God, through Christ, He indwells believers, yes, but in mortal, sin-soaked bodies. And believers all over the world today serve Jesus Christ and preach His Gospel, but in a fallen and cursed world. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, God showed John a vision to show Christ’s servants, “the things that must soon take place,” (22:6; 1:1). And in this final scene of the vision John saw, we get to see what a great difference it will finally make, that Jesus Christ lives. And that is why, the symbol in John’s dream for the Lord Jesus Christ, is a Lamb.

Rev 5:6 says the Lamb looked like He had been slaughtered but was now standing before God’s throne. It is the Lamb who takes the scroll from God’s hand and opens its seven seals to exercise His authority to rule and judge the nations of this world. It is the Lamb who is seen shepherding and sheltering His people in chap. 7, and standing with His redeemed in chap. 14. It is the Lamb whose wedding day arrives in chap. 19. And the final great scene of the entire prophetic vision John saw, is of the Bride, the Wife, God has prepared for the Lamb. But why a Lamb? The symbol means Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. The Sacrifice whose blood delivers those who trust Him from the wrath of God. As Rev 1:5 rejoices, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood  and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1:5-6 ESV) This morning I want to try and tell you what it means that the Lamb who died to save His people is alive: He gave His Church the Holy Spirit; He rules from the throne of God. Last time we saw that in Rev 21:22 The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the Temple of His people in Heaven. What you need to see next is that every blessing in Heaven comes from the Lamb, because He lives. John’s sees a cycle in Heaven that reveals God’s ultimate blessing in Christ to His Redeemed.

There are just two parts to this cycle in Rev 22:1-5. Verses 1-2 describe what comes from God. Verses 3-5 describe what comes back to God. Think of the water cycle that gives rain to everything that grows on Earth. Think of the respiratory cycle of inhaling and exhaling. But this cycle John sees in Heaven is from God and to God. First John describes…

What flows from God? (1-2)

The first thing to notice is that there is no limit to what will change because Jesus lives. Why do I say that? Think about how widespread the effects of sin are in the world. Is there any paradise that evil has not tainted, any square inch that death does not touch? No. Rom 5:12 says, “sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” (Rom. 5:12 ESV). Rom 8:21 says all Creation is in bondage to the corruption of sin and death. That’s why the final scene John sees in Revelation is a picture of the Garden of Eden. God shows John the world that’s coming under the emblem of how this world began.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.  9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.  (Gen. 2:8-10 ESV)

Now you also need to notice that the reality being predicted here is not a visual description of what the next world will look like, but a portrait in dream-vision of what Christ’s people will be like. We know that because in 21:9, the angel told John to come and see “the bride, the wife of the Lamb,” and everything the angel shows John from that point on is a description of the Bride of Christ, the Church. She’s like a holy City, beautiful, built by God, but a City with no need for a temple since God and the Lamb is the City’s Temple—in other words, God the Father and God the Son will be in and among His people in Heaven. But now notice how the City is also pictured as a Paradise—like the Garden of Eden.

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  2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  (Rev. 22:1-2 ESV)

The full difference it makes that Jesus is alive is seen not in the similarity of the City to the Garden of Eden, but in what will be different. There are four differences you need to notice. The first difference is “the river of the water of life.” Gen 2:10 says a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. The water cycle. Living things need water. The big difference here is that this one runs with the water of life. Or living water. “Bright as crystal.” Pure. Like the ”sea of glass” in front of God’s throne in Rev 4:6--Pure. Totally clean. Like God. The second difference is, where the river comes from. “…Flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb…” (Rev. 22:1b ESV). Gen 2:10 just says the river flowed out of Eden. This river flows out from the throne of God and the Lamb. The prophet Ezekiel saw a great river start as a trickle coming from under the threshold of God’s Temple, past the altar, and out of the City. But here there is no Temple (God and the Lamb is the City’s Temple), and there is no altar (the sacrificial Lamb is alive!). This River flows from the Father and His risen Son!

You need to ponder that connection: that the river flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. And that the Lamb, in Rev 4:6 is introduced as slain but alive again. Hebrews says, “…We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” (Heb. 10:10 ESV). “…When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…” (Heb. 10:12 ESV). This River of the Water of Life is only possible because of the sinless life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The River of Life is a picture of the difference it will make to God’s people in Heaven that Jesus lives.

The third difference is where the river goes. “…Through the middle of the street of the city;” (Rev. 22:2a ESV). Gen 2 says the river in the Garden of Eden flowed from the garden, and outward in four great rivers to all the world. John sees it flowing through the middle of the street of the city. Through the midst of the Lamb’s Bride, in and into and among His people. We saw in 21:21 that there is just a single street in the City. A street not leading people out, but leading people into the presence of God and the Lamb. So the River flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, down the middle of the way leading to God and the Lamb. Again you have to notice the cycle. Out from God, in to God.

The fourth difference is what the river waters. “…Also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations,” (Rev. 22:2b ESV). Gen 2:10 said the river flowing out from the Garden of Eden watered the garden. And among the trees of the garden were two special trees (Gen 2:9): the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But instead of two special trees, John only sees one. Just the Tree of Life. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is gone. Everlasting life and immortality but no more knowledge of evil, no more thought of sin, no more doubting the goodness of God. The Tree of Life is on both sides of the River because it is the only Tree left. The death of Jesus Christ dealt with our sins once and for all; His blood purifies His people; His sacrifice atones for the sins of all who ever believe in Him. So if you trust in Christ, when He raises you from the dead to join Him in resurrection life, you will be sinless. Pure. Holy. Good. That’s why John only sees one Tree—and that’s why it grows on both banks of the river. Difficult to picture but the wonderful truth is not hard to understand. And look what grows from the Tree! The Tree of Life produces twelve kinds of fruit. Not one season a year: its fruit is in season every month—all year long! God’s people in Heaven will never stop bearing fruit for God because Jesus lives. And not just one kind of fruit but twelve! The variety is splendid. If this was musical notes you would hear harmony. The fruitfulness of God’s people will be manifold and glorious. And the leaves of the Tree of Life are for the “healing of the nations.” The idea alludes to Eze 47:12 where the leaves he saw were for the healing of Israel. The difference John sees is that these leaves are not for just Israel but for all, not one nation but for the many nations. Because like we read in Rev 5:9, His people will worship the Lamb as worthy, saying, “for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” (Rev. 5:9 ESV). So the point of the quote from Eze 47:12 is to highlight what’s different. Eze 47:12 says the healing (just for Israel) in the leaves is because the trees are watered from the river that flows from God’s Temple. But the River of Life John sees is different: it flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, from the Father and His Risen Son. John’s sees a cycle in Heaven that reveals God’s ultimate blessing in Christ to His Redeemed. The River flows from God and the Lamb, so next…

What flows to God? (3-5)

The Eden imagery, on top of the prediction of the “new heaven and new earth” (21:1), suggests an entire new Creation as the home of the Lamb’s Wife. But in verses 3-5 we learn something else. There is no limit to how God’s people will be changed because Jesus lives. Rom 3:10 says no one is righteous, and describes the extent of humanity’s corruption from head to toe. Rom 7 describes the present condition of believers—alive because of Christ in our spirits but dying in our bodies because of sin—in turmoil in this life because of the war raging inside of us between a desire to serve God and the corrupted desires of the flesh. So once again, John’s vision is a picture of the Garden of Eden to show us how everything in us will change because Jesus lives. Notice what John says about Creation, God, and Humanity. First, Creation will no longer be cursed. “No longer will there be anything accursed,”  (Rev. 22:3a ESV). Before Adam sinned, there was a river in Eden that watered the Garden and flowed out into the whole world. But Adam sinned. And instead of life, he spread death to the whole Creation. His curse became the world’s curse. Through him, all his children were cursed. All the way down to you and me. Instead of life, we have death. Instead of innocence, guilt. Instead of peace, strife. Instead of rest, struggle. Instead of health, disease. Instead of happiness, sorrow. Instead of fellowship with God, shame. All because through Adam, the whole world and everything in it was cursed. Have you ever felt this? That there is something very wrong with the world? Well, the curse is why the world today is the way it is. But it won’t be this way forever. Verse 3 says nothing will be cursed ever again. Why? Because of the River that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Second, God will be there. “…But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,” (Rev. 22:3b ESV). In Gen 3:8, when Adam and Eve heard the sound of God walking in the Garden, they hid from His face because they were ashamed of what they had done. We’ve been hiding from God ever since. Afraid to face Him. Afraid to face what we’ve done. Afraid to face who we are and what we’re like. We hide from God, from each other, from ourselves. In Gen 3:23, God banned Adam and Eve from the Garden. He sent them away and made sure they could never return. In Eze 43:7, Ezekiel saw God enthroned among His people. The last verse of Ezekiel says the new name of that city is, “Yawheh is there.” But in Eze 43, the only way God can be in that Temple, in that city, is because of the altar and the animal sacrifices on that altar that atone for the people’s sins. But what John sees is the throne of God and of the Lamb in the City. Lit. the Greek says “in her.” In the City. But the City is the Bride. And the Bride is the Church. So the throne of God and the Lamb will be in His people. Among His Saints. With His Church. The Lamb who died to atone for His people’s sins now sits enthroned. That’s what will be different: no more death; no more hiding; no more guilt; no more strife; no more struggle; no more disease; no more sorrow; no more shame. But life, innocence, peace, rest, health, happiness, fellowship with God, forevermore. How? Because of the River flowing out from God and the Lamb. Because that River is from the Father and His risen Son.

Third, Humanity will worship God. “…And his servants will worship him,” (Rev. 22:3c ESV). They worship Him. Who? The answer’s in verse 3: God and the Lamb. But it says “Him” not “them.” One God, Father and Son. But look at the relationship they have with God! “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads,” (Rev. 22:4 ESV). This is fellowship with God. They look on the face of God. No one has done this (aside from the incarnation of Christ) since God drove Adam and Eve out of Eden! Moses begged to see God’s glory but God said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live,” (Exod. 33:20 ESV). Psalm 42:2 pleads, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Ps. 42:2 ESV). Isaiah promises, “Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty…” (Isa. 33:17 ESV). And Jesus preached, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” (Matt. 5:8 ESV). That’s what this is! The blessing Jesus promised! Intimate, personal, fellowship with God! Because His name is on them—"on their foreheads” is a symbol they belong to God. They are His. In His presence is where they belong. And they are satisfied in Him: “And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light,” (Rev. 22:5a ESV). John 1:4 says about God the Son, “in him was life, and the life was the light of men.” God is their life and light. Darkness is gone. Night is gone. Doubt is gone. God is their light. No more confusion. No more gray. God is their light. Isaiah 60:19 predicts, “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory,” (Isa. 60:19 ESV). Your glory is what you delight in, what makes you happy. Like a child who shows off his favourite toy. Like a groom rejoicing in his bride, and like a wife glorying in her husband! That’s the picture here: the bride, the wife of the Lamb, glorying in her Husband. Isaiah 45:25 says people will glory in God. But there’s one more thing you need to see about God’s people in Heaven: “…And they will reign forever and ever,” (Rev. 22:5b ESV). The word “rule” lit. means “to exercise authority at a royal level, be king.”[i] They are kings. They reign with God over the world God will make. This is what human beings were made for. Genesis 1:27 says when God created man and woman He made them in His own image; He blessed them and gave them dominion over everything He made because He made it all for them. And you need to ask how this can be? It's because of where the river comes from in verse 1: from the Father and His risen Son.

So John sees a supernatural cycle, a great River of the Water of Life flowing from the throne of God and the slain and living Lamb, and he sees fruitful, happy, worship returning forever to the Father and His risen Son. But what is the River? What is it that flows from the Father and the Son? The 18th century preacher John Gill said, “by this river is meant the everlasting love of God, which may be compared to a river for its largeness and abundance, its height and depth, its length and breadth…”[ii] Another great preacher of the past, Albert Barnes, said, “Here, the river is an emblem of peace, happiness, plenty; and the essential thought in its flowing from the throne is, that all the happiness of heaven proceeds from God.”[iii]  But just back a bit in Rev 21:6, Jesus Himself calls us to drink from this River of the Water of Life. “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment,” (Rev. 21:6b ESV).

So what is the River? Well we need to remember what that this same apostle, John, wrote in John 4. Jesus told the woman at the well,

"Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,  14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (Jn. 4:13-14 ESV)

Three chapters later, John tells how Jesus stood up in Jerusalem, in the Temple, on the last day of the feast, and yelled out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'," (Jn. 7:37b-38 ESV).

And this John explains, “Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified,” (Jn. 7:39 ESV). So what is the River that flows from the Father and the Son? It is not only love. It is not only peace and happiness. It is not only life. It is, rather, God’s own love, joy, and life. It is the outward flowing blessing of the presence of God Himself. It is the Holy Spirit’s unique and holy work to share that which belongs to both Father and the Son. To paraphrase Calvin, the Holy Spirit cannot be seen except in the visible gifts He gives.[iv] The River of the Water of Life is not the Holy Spirit but what the Spirit gives, proven by its effects, manifested in what comes back to God in worship. And the ultimate gift the Spirit gives is God Himself. Jonathan Edwards said,

The Holy Ghost is the Deity subsisting in act, or the Divine essence flowing out and breathed forth in God's Infinite love to and delight in Himself. And I believe the whole Divine essence does truly and distinctly subsist both in the Divine idea and Divine love, and that each of them are properly distinct Persons.[v]

God breathes out, and worship comes in.

In other words, the Father has forever loved and delighted in His beloved Son; the Son has forever loved and delighted in His beloved Father. And in Heaven, Father and Son will be enthroned as the object of all love and delight. And the everlasting power of the Holy Spirit will extend the fellowship of the Trinity to encompass and include the redeemed people for whom Jesus died and was raised, so that forever, we will do what God has always done: we will love and delight in the Father, and in the Son, by the Holy Spirit. And we will love Him for it. God’s greatest gift is Himself.