Many Christians think the River of Life that flows from the Throne of God in New Jerusalem is a literal river. Yet, how could this be, if there were no literal sea into which all rivers flow (cp. Revelation 21:1)[1]. Moreover, if there were also no literal sun and moon (Revelation 21:23; 22:5) to cause the hydraulic cycle that produces springs, which in turn become streams, which come together to produce rivers, how could a literal, physical River of Life even exist in that context. Oh, but God is able to do anything! Well, yes and no. God cannot contradict terms. He cannot make a lie the truth or the truth a lie; neither could he make a square circle etc. That would be chaos! God created order in the universe, not chaos. In other words, God can do all things that are possible to be done by a Being of his Almighty power. Therefore, if there is no literal sea in the new heaven and the new earth, there can be no literal River of Life. Yet, even if there are oceans in the new heaven and the new earth, this still doesn’t mean the River of Life is physical. There is more evidence that the river should be interpreted spiritually.
The angel who was with John showed him a river coming out from under the Throne of God and the Lamb. This river was pure and crystal clear, and its waters are a River of Life (Revelation 22:1). The River of Life is the Fountain of Life in Revelation 21:6. Jesus tells us that whoever drinks the water that he offers will live forever (John 4:10, 14). The water of life is within the believer (viz. Christ in us – Colossians 1:27; cp. Psalm 36:8-9). The Lord told the prophet that his people (under the Old Covenant) had done two evils. First they had forsaken him, the Fountain of Living Waters; and secondly, they had cut out for themselves broken cisterns that couldn’t hold any water (Jeremiah 2:13). In other words, they had forsaken the word of God for the word of men—forsaken life (the Lord) in order to embrace death (man)!
Life is a fountain, and the Lord, the giver of all life, is that Fountain of Life, or the Fountain of Living Waters (Revelation 21:6; Jeremiah 2:13). It bubbles up from the Throne of God to become the River of Life (Revelation 22:1). Notice, that on either side of the river is a Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2; cp. Genesis 2:9; 3:22). The Tree of Life is another symbol of Jesus, the giver of life. Had our first parents reached out to partake of the Tree of Life in the beginning, they would have lived forever (Genesis 2:16; 3:22), and since only Christ is able to give eternal life (John 3:16, 36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1John 5:11-12), he is the Tree of Life on either side of the River of Life, which, as concluded above, is also a symbol of him (Revelation 21:6; Jeremiah 2:13).
If the River of Life that flows from the Throne of God isn’t a literal river, what is it, or put another way, what would it look like in terms of the new heavens and the new earth (i.e. the New Covenant). In New Covenant language, the River of Life refers to the preaching of the Gospel and the spread of Christianity throughout the world. It is believers, or specifically their preaching, that brings Christ (the River of Life) to those who embrace him when they hear.
The leaves of the Tree of Life, which grows on either side of the river, are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2). But, what does this mean? The green leaves of a tree are often compared to the righteous, and the Lord is our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16; cp. 1Corinthians 1:30). However, the wicked are compared to the leaves of an oak whose life fades away (Isaiah 1:30; cp. Genesis 3:7), which is like a garden having no water. In the context of Revelation 22:1-2 this would indicate no River of Life flowing in that nation. So, if the River of Life reaches the nations, their ‘leaves’ would be green and wouldn’t fade. They would have everlasting life. The presence of the leaves of the Tree of Life (Christ) among the nations, implies the River of Life (Christ) has reached them, because the Tree of Life (Christ) is on either side of its banks. So, whether we speak of the leaves of the Tree of Life (Christ) or the waters of the River of Life (Christ), the nations are healed thereby.
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[1] Many Christians also believe there will be no literal sea or oceans in the new heavens and the new earth.
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