Revelation 22:1-2 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
‘River of water of life’ besides the 12 great rivers flowing down the midst of the 12 great broadways going through the 12 gates into all parts of the earth, there will be innumerable fountains of water of life throughout the city and many lakes and rivers in the earth (7:17; 14:7; 21:1; 22:1-2). There will be an abundance of water in the city. Twelve great rivers running from the great throne of God 2,414 kilometres high down to the base of the city and in the middle of the twelve great broadways into the different parts of the Earth. Besides these rivers there will be an abundance of living fountains of waters and smaller streams throughout the city. Every mansion no doubt will have its own water system springing up perpetually. Imagine the beauty of the glory of God shining on the living fountains and rivers, as pictured in Revelation 7:17; 14:7 and 22:1. From the midst of the fountains there will be gorgeous colours in the glory of God like rainbows on Earth.
This is no doubt the river that will flow out from the sanctuary, the temple, the capital building of Christ when He comes to reign. It will flow southward from the temple through Jerusalem and then be parted into two streams. Half of the river will flow into the Mediterranean Sea and half into the Dead Sea. The waters of the Dead sea will then be healed and fish will come out from the Mediterranean into the Dead sea, exceedingly many (Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8). This could also refer to the river flowing out from the capital building of God in the New Jerusalem when it is moved to the Earth (21:2).
We read in Psalm 46:4-5 of this river: “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” There are 8 reasons for future fulfilment for ‘this river that makes glad:’ there is no such river in Jerusalem now to fulfil Psalm 46:4. There will be one when the Messiah comes (Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8). God is not in the midst of Israel to fulfil Psalm 46:5, 10-11 literally. Psalm 46:6 is not a description of any past history of Israel. It fits the prophecy of Armageddon when the Lord will utter His voice before His armies and defeat the raging nations surrounding Jerusalem (19:11-21; Isa. 63:1-6; Joel 2:1-11; 3:1-21; Zech. 14). The desolations in the earth of Psalm 46:8 will be caused by the seals, trumpets, and vials of Revelation 6:12-9:21; 11:15-19; 16:1-21. No desolations have been made in the earth during Israel’s history in Palestine as there will be during these judgments of the future tribulation. Making wars to cease unto the end of the earth has not come to pass yet. This will happen at the second coming of Christ and the Millennium (19:11-21; 20:1-10; Ps. 46:9; Isa. 2:2-4; Zech. 14). The destruction of weapons of war will not take place until the Millennium (Ps. 46:9; Isa. 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-8). Israel will not know God until the Messiah comes (Ps. 46:10; Zech. 12:10-13:1; Matt. 23:37-39; Acts 15:13-18; Rom. 11:25-29). God will not be exalted in the earth and among the heathen until the Millennium (11:15; 19:11-20:10; Ps. 46:10; Isa. 2:2-4, 11-21; 11:3-16; Ezek. 37:16-28; 38:16-23; Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14; Matt. 25:31-46; 2Thess. 1:7-10).
‘In the midst of the street’ this is a description of only one of the great broadways going through one of the 12 great gates (21:21; 22:1-2).
‘On either side of the river’ on both sides of all the 12 great rivers flowing for 2,414 kilometres through the 12 great broadways there will be rows of trees of life, each row being 2,414 kilometres long, as described in Revelation 22:2. The trees of life bear twelve kinds of fruit and the leaves of the trees will be for the preservation of natural life for the peoples of the natural nations throughout all the eternal generations to come. Besides this, there will be an abundance of fruit from the different fruit trees throughout the Earth (Ezek. 47:1-12).
‘Healing of the nations’ preservation of life for the natural, earthly nations, as well as for the resurrected saints (2:7; 22:2). There will be no sickness, so no healing from disease, but eternal health and life will come from the leaves of the trees (21:4; 22:2-23; cp. Gen. 3:22-24).
End times: Prophetic Scriptures 