The River and The Tree

Sermon preached by Joshua Dykes at the Deerfoot Church of Christ on May 26, 2024

Good evening! I hope all of you are doing well this evening. I appreciate Richard for asking me to speak to you tonight. It is refreshing to not be doing a sermon or lesson with the help of a translator and to be able to talk to people who speak my own language! Thank you for all of your help and support over the last couple of months – tonight, this will not be a mission report, but I did want to let you know that a lot of things were figured out on this trip to Romania and we do have a path going forward that would allow me to have a long-stay visa. So all of your prayers would be appreciated as we try to let bureaucracy do its thing – and we should pray that the Lord be with those who make decisions regarding my visa. 

From what I understand, Richard has been discussing things in this class pertaining to missions. Now, with what I will talk about tonight, missions will be related but not the primary focus – I want us to view the scriptures we are about to read and study through in a broader sense. There are many more applications that we can find through this text, but we should still recognize that God’s purpose in giving the text is so that we may be saved, stay saved, and show others the way to salvation! I would invite you to turn in your Bibles to Revelation 22. This evening, we will study through the 5 verses. 

Let us read. Again, we are in Revelation 22:1-5.

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no more night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

Now to better understand this text and its implication for us today, I want us to realize the purpose of Revelation and to recognize the fact that it is relevant for us! Many try to avoid Revelation because of its various interpretations and the difference in style from the rest of the New Testament. But the ENTIRE New Testament was given for us so we can find the way to salvation, stay saved, and show others the way to salvation. So this passage is for us! When one weeds through all the various interpretations, one cannot escape the unavoidable fact that the book of Revelation has one primary purpose. Regardless of whether you hold the Historicist, Idealist, Preterist, or Futurist view of Revelation, one still comes to the conclusion that the purpose of this book being written is so ALL Christians are encouraged to remain faithful, because ultimately, Christ brings victory to those who are loyal to Him. To each of the seven Churches that receive spoken letters by Christ in Revelation 2-3, there is a promise to those who overcome and who are faithful! So as we study tonight, keep this in your mind. Do NOT be distracted by the various interpretations – but recognize that this is for you… to encourage you to overcome! In chapter 4 through 20, vivid imagery, symbolism, and scenes are shown to depict the evil of the world. And in the end, we see that all evil along with Satan are ultimately crushed – and those who are made righteous by the blood of the Lamb are placed into a glorious land. In Chapter 21, we read of the New Jerusalem and the glory of God contained within it. And in Chapter 22, we see a continuation of this scene and another charge for Christians to remain faithful to God.

The River (verse 1)

That sets the scene, but the primary focus for this evening are verses 1 through 5. There are two primary divisions to this lesson. In the first part of the lesson, which we will now discuss, we will talk about The River. Let us look at Revelation 22:1 again. It reads,

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

Can you imagine this scene? In Revelation 21:9, one of the angels that John, the author, had seen in a previous scene is showing him the New Jerusalem. And after seeing the New Jerusalem, this angel accompanies John to a river. There are three attributes of this river that we need to discuss. But before we discuss these attributes, there is a passage that I would like for you to mark or write down – we will read and reference it later, but Ezekiel 47 is a cross reference to another river. And as we study through this lesson this evening, please note the similarities between the scene set in Ezekiel 47, and Revelation 22.

1. It is a pure and crystal clear river.

Have you ever come across a “pure river.” A river without any contamination. No dirtiness, no bacteria, nothing that makes this water unclean. I heard that in Iceland, most of the river water there is so clean, that there is no need for filtration or purification to make the water safe for consumption. Now, that may be true. But it is not pure water. There is dirt, there is bacteria. But we must recognize the symbol of purity established by water. We can consider the prophecy found in Ezekiel 36:25- “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.” And we can also consider Numbers 19 in which we see that water was used to purify the Hebrew people. Water purifies in the sense that it washes away. But this river that John is shown is a pure river. In eternity, Heaven shall not house the unclean, but only the clean. We see this in the conclusion of Revelation 21, when it is said that nothing that defiles or causes an abomination will enter into the city. The River is pure – and those who drink this water are continuously made pure. And those who walk by it see clearly what lies beneath it – the love, mercy and grace found in Jesus Christ.

2. It is a river with water of life.

The second thing we see is that the river is filled with the water of life. This is living water!! This is water, after all, that proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Therefore, it is just as Jesus spoke in John 4:14 in which he says that “whoever drinks of the water [Jesus] will give to [them] will never thirst. But the water that [He] shall give [them] will become in [them] a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Water of this world preserves life only for a short time, but it is the water of life – the living water – that keeps the ones who drink it alive for forever.

3. Its source is the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The third thing that we see is that the river’s source is of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Throughout the book of Revelation, we come to understand that the Lamb is representative of the humble sacrifice of Christ and His new glorified position. And the Throne of God is representative of God’s authority and power. It is from these that this river flows. There is a hymn that I have recently learned called “Sacred Throne.” And the lyrics of this song make me think of this passage. Perhaps, the writer of this song was inspired by Revelation 22:1. 

Beneath the sacred throne of God I saw a river rise; The streams where peace and pard’ning blood descended from the skies.

I stood amazed and wondered when or why this ocean rose; That wafts salvation down to man, His traitors and His foes. 

That sacred flood from Jesus’ veins was free to make away; and Mary’s or Manasseh’s stains, or sins more vile than they. 

It is significant and should not be overlooked that the river has these as its source. In Ezekiel 47, the prophet Ezekiel sees a river that flows from the Temple. But in Revelation 21:22, we see that there is no Temple in Heaven, the New Jerusalem. “For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” Therefore, the River of Life brings to us life and salvation directly from the source! There is no need for temple worship or the mediation of man. Because the river comes from God and the Lamb. 

These three attributes of the river should be of encouragement to us just as it was of encouragement to the people of John’s day. It reminds us that there is something out there unstained and without contamination – and it reminds us that despite the hopelessness in the world, there is life to be had and found in God through Jesus Christ. 

The Tree (Verse 2)

Now that we have talked about the River. I would now like for us to shift focus to the Tree. Let us reread verse 2.

“In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

The River of Life is in the city, and so is the Tree of Life. Now, I do not think it is a coincidence that the Tree of Life appears in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 2:9), and it appears here in the very last chapter. The Bible was written by over 40 individuals over a period of 1500 years. Yet Moses – the first author, and John – the final author, included a reference to the Tree of Life in what they had written. The Bible is a beautiful book with a unity that points to God as its divine inspiration and ultimate author. 

The Tree of Life represents man’s communion with God and His protection of us from sin and death. For in the garden with Adam in Eve, there was another tree – the tree of knowledge of good and evil – the only tree they were forbidden to eat from (Genesis 2:17). And if they avoided that tree, and instead ate from the tree of life and the others in the garden, they would have peace in the garden. And they would know no sin and no death. 

In Revelation 22, we see two primary attributes to this tree. And again, I want you to remember Ezekiel 47. Because in Ezekiel 47, we see a reference to many trees that were on either side of the river. But these we will consider shortly. 

1. It yielded twelve fruits.

The first attribute of the Tree of Life we see here in Revelation 22 is that it yielded twelve fruits. Now, as one reads Revelation, it is important to note the symbological significance of the numbers mentioned throughout the book. Throughout Revelation, you constantly see the numbers 7, 10, and 12. And you also see numbers that multiples of these numbers. Jewish and Early Christian writers often used numerology to make points or to add an extra layer to what they were writing. 

The number twelve represented the fullness of God’s people. There were twelve tribes of Israel, there were twelve apostles of Jesus, in Jewish calendars there are twelve months (though there are 13 months in leap years). Twelve is significant because it represents fullness and completeness… much in the same way that seven and ten do. But twelve represents that for God’s people. 

So this tree yielded twelve fruits. But then it says that each tree yields its fruit every month! I have to admit that as I was reading and studying this passage, I had gotten a little confused. So are we talking about one tree, or are we talking about many trees? In this scene, do we have one tree of life, or do we have many trees of life? I consulted some commentaries, and this is what Barnes Notes on the Bible has to say about this:

“[IT] Was there the tree of life – Not a single tree, but it abounded everywhere – on the banks of the river, and in all the streets. It was the common tree in this blessed Paradise – of which all might partake, and which was everywhere the emblem of immortality.”

I agree with this interpretation that the tree of life was the common tree in this city. Everywhere you went in that place, there was a tree that would yield the fruits that would sustain life for every soul there. Twelve fruits on each tree. Every month. Every soul is fed with sustenance that gives immortality. And we compare this with what is written in Ezekiel 47:12.

“Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Now, we know that Ezekiel 47 is not the same scene, for the river in this scene flows from the temple, and in Revelation 22, there is no temple. But we should come to understand the life-giving quality of this fruit. We know that one will thirst again if he continues to drink the water of this world. Is it not the same with the food of this world that we will continue to hunger?? But, in Heaven, God provides us our sustenance. And even now, He should provide us with the sustenance to go through this life saying “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

2. Leaves for the healing of the nations.

And the second attribute of this tree that we come to see is that its leaves are for the healing of the nations. The one piece of our lesson tonight that ties with missions is this one. The leaves heal the nations. God had always intended for His kingdom to be made up of many nations.

Prior to the establishment of kingdoms and nations, God had made man in His image (Genesis 1:26), and this is what he said to man in verse 28, the first commandment given in all of scripture.

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” 

God intended for man to multiply and to fill the world, and man did exactly that! From Adam and Eve descended every single human on this planet. But it should be noted that we continued in the pattern of Adam and Eve in that we have all given into the temptations of the flesh. It is written in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22,

“For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

So all men regardless of nation, background, or intellectual ability have descended from Adam. But we have followed in the pattern of sin, and thus are all in need of restoration and healing. So it is in Christ that all man can be made alive and healed. But in Revelation 22, it is said of this tree that the leaves are for the healing of the nations. We compare this to Ezekiel 47 verse 12 in which the leaves of those trees are used for medicine. The tree of life provides medicine for the nations. And I believe that this healing and medicine for the nations is the peace that can be found in the sacrifice and atonement of Christ and the unity we all can enjoy through Him. 

It is written in Isaiah 2:4,

“He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

On that day when we are all gathered into heaven, and we see brothers from Iran, North Korea, and Russia – we will not go to war with them. But instead, we will rejoice because we have the same healing that comes from the blood of Jesus Christ. 

The Implication (Verse 3-5)

And this brings me to the final part of my lesson for this evening. We now consider the primary implication of the River and the Tree. And as we consider the implication, I want us to think about our Christian walk right now, and I want us to think about how we can improve on or correct things we need to improve or correct.

Let us reread verses 3 through 5 of Revelation 22.

“And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”

For those who get to partake of the New Jerusalem… and those who get to see this River and the Tree of Life… this passage is for them. And hopefully, it is for us if we are living and walking as we should be living and walking. His name shall be on their foreheads! In this life, we have one of two things written on our foreheads. You either have on you the mark of the beast, because you have chosen something else to take your time and to devote your life to (Revelation 13:16-17); or you have God the Father’s name written on your forehead (Revelation 14:1). 

If God’s name is written on your foreheads (not in a literal sense, but in the sense that you have been living as God would call you to live), then these things are for you!! There will be no more curse. You will be in the same place and realm where God is. You will need no lamp or light of the sun. The Glory of God will be there and it shall provide all the light you will ever need. And you will get to be there with God and His lamb forever and ever. 

So, you see, it is important for us to remember the river and the tree. 

It reminds us of the place we want to be. 

There will be no sadness, sickness or wickedness there,

For we will have the protection of God and be in His care. 

As you go throughout this week, I challenge you to think about Heaven. I challenge you to think about the River of Life and the Tree of Life. Think about its attributes, and let it give you something to look forward to. We all have that upward call and goal we strive for, and let us remember that the river and the tree are there for us to behold with our fellow saints, and that God is wanting us to behold that place with Him.

Let us close class tonight with a prayer.