CONTENTS
God the Holy Ghost in this Chapter finisheth the Subject of all the Prophecies; and with it, the whole Canon of Scripture. The Lord gives the Church a further Account of the Holy City. Here is spoken of, the River of Life, and the Tree of Life; and the Lord's Promise, of coming quickly. A gracious Invitation at the End, to all the People of God. A solemn Caution, not to add to, or take from, the Things written herein.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
With what a blessed fulness this Chapter opens! A river of water of life. Not a stream, not a pool, which might be subject to dry; but a river. And not only a river, but of water of life; giving life wheresoever it shall come. And what can this prefigure, but the everlasting, ever-living, and ever-flowing love of Jehovah, in his three-fold character of Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? And what, a thought it is, to refresh the soul of a child of God this river hath been running in love to the Church in Christ from all eternity. Yea, there never was a moment in the eternal world, call that moment in the language of eternity by whatever name you may, in which it can be said that God began to love the Church, For this Would imply a change in God. A thing impossible. Hence, if it be asked, when God's love to the Church began; it must be said, from the same time God began to be; even from all eternity. Reader pause, and ponder well this love of God; and then look at this river so running from out of the throne of God and the Lamb!
But though running from all eternity, and to all eternity; yet you and I could trace nothing of it, until by the washing from it, in regeneration, we were quickened into spiritual life to behold its pure and living streams. It ran, hidden from all view, in the secret purposes of God, until by rising above ground in the time-state of the Church, it ran down from the first opening of creation, through redemption in Christ's blood; and the water of regeneration by the Holy Ghost, and all the streams, made glad the city of God, Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:3-5; Psalms 46:4
The properties of this river are most blessed. It is said to be pure. And, as it flows from God, how shall it be otherwise than pure; and how sure to make clean all hearts wheresoever it comes. It is said to be clear as crystal. Yes! everything is clear in divine truths, when God is the Teacher. God the Father gives clear revelations of his Son, Ephesians 1:1. God the Son maketh himself known to his people otherwise than he doth to the world, John 14:1. And God the Spirit taketh of the things of Christ, and showeth to the people, when giving testimony in the heart of the child of God to the Father's revelation of Jesus. Reader! do not fail to observe that this river was seen by John proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. This proves the existence of Three Persons in the Godhead. For when Christ spake of the Holy Ghost, as being, given to the Church, he described him as rivers of living Water, John 7:37-39. Here then we see it. This river proceeded from God and the Lamb. And let not the Reader overlook the blessed qualities of this river. It is a River, full, pure, clear, yea, the water of life; giving life wheresoever it comes. Blessed be God for opening to the Church's view, through John, a sight of this river. And, Reader! if a sight of it be blessed; what must an enjoyment of it be! the blessedness to drink of it, to wash in it, and to have everlasting life from it, in the united mercies of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.