22:1Revelation 22:1

The verse shows a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb.EW 25.4+2 It belongs to a literal renewed home where the redeemed live with God, with the tree of life on its banks bearing monthly fruit and healing leaves, and with no more curse, death, sorrow, crying or pain.EW 25.4+4 Drinking its water and eating its fruit is the promised everlasting reward for those who overcome, endure to the end, and thirst for life with God.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51+4 The same stream also reaches believers now as healing grace, as the pure truth of Christ's teaching and Word flowing into the heart, and as the ever-cleansing power of His shed blood.RH Jul 20, 1905+4 That inheritance is entered only by obedience to God's commandments and faith in Christ, in purity of body and spirit made ready in this brief life.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51+4

The river is pure water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the restored city.EW 25.4+3 Beside it stands the tree of life on both sides of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit month by month with leaves for the healing of the nations, and its fruit is for the redeemed.EW 25.4+2 There the curse is gone because God and the Lamb dwell there, His servants serve Him and see His face and live with His name in their foreheads, night and need for sun or lamp end because God gives light, and His people reign forever.EW 25.4+1 Unlike Moses, who was told no man can see God's face and live and was hidden in the cleft of the rock to see only His back parts while His glory passed by, the redeemed will see His face and live, and to share in that seeing eyes must now be kept fixed on God apart from sympathy with the customs of the world, everything earthly between the soul and God must be cut off, life must become Christlike in knowing Christ as a present and personal Saviour, and as sinners draw nigh to God He will draw nigh to encourage and strengthen them.Ms 11, 1896, par. 1–4

An angel showed this to John on Patmos as part of visions of heavenly things about the last events of earth's history.Ms 191, 1907, par. 21–22+1 They are faithful and true sayings of things which must shortly be done, belonging to the closing scene when the work is finished.Ms 188, 1907, par. 1+1 They include events at the close of the thousand years after Christ's second advent, when Jesus leads the saints inside the city to behold the Paradise of God in its beauty and glory.1T 67.2+1 In that scene the river of life is one of the sights where the redeemed will behold God's face.Ms 191, 1907, par. 21–22

The chapter is to be read carefully and prayerfully because its message concerns people living in the last days.STMW7 52.2+1 It freely offers the water of life to everyone who thirsts and calls people to turn from earthly concerns toward heavenly things.STMW7 52.2 It warns all living on the earth to lean helpless souls upon the Lord alone and not upon any man, to worship God alone and not exalt or worship fellow men to eternal ruin while leading others astray, and to stop all contention, all faultfinding, and all lifting up of the soul unto vanity.Ms 122, 1903, par. 12–13

The inheritance is a literal country and true abode on the earth made new, not to be spiritualized away into something non-material.4SP 489.3–490.1+1 There are real, ever-flowing streams clear as crystal running beside the paths prepared for the ransomed, where waving trees cast their shadows.RH Nov 22, 1906+3 There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living water, and God's people so long pilgrims and wanderers find a home on peaceful plains beside those living streams, among wide-spreading plains swelling into hills of beauty and the lofty summits of the mountains of God.RH Nov 22, 1906+1 Its glory is beyond what human language can fully describe and will be known only to those who behold it.RH Nov 22, 1906+1

The tree of life stands on both sides of the river, appearing as two trunks joined at the top into one tree.CET 60.1+4 Its trunks are of pure transparent gold, its branches bend and bow toward the redeemed who sit beneath it and behold the glory of the place, and its fruit is glorious like gold mixed with silver.CET 60.1+3 The water of the river beside it is pure and clear.ExVEGW 10.1–13.1+1

The tree bears twelve kinds of fruit every month, and its leaves are for the healing of the nations, giving health and life to those who eat, as does the fruit itself.EW 25.4+3 With it in the city are other trees of living green good for food and fountains of living waters.Ms 20, 1886, par. 3–9 The vision of tree and healing leaves points to the life and healing of the world to come, with healing power found in the Saviour.Ms 115, 1907, par. 2–5+1

There is no more curse because the throne of God and of the Lamb is there.EW 25.4+2 God dwells with men as their God and wipes away tears, and there is no more death, sorrow, crying, pain or sickness, but peace, harmony and love in the renewed world where the redeemed live with Him.LSEGW 464.2+1 His servants serve Him and see His face and live, with His name in their foreheads, though Moses was told no man can see God's face and live and was hidden to see only His back parts; the circumstances have changed for a people prepared to see Him.Ms 11, 1896, par. 1–4+2 They reign with Him forever, and night and need for sun or lamp end because God gives light, as one of the eternal blessings provided for every soul to receive.EW 25.4+1

The river flows through the holy city New Jerusalem coming down prepared as a bride after the first heaven and first earth pass away, a living stream clear as crystal flowing directly from the throne of God and of the Lamb as the feature and life of the future home of the redeemed.Ms 89, 1909, par. 2–7+1 It is entered through pearly gates by those preparing a white robe of character, with broad streets of pure gold like transparent glass far more attractive than earthly cities with their parks, lakes and broad streets, with walls and foundations of precious stone, and with wide-spreading plains, hills of beauty, mountains of God, waving trees casting shadows, green fields, singing birds, palms, white robes, crowns, angels and saints with harps of gold, and the King in His beauty.Ms 20, 1886, par. 3–9+1 The Great Shepherd leads His gathered people there to living water amid continually unfolding new scenery, and those who have come out of great tribulation and done God's will enter for the marriage supper where table, fruit and water are present.Lt 30, 1882, par. 6–11+1 Its glory is beyond what human language can describe, what eye has not seen nor ear heard nor heart imagined, the pure and beautiful things of earthly nature being only a faint shadow of the original to be seen in full loveliness, to be known only to those who behold it.Ms 20, 1886, par. 3–9

The river belongs to the home Christ is preparing for His faithful ones, the kingdom of heaven in the future world and higher life where God's redeemed people will live and serve in His presence.Ms 28, 1901, par. 6+2 It flows pure and clear as crystal from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the New Jerusalem, the promised home of those who faithfully keep His commandments and are granted right to the tree of life and entrance into the city.Ms 28, 1901, par. 6+2 There the redeemed associate with the highest dignitaries of the kingdom, uniting with Gabriel, with cherubim and seraphim, with angels and the archangel, and dwell with Him on the earth renewed and beautified.Ms 41a, 1896, par. 19+1 It waters the city prepared as an eternal reward for those who build character on the living word, the bright holy land and goodly country where the redeemed will dwell.STE 80.3+1

Drinking from the river of the water of life and eating from the tree of life is the promised reward for faithfully delivering the appointed message and enduring to the end.ExVEGW 6.1–2+3 It is the gift flowing from the throne for those who remain faithful to the end and overcome, received after suffering while sustained by God's sufficient grace.LSEGW 71.4–72.2+2 Those who have come out of great tribulation and done God's will are told that in a little while, if faithful, they shall both eat of the fruit and drink of the fountain when finally home and go back to earth no more.ExVEGW 13.2–15.1 Though at the marriage supper the table is spread, eating and drinking are for now withheld until that homecoming.ExVEGW 13.2–15.1

The reward is everlasting life and everlasting happiness given after a few brief years of service and sanctified obedience to the will and Word of God.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51+1 It is a coming life without trials, griefs or temptations, a life that measures with the life of God, and it will surely be fulfilled as life everlasting for those who lay hold of the richest treasures and power Christ opens in His Word by walking in His way and taking all the Scriptures as guide.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51+1 It is the fair, lasting home promised to the faithful where they will find rest, the bright holy land with life's pure river running through it, where the lonely pilgrim band will have a dwelling and be homeless no more.1T 70.1+2 There are green waving fields that never know blight, blooming deserts, roses, singing birds, palms, white robes, crowns, the radiant city fair with pearly gates, angels and saints with harps of gold, the mount with the fruitful tree of life whose leaves bring healing, and the fair King who is the joy and light of the place, where the saints will in a little while behold Him, bask in His smiling face, receive palm, robe and crown, and rest forever.ST May 23, 1878+1 This Paradise restored in Eden's glory is a future home soon to be given to the pure, set against the hardships of mortal life and the needless suffering people impose on themselves, with the promise that those true to God will receive eternal life.LS 386.3

The saints thirst for its water, and the Great Shepherd leads His people to this living fountain and living stream in the promised home.9MR 105.1+1 It is pure and crystal-clear, the water the gathered saints need and seek amid continually unfolding new scenery in their eternal home.9MR 105.1+1 There Jesus will lead His people beside the living stream flowing from God's throne, where they will understand the difficult experiences through which God brought them in order to perfect their characters.8T 254.2–3

Beside the river of life flowing pure and clear as crystal from the throne of God and the Lamb in the heavenly courts and promised home, Christ Himself will lead the redeemed and teach them mysteries they could not understand in this world.RH Jul 20, 1905+4 There He will explain what perplexed them, the dark providences and difficult experiences through which He led them to perfect their characters, the plan of salvation as needed even by those who came to faith in their final hours, and the parts of Scripture over which they stumbled.RH Jul 20, 1905+4 The mysteries of grace will unfold until what seemed to finite minds confused and broken is seen as perfect and beautiful harmony, and His Word is clear and God's glory more fully seen.Ms 56, 1905, par. 20–22+2

There the higher school continues where Christ as heavenly Teacher walks and talks with His people as He did with disciples on earth, leading them beside the river and to the tree of life growing on either side to give the higher education in its completeness.CT 208.3+3 He reveals truths that in this life must remain hidden mysteries because the human mind is limited and marred by sin, truth that cannot be known now and is beyond present imagining, unfolding the beauty and glory of nature, the mysteries of nature and of grace, and what He is to them and what they are to Him.CT 208.3+3 They will see that a Master Hand holds the worlds in position, behold the skill of the great Artist in coloring the flowers of the field, and learn of the purposes of the merciful Father who dispenses every ray of light, responding with holy angels in songs of grateful praise for supreme love to an unthankful world.Ms 99, 1906, par. 13 Every right principle and truth learned in earthly school advances learners that much there, as children of the heavenly King dwelling with the royal family they rise step by step to the greatest heights of learning and see the King in His beauty.CT 208.3+1 Fathers and mothers and children who were faithful workers in earthly homes enter together through the gates and are not separated, receiving golden crowns in joyful triumph, casting crowns at Jesus' feet while angels with golden harps fill heaven with music and songs to the Lamb, and eternity opens before the faithful youth graduated from schools in this world to the school above.Ms 31, 1909, par. 9–11

The Lamb leads the redeemed to the tree of life and the fountain of living waters, welcomes them there, and makes them sharers of the Redeemer's throne in honor and glory in His presence and life.12MR 294.1–3+1 Those faithful who helped bring souls to salvation share the joy of seeing those souls welcomed by the Lamb.12MR 294.1–3

The river and the tree also stand for healing grace to be received in this life, and when provoked the remedy is to ask Jesus for that healing and turn the mind to eternal things, a turning that teaches when to keep silent and when to speak.RH Jul 20, 1905+2 That healing power is found in the Saviour Himself, and the setting of the river with the tree and its healing leaves keeps this present need before the mind even while showing the future glory.Ms 56, 1905, par. 20–22+1

A hidden spring in the river cures every disease, pictured as sparkling water in a dream, and each person must seek and obtain it personally, for no one can obtain it for another.LSEGW 124.1–3+1 The pure streams flowing from the throne are the principles of truth in the gospel as Christ taught them, the pure water of life whose fountain is Christ, pure streams of truth from God's throne in His teaching.8T 309.3–4+1 They carry the science of salvation for seeking and saving the lost, not surpassing disclosures or unlocked mysteries to occupy thought till the close of time, for Christ gave time, faculties and life only as means for working out salvation and would not spare a moment from seeking and saving what was lost.MH 448.1 To drink from them is to receive that teaching and to receive Christ within as a well springing up into everlasting life, in contrast to the turbid streams of human ideas and opinions, and this drinking brings refreshing streams of salvation and satisfied spiritual thirst into the heart.RH Jun 2, 1903+1

God's Word pondered in the heart is like living streams flowing from that river, bringing heavenly truth, peace and joy, and the Word is compared to those life-giving streams, without which people are spiritually starved in a wilderness.11MR 206.3+1 The pure, crystal, unpolluted fountain is the Bible's holy truth of heavenly origin, the truth of the Word as Christ presented it in Old and New Testaments, every ray of light from the Scriptures, flowing in rich pure streams through chosen vessels to bless all they meet.Ms 89, 1897, par. 6–10+2 Received into the heart it changes, purifies, sanctifies and transforms character, lifts from sin, makes upright in word and action, and brings every faculty into service and under Christ's control.Lt 9a, 1891, par. 15–16+1 These are pure life-giving streams flowing from beneath God's throne, fit to drink continually with abundant knowledge.Ms 8b, 1891, par. 15–16

Seeking wisdom in worldly authors is set against drinking from the pure fountain of wisdom flowing from God's throne.STE 244.2 That pure knowledge and truth of God to be drunk continually stands against corrupted ideas, sophistry and infidelity, against the turbid streams of human ideas and the valley.Ms 8b, 1891, par. 15–16+2 True teachers lead their flocks to the pure water of the Word of grace and every ray of Scriptural light, and those awakened by reading search for themselves to become wise householders and faithful stewards who tell others so they may share it, while false teachers do not lead there but ridicule, denounce and charge with division those who find truth for themselves, fighting the Word as dangerous instead of receiving light with rejoicing and examining it together.ST Mar 1, 1899 The stream of blessing drawn from the Bible in this way has flowed down through the ages since the fourteenth century.GC 93.3+1

The stream proceeding from the throne is the ever-flowing, ever-cleansing efficacy of the blood of Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, with His pardoning blood inseparably joined to His resurrection and life.Lt 87, 1894, par. 3 Death and life are blended in it, as pictured by the living bird dipped in the blood of the bird slain over living water and then set free to joyous life, which is the atonement, the fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem where sinners may wash clean from every stain.Lt 87, 1894, par. 3 The river is also rich currents of love flowing from heaven to earth from beneath the throne, and receiving them makes glad the hearts of God's people and the city of God.Ms 123, 1899, par. 9+2 When the love of Christ in the soul flows out in pure rich currents of tenderness and kindness it is like a draught from that river refreshing a parched thirsty soul, while a ceremonial pretentious religion without God's love does not receive those currents and calls forth no response from angels.Ms 123, 1899, par. 9+1

Its streams feed a joy that can be possessed even on earth as a never-failing wellspring through appreciating God's goodness and expressing faith, gratitude, praise and rejoicing in His mercy, an expression that encourages and strengthens faith and joy.RH Jun 2, 1910 That water sustains the Lord's trees of righteousness so that those who draw nearer to God are watered and become fruitful, nourishing churches and people as God's farm in a world spiritually desolate like a wilderness, with comfort from the Lord's sustaining presence even in prolonged suffering.8T 243.2+2 The life-giving stream reaches saints on earth now: while angels drink directly from the fountainhead, believers drink from its pure streams when they meet to worship in spirit, truth and holiness.Ms 32a, 1894, par. 6–7+1 Their testimonies, praise, thanksgiving, songs and prayers enter the heavenly anthem with rejoicing because Christ did not die in vain, proving the church on earth and in heaven are one and heaven is near, and this drinking makes glad the city of God.Ms 32a, 1894, par. 6–7

Those who learn self-abasement, meekness and lowliness from Christ and unite with God's family drink of this life-giving water and manifest to world, angels and men that they have been with Jesus, in contrast to walking in sparks of their own kindling and drinking turbid streams of the valley.20MR 94.2–4 Drinking means placing oneself in the channel of light and using every means of grace to increase and strengthen the soul, bringing wisdom, fortitude, courage, assurance and moral power for daily duties and especially for guiding children, so that those comforted in religion drink deeper and lead their children to drink also.Lt 94, 1893, par. 8 Seeking this blessing is a proper unashamed response of faith, a refreshing stream of life-giving salvation flowing from God's throne into the heart.Lt 128a, 1895, par. 12–14+1 With the tree and its healing leaves the vision points to the life and healing of the world to come, and sanitariums are meant to help people become ready to share in it and eat of its leaves.Ms 115, 1907, par. 2–5 The river belongs to the Eden home to be restored through Christ's sacrifice and reveals God's love, and the sick are to be taught of that love and that restored home in quiet secluded sanitariums away from cities where every restorative agency God has provided is used for healing.Ms 41, 1902, par. 25–26+1

Paradise restored is reached only through the path of obedience.ST Jan 25, 1910+1 Those who do His commandments have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city.Lt 131, 1903, par. 6–9 Believing the Word just as it reads means doing what the Lord directed about the Sabbath.Lt 131, 1903, par. 6–9

Holy Eden was lost through sin, and through intemperate desire in the first parents, and Adam and Eve's disobedience lost it for themselves and their posterity.MH 129.2+2 Those who continue to live in transgression of God's holy law will never regain the lost paradise and will certainly perish, for Christ did not die to save sinners in their sins.ST Jul 29, 1886 Paradise may be regained through obedience to the Father's law and faith in Christ's atoning blood, through repentance for transgression, turning from disobedience, and through faith claiming the merits of His precious blood and being justified freely unto acceptable obedience.ST Jul 29, 1886+1 Choosing that same disobedience and remaining on the side of the great rebel forfeits the regained right to the Eden home, while ceasing to please self, repenting for time and talents given to the enemy, giving the whole soul to God, and with strong determination seeking the Lord while He may be found to choose the good and refuse the evil keeps it.Lt 236, 1903, par. 21–22 Temperance in all things has more to do with restoration to that Eden than is realized, and the prospect of that heavenly life in Eden's glory as a future home soon to be given to the pure stands against the hardships of mortal life and needless self-imposed suffering, with eternal life for those true to God.MH 129.2+1

The river clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb waters God's paradise and the city whose builder and maker is God, prepared as eternal reward for those who build on the solid Rock and build symmetrical characters in accordance with the living Word.STE 80.3+1 Its crystal purity illustrates the purity of heaven where nothing defiling can enter, and this hope calls for purity of body and spirit in preparation for eternal life.CTBH 213.1–2 Unlike Moses, who was told no man can see God's face and live and was hidden in the cleft of the rock to see only His back parts while His glory passed by, the redeemed are promised to serve Him and see His face and live, with His name in their foreheads, where there is no more curse and the tree bears twelve kinds of monthly fruit with leaves for healing the nations.Ms 11, 1896, par. 1–4 To share in that seeing, eyes must now be kept fixed on God apart from sympathy with the customs of the world, everything earthly between the soul and God must be cut off, life must become Christlike in knowing Christ as a present and personal Saviour, and as sinners draw nigh to God He will draw nigh to them to encourage and strengthen them.Ms 11, 1896, par. 1–4

That pure river belongs to the coming life without trials, griefs, or temptations, where a life that measures with the life of God with everlasting life and everlasting happiness is given in return for a brief life of sanctified obedience to the will and Word of God, and will surely be fulfilled for those who lay hold of the richest treasures and power opened in His Word by walking in His way and taking all the Scriptures as guide.Ms 119, 1906, par. 48–51+1 Therefore now is the time to begin earnestly and determinedly serving Him, to refuse to sin or be negligent or reckless about the soul's eternal interest, to reach a higher and still higher standard, to plead for the sanctification of His Spirit, and to overcome.Ms 39, 1908, par. 43–47 Talking about this stream going out from the throne in the heavenly city New Jerusalem, with the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God and the King in His beauty with His kingly crown and the riches for the children of God, pours the light and glory of God's presence into the soul, keeps Christ's joy remaining and makes joy full, and leads to praise with all that is within, to speaking of Christ's coming and getting ready for His appearing, and to thinking upon heavenly things.Ms 9, 1886, par. 17–19

Heaven is a heaven of bliss entered through pearly gates by those preparing a white robe of character, with fountains of living waters and trees of living green on either side of the river whose foliage and fruit give health and life, in a city whose walls and foundations are of precious stone and whose streets are paved with gold, a heaven to be won well worth striving for.Ms 20, 1886, par. 3–9+1 Preparation for it is preparation for eternity, and those who seek it are to help others seek it with them.Ms 89, 1909, par. 14 The pure and beautiful things of earthly nature, with crystal river and living fountains, are only a faint shadow of this original to be seen in full loveliness in the paradise of God, which eye has not seen nor ear heard nor heart imagined, teaching that God who cares for temporal flowers will care for those made in His image and delights in perfection of beauty of character.Ms 20, 1886, par. 3–9 That earthly beauty should turn the mind toward the everlasting home of beauty and goodness prepared by God, where the redeemed will live free from sin and the curse.HL 297.1–2+1