Here is paradise regained. The Lamb regains what man lost
in Genesis. In the Garden of Eden, a river flowed through
the garden and a tree of life. So here in paradise regained,
we see both a river of the waters of life and a tree of
life. One thing is noticeably different however. Here there
is no tree of the knowledge of good and evil for here there
is no possibility of invasion and rebellion again. God alone
will be man’s life and his source of the knowledge of good.
Man will never again try to become God.
Notice that the river is “clear as crystal.” The word
stresses the beauty and purity of the river in keeping with
the character of God and of the New Jerusalem. The water
will literally sparkle like beautiful crystal glass. The
present indwelling of the Holy Spirit whom our Lord likened
to rivers of living water from within our beings anticipates
the river of life and our then limitless experience of
abundance of life (John 8:37-39).
