Revelation 22:1, 2

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.”

It is fitting that the last chapter of the Bible should contain one of the most beautiful, surprising and satisfying scenes that one could possibly imagine.  You can almost feel the John’s excitement as he described it for his churches and for us today.

I will reflect on what the scene means to me.

This city is not built by man.  As already noted this city comes down. It contains a throne above all thrones, a Kingdom above all kingdoms, ruled by God Almighty and his precious Lamb, Jesus Christ. It is above Rome’s exalted Emperor, a truth that is hard to believe because it seems what the Emperor wants he will get, even if he wants people to worship him as God on earth.  John does not see Rome or any other power on earth in this vision – he sees only the Almighty God on the throne of all power with Jesus Christ his Lamb.

I listen this morning to the world news that describes the ancient, never-ending tale pf nations battling one another, of powers clashing with powers.  Refugees pour out of war-torn Middle East, new dead are buried every day.  The ancient hot spots in the history of the world are burning with disturbing force. Muslims, Jews, Christians all are caught up in the epic struggle. Instead of camels and dates, I see oil and bombs, fear and pride, hope and despair. No none seems capable of bringing peace to the warring descendants of Abraham. How long will this go on? I believe it will on until the Holy City comes down.  To hope that the city of peace will built by humans here on earth is a false hope.

The Kingdom of God, of Christ and the Holy Spirit is already here – the believers in the seven churches of Central Turkey are in the Kingdom.  All earthly kingdoms are doomed, here for a while, then disappearing like morning dew – like the no longer existing Roman Empire.

So we look again at the New Jerusalem, its main feature is the river of life flowing, always flowing, quietly but powerfully down the center of the main street, a river that changes everything. To build a city without that river is an illusion – it can not be done.  That river flows from the wounded side of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and Lord.