The pure river of the Word

One of the most beautiful illustrations in Scripture appears in the last chapter of Revelation: “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” ( 22:1 ). Water is referred to numerous times in the Bible as a symbol for the Word of God (see, for example, Isaiah 55:10, 11 ), so this “pure river” is evidently pouring forth from the throne (a representation of God’s all-power) to cleanse and heal us, and further still, to teach us knowledge of the living God and His Christ—and of our inseparable relationship to God as His loved sons and daughters.