We come to two of the most hopeful sections of the Book of Revelation and John of Patmos’ vision – remember he is still in a trance-like state having these visions. But first, let’s catch up on what has happened in the intervening chapters, specifically 14 through 20. We hear again praise songs for God and the Lamb – Jesus. We are introduced to more characters including angels who unleash destructive plagues all over the earth. And the dragon, the beast of the sea, and the beast of the land (the false prophet) are all destroyed.
Satan has been locked away for the 
next thousand years – although that evil force must be let out at the end of that. Ugh! Evil continues to resurrect throughout time. But we continue to hear in these chapters that faithful witness is the way to go. Staying true to our witness to the lordship of God and Jesus is the right and moral thing to do. It is the courageous thing to do. It is what God calls us to be even in evil, turbulent, suffering times – we must stay a faithful witness. Will we?
And, then we hear this from Revelation 21:1-6. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring.”
Out of all the destruction and the suffering and the evil, God has made something new. God has transformed the old heaven and earth and its horrible ways into something new. And now that something new is being unveiled for John to see and take hope in. God has redeemed the earth from the curse frankly first suffered by humankind in the Garden of Eden. God has restored our relationship with God and with one another. Those relationships will only bring good things.
Like the fact that the vision of this new holy city, and note it is a city not bucolic farmland, is one of a teeming city full of diverse people from all nations who get along. Like the hopeful news Godself will dwell with humanity. God will not be in some far-off heaven, but God will be with us, live among us, and we can see God face-to-face.
No more pain, no more tears, no more mourning – those things have passed away. Evil is gone, at least for now, and we will no longer be deceived; there will be opportunities for repentance if we were.
And, we can trust this hopeful, joy-filled, life-giving vision because God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One whose promises are trustworthy and true. To the thirsty – isn’t that all of us – God will freely give us life-giving water. Just as Jesus gave life-giving water to the Samaritan woman at the well, we get to have that too.
So far, John’s vision is a life-giving one. The confines of this new heaven and earth, this new Holy City don’t deal in death and destruction and evil. They give life and hope. The city is full of people but there isn’t fighting – there is life and hope.
Let’s hear the rest of our Scripture for today from Revelation 22:1-6. Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, shining like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse.
The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always.
What do you notice? The life-giving water flows directly from God and Jesus – it doesn’t flow from the earth or any other waterway. It comes directly from God and Jesus. The trees of life are overflowing with fruit every month so none go hungry and their leaves will heal the nations – not just people but nations. Can you imagine what that would look like? To not operate out of a feeling of scarcity, but to experience abundance that provides just enough? To experience healing from all the division and destruction.
Peace, love, compassion, empathy, abundance not scarcity. It sounds utopian but that is God’s vision for us. That is God’s desire for us. Why do we humans fight that vision? Why do we not embrace it? Why do we insist on living in shadows and darkness when God’s light begs to shine on us? God so desires us to believe that transformation is possible – our own individual transformation and our transformation as a community of faith.
How can we partner with God to be transformed into witnesses in word and deed of this life-giving water for our community – our city. Isn’t that what God is calling us to be and do in our time and place? To recognize and resist evil, to believe in the promises we have been given and witness to them. To walk alongside those who are too often ignored or scapegoated or marginalized. To advocate for them. To include them in this vision we are casting.
What life-giving vision is God unveiling for us? Will we have the courage to see it, to embrace it, to live it? No one knows the future, but I like God’s vision for sure. Do you?