Revelation 22: Eden's Symbols Fulfilled through Jesus

Today we’re going to step into one of the most beautiful and hope-filled chapters in the whole Bible—Revelation 22.

This is the last chapter of Scripture. It’s where God’s story of redemption comes full circle. And at the heart of this vision we see two powerful images: the river of the water of life and the tree of life.

But what do they mean? Why do they matter for us today? And how do they connect all the way back to Genesis, the very first book of the Bible?

That’s what we’re unpacking in this article. By the end, you’ll see how the Bible begins with paradise lost but ends with paradise restored—and how right now you and I can freely drink from the water of life.

Let’s start by reading Revelation 22:1–2:

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. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Okay—pause for a second.

Did you catch how the water is described? “Pure, clear as crystal.” That’s not just poetic filler. That tells us something about the nature of God’s kingdom. His kingdom is pure. His kingdom is holy. No corruption flows from His throne.

That means not everyone can step into this stream. This isn’t for those living in rebellion against God. Revelation 22 later makes it clear: only those who do God’s commandments have the right to the tree of life. Those who reject Him remain outside the city.

So right away, John is showing us—this is not some vague, universal promise. This is a covenant promise. Eternal life is for those who belong to Christ, those who obey Him, those who seek Him with a sincere heart.

Back to the Beginning: Eden

Now let’s rewind. Because if you know your Bible, Revelation 22 should ring a bell.

Genesis 2 tells us about Eden:

• In verse 9 we’re told about the tree of life in the midst of the garden.
• In verse 10 we hear about a river that waters the garden.

Sound familiar?

In Genesis, Adam and Eve had access to the tree of life—symbolising eternal fellowship with God, but when they sinned that access was cut off. 

Genesis 3:24 says God placed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree.

The Bible story begins with Adam and Eve losing access to the tree of life. And here in Revelation 22, it ends with”whosoever will” regaining it.

So you see how Genesis and Revelation book-end the bible? It starts with paradise lost and ends with paradise restored.

The Big Covenant Story

Think of it this way:

• Genesis is the story of the first creation, the first covenant world, with Adam as its head.
• Revelation is the story of the new creation, the new covenant world, with Christ as its head.

In Genesis, fellowship was broken. In Revelation, fellowship is renewed. In Genesis, death entered. In Revelation, life reigns.

This is God’s way of saying: What was lost in Adam has been fully restored in Christ.

Jesus and the Living Water

Now let’s zoom in on how this connects to Jesus.

In John 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well:

Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Later, in John 7:37–38, He stands up and cries out during the feast of Tabernacles:

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me… out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

And in John 15:5, He says:

I am the vine, ye are the branches.

Do you see it? Jesus is directly connecting Himself to the imagery of Revelation 22. He is the source of the living water. He is the tree of life. Eternal life flows from Him and Him alone.

That’s why in Revelation the river flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Because the Lamb—Jesus Christ—is the one who restored what Adam lost.

Prophecy Fulfilled

But this wasn’t a new idea in the first century. The Old Testament prophets foresaw it.

Isaiah 25:8:

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.

Paul actually quotes this in 1 Corinthians 15, connecting it to Christ’s victory over death.

And then there’s Daniel 12. Daniel speaks of a time when the righteous would be raised to everlasting life. 

Jesus Himself ties that prophecy to the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew 24. 

The end Daniel foresaw wasn’t the end of the physical world, but the end of the Old Covenant age.

So by the time John writes Revelation, the message is clear: those ancient promises are fulfilled in Christ. The water of life, the tree of life, the healing of the nations—all of it has come through Jesus.

The Invitation

Now here’s where it gets personal. Revelation 22:17 gives this powerful invitation:

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Whosoever will. Think about that.

This isn’t restricted to Israel anymore. It’s not limited to those under the Mosaic law. It’s open to all nations, to every single person who thirsts for God.

But here’s the catch—and we can’t ignore this—only those who do God’s commandments have access to the tree of life. 

That’s verse 14:

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

That means the invitation is open, but it requires a response. You can’t cling to rebellion and still expect to drink from the river. God’s kingdom is pure, clear as crystal. It is holy. Only those who who obey Him from a pure heart motive will taste this eternal life.

No More Sheol, No More Waiting

Now here’s the good news for us today. Because the New Covenant kingdom is fully established, we don’t have to go down to Sheol or Hades like the saints of old, waiting for redemption.

Eternal life isn’t something we’re waiting on. It’s already here, flowing freely from the throne.

Jesus told Martha in John 11:25–26:

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Never die. That’s our reality in Christ.

Wrapping It Up

So let’s step back.

• Genesis begins with a river and a tree. Revelation ends with a river and a tree.
• Genesis begins with paradise lost. Revelation ends with paradise restored.
• Jesus reveals Himself as the vine, the water of life—the fulfilment of Eden’s symbols.
• The prophets foresaw it. Christ fulfilled it in the first century.
• And now, the water of life is flowing. Pure and clear. Open to all who come.

But the choice is ours. Whosoever will. That’s the invitation.

So I’ll leave you with this: have you come to the water of life? Have you laid aside rebellion, pride, self-reliance—and surrendered to Christ? Because the promise isn’t distant. It isn’t future. It’s here, it’s now, and it’s free.

Remember: the Spirit and the bride still say, Come. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.