Revelation 22:1-5
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Today’s image is unique in that it was a commission I made for the cover of an upcoming book, “The Invisible Clearly Seen: Tracing Biblical Symbols in Creation” by Benjamin Marshall. I very rarely take commissions, but when Ben explained that he built his book around Revelation 22:1-5 and wanted the cover to reflect that, I decided to take it on.
So, in this image I’ve tried *both* to depict the major themes of Ben’s book *and* faithfully exegete the climactic vision of the Apocalypse in which John gives readers their third and final ‘verbal icon’ of the enthroned Lamb.
In Revelation 22:1-5, John envisions the slain and risen Lamb as the radiance of the glory of the unseen God, the ‘face’ of the invisible Father lifted in mercy upon the whole of the redeemed cosmos (21:22-21). I’ve pictured this in the crucified Christ who—illumined by the light of his resurrection (note that the back of the throne is the opened tomb)—stands as the image of God in the center of the throne (cf.5:6 NIV, KJV).
The rays of Christ’s glory (which are also his cross) form the foundational cross-section of the (hyper) cube of the New Jerusalem, reminding us that, enthroned in the midst of His Bride, God in Christ is the ground of, and is indivisible from, His people (21:2-3; cf. Eph.5:31-32).
From Christ’s side the river of living water (22:1), which is the Spirit (Jn 7:37-39, 19:34), pours down between the tree(s) of life that encircles the throne (the 12 fruits and 40 leaves on the trees represent the fullness and healing secured by Christ upon the tree of Calvary; 22:2).
Before him stands the Bride (represented also as the cube of the New Jerusalem), washed in his blood (7:14), anointed by his seven-fold Spirit (1:20; 4:5; 5:6), crowned with the transfigured beauty of his wounds (2:10), with her face turned wholly upon the One who is her eternal life (22:4; Jn 17:3).
