Saturday 29 November 2008

Background

The image of the river of life goes back to the prophecy ofEzekiel. He saw water flowing from the Temple to bring life back toan arid landscape (Ezekiel 47). Herein John's vision, the Temple is replaced by "the throne of God andthe Lamb". There is here then, both continuity and discontinuity.Something world-shaking and new is happening, yet humanity hasavailable only the old images with which to describe it.

All the details in verses 2 and 3 reflect the idea of acomprehensive, universal renewal of the whole of creation. Paul,in1 Corinthians13:12, wrote of seeing now in a mirror dimly, and then face toface. Here John echoes Paul's words, once again reflecting arelationship between humanity and God that is no longer obscured bydistance or by the clouds of human wrongdoing.

The work of creation, as described in Genesis chapter 1,is marked by God drawing one distinction after another, betweenlight and darkness, day and night, land and sea, plant and animal.The radical nature of the new order is symbolised by the totalabolition of night as God's own light banishes darkness forever.

To Ponder

If the new heaven is truly indescribable, why hasso much energy been expended on trying to describe it? Are wesimply intent on removing mystery from our sight? Why does mysterycause us so much discomfort?

What meaning can you give to the idea of a totalrenewal of all creation? It isn't just about my back garden beingtidy (at last!) Given that these words were written in a culturethat had no idea of the sheer size of the universe, what liesbehind this image, and how can we express it in ways that peoplecan understand today?