1 AND he shewed me a pure [ Undefiled. ] river of water of life, [ John specifically states that the river represents the waters of life. But there is more to it. The source of the water is important. It flows from “the throne of God and of the Lamb”—not two thrones but one. The point seems to be that there is only one source of life—God Himself. Sharing in the responsibility, however, is the son, who ever stands as “the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are” (Alma 11:39). Thus John calls Him “the Word” (John 1:1; see also vv. 2–3) and notes that all things have their being because of Him. Indeed, is gospel is symbolized as “living water,” and “whosoever drinketh of the water that [the Lord] shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that the [the Lord gives] shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Thus both the Father and the son occupy the same throne, for life flows from both. There is, however, yet another and more significant symbol for water. Nephi saw that the “waters are a representation of the love of God” (1 Nephi 11:25). Herein lies the power of the water. It bequeaths and sustains life because it is love—pure and unaffected. ] , clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. [ So it comes forth from a place where both the Father and the Son are there, or we could say that the river of water comes from them. ] [ We know the source which is God and Jesus Christ. Compare with Lehi's dream of the tree of life, 1 Ne. 8 and 1 Ne. 11. This tree of life is clearly placed in a celestial setting by v. 3-5. John saw the future celestial kingdom and those who gained it. ]

2 In the midst of the street of it, [ What is the it here? the city which was described in the preceding chapter. ] and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, [ Each of the tribes of Israel are given their own characteristics so to speak, their own blessings and abilities. ] and yielded her fruit every month: [ The tree of life continues every month it is bearing fruit, according to the covenant with Israel. Suggesting that those who enjoying celestial glory would have free access to the fruit of the tree of life. However this tree is producing twelve types of fruit, Where do we see in the scriptures the idea of twelve? Well we have twelve apostles, there are twelve tribes of Israel. The tree of life here says it was to be a blessing for each of these. So it would appear that he is talking about the twelve tribes and not the apostles - right! So it appears then that all twelve of the tribes then have access to partake of the same tree of life (the same covenant). Perhaps a continuation of seeds for ever and ever as is discussed in D&C 132:19. ] and the leaves [ The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. Here we have direct reference to the healing that’s gonna take place in the end times, which we surmise represents both the healing of the cosmic wounds inflicted by the enemy of God(satan), and the restoration of everything to its perfectly ordered state, the full restoration of mother earth. the removal of all sickness and disease, and the annihilation of death and aging, and the ability of the tree to heal the nation’s spiritual wounds. Okay, but what did the leaves of the tree represent? We’re talking about religious symbols here, so the leaves of the tree in this verse are figurative. They’re symbolic. We are being taught symbolically that like the aloe vera planty that can heal the leaves of the tree of life can do the same thing for the nations of the world. They’re meant to teach us what God has the power to do. So the leaves of the tree could represent a number of things. They could represent what the balm of righteous people can do to heal the nations. The leaves could also represent the word of God. The leaves come from the tree the tree is at the center of the temple(therefore the leaves are found in the celestial room of the temple). The scriptures provide us with a knowledge of the gods, of the principles and powers of the cosmos, the way in which the principles used by God to give order to the cosmos and defeats chaos. ] of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [ It will be from the covenant of Abraham that all of the nations will be healed, this was a promise given to Abraham. (Abr 2:10; Acts 3:25) ]

3 And there shall be no more curse: [ The earth was cursed for the benefit of man when he was removed from the garden of Eden. see Gen 3:17 the curse was placed on the ground not on Adam, this was not as curse for Adam but a blessing for him. (President Marion G Romney 1976 Oct Conference) The Lord curses the ground so that Adam will have to work; that the journey will not be easy; hence he will have trails; learn and grow. If it was all easy Adam would by default become complaicent and lazy; never grow and therefore not be able to become like God. ] but the throne of God [ So we have entity number 1 God the Father. ] and of the Lamb shall be in it; [ And now we have entity number 2 Jesus Christ 0 the lamb. Note here again they are two different beings. ] and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. [ see Rev 7:3, Ezek. 9:4 ]

5 And there shall be no night there; [ Why? See Rev 21:23-25 because the light of God will serve to light the city. There will be no need for the sun or the moon. ] and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he [ The Angel. ] said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: [ The final testimony of the angel (v. 6, 8-11, 14-15, 17, 20), some quotations of Christ (v. 7, 12-13, 16) Thus the angel is assurring John that what he has seen and heard is true. ] and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. [ Why did John fall down to worship the angel? He knows that the angel is not Jesus Christ because he was with Jesus Christ on the earth, on the mount of transfiguration. So why fall to he ground? Do you suppose that the vision was so overwhelming and over powering. The greatness of the blessings for the faithful was too much t stand and bare. That is pretty powerful when you think of it. ] [ Compare Chapter 19: 9-10. ]

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. [ John is specifically given the instruction to make this revelation know to man. ]

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: [ See Alma 41:12-15. Or if we do not do something on our own to change; we will be just what we are today - tomorrow! President Nelson in GC April 2019 said "Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now as time is running out." ] and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [ The Angel ends where he started. See Rev 1:8. ]

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, [ Immortality, eternal life in the presence of God. The same tree that was in the Garden in the first place. The tree that once out of the Garden Adam plead with God on numerous occasion's to be able to return too and choose differently, to which God replied that he would provide a way for that to happen, but just not right now. ] and may enter in through the gates into the city.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. [ The seven churches of which he made mention in the beginning of his vision. They represent all Christendom in the latter-days. ] I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. [ The Day Star, or the sun, is the greatest star that rises in the morning, chasing the other stars a way. Like the son of God, our sun is the source of all light and life. Where Satan and the beast are called fallen stars (cf. 8:10-11, 12:8), Jesus is still in place. ]

17 And the Spirit and the bride [ The House of Israel. Art part of the ancient Hebrew wedding tradition there was a level of loyalty spelled out in the covenant between the bride and the bridegroom. Even when the marriage was an arranged marriage the bride had to agree(we saw that with Rebecca (Gen 24)). Once this happens the intimacy begins (not sexually) but the forming of trust in each other, the foundation on which they both build together. It is about becoming. Why is John bringing in a bride here that seems a little bit strange to just like throw out the spirit and and the bride, and who is the bride here? We see the bride being defined in Matthew 25 where the ten virgins go to the door and then the door is shut. Which side of the door will you find yourself on, and how do are the ones that get to go in. Christ often refers to himself as the bridegroom. So in the wedding(John refers to the bride) context what happens in a marriage between two individuals? They make covenants with each other. So the bride in Hebrew tradition is someone while they may not be yet married they still have make covenants with each other. It is the spirit and the bride here that are calling people to come partake of the tree(the place where the living water exist), it is the bride that is gathering Israel on both sides of the veil. A good example is the baptismal font in the temple the living waters are on the backs of twelve oxen(one for each tribe) and oxen because that is the symbol of the tribe of Ephraim. ] say, Come. [ And what is it that he is inviting them to come too? The living waters. ] And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. [ This is an open invitation to everyone. Come one come all and enjoy the living water. Compare Isa. 55:1-2 The spirit and the bride are inviting everyone to take the living waters. So what is the living waters that he is referencing here? See verse 1 ]

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. [ Or "scroll". This injunction is meant specifically for the book of Revelation. The "book" is better translated "scroll". John borrows text from Moses with his warning, cf. Deut. 4:2. ]

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.