Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. Revelation 22:1
The River of the Water of Life, bubbling up, gushing forth like a wild beast, lively, active with real and genuine life, will flow from the throne of God, surging down the middle of the great, golden street of the New Jerusalem! Still waters are lovely to lie beside (Psalm 23); those are needed and good but this river moves. Water moves fast when there’s a lot of it; in the New Jerusalem there is/will be an abundance of living water with no shortages!
First stage of River of the Water of Life Painting
To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. Revelation 21:6,7
More layers
In my exploration of what the River of Life looks like, I sealed the (composite) gold leaf with varnish so it won’t tarnish. Since the gold of the “great street” will shine through the clear water, I checked my art materials to see what would be transparent. Ah, the Bombay India Inks I’ve been wanting to try. I painted layer upon layer of thin and wide, transparent, moving lines in blues and aqua India ink with a soft, pointed brush. Then, since water pours, I poured some ink. The gold shines through the transparent ink.
The River of the Water of Life will bring life to everything it touches (Ezekiel 47:9) and nourish the Tree of Life, “a great number of [fruit] trees on each side of the river,” (Ezekiel 47:7). The Tree of Life will make its appearance on the remaining parts of this River of the Water of Life square canvas. More later.
Completed River of the Water of Life