In Revelation 22, we see the Spirit and the Bride giving the water of life.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Rev 22:17
Some people insist that the Bride in the book of Revelation is the church (saints). However, the Spirit and the Bride here refer to God the Father and God the Mother.
Who Are the Spirit and the Bride That Give the Water of Life?
Let’s pay attention to the work of the Bride in Revelation 22.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Rev 22:17
The Bride is the One who gives the water of life. The church refers to the saints in the Bible (1 Co 1:2). Thus, if the Bride refers to the church, it means that the saints can give the water of life. Does the Bible say that the church or the saints can give the water of life? We cannot find such a record in the Bible. It tells us that only God, the Savior, has the power to give us the water of life.
In the Age of the Father, the source of living water was only Jehovah God (Jer 2:13). During this age, there were many prophets who preached God’s word; however there is no record in the Bible that says the prophets were able to give the water of life.
In the Age of the Son, only Jesus gave the water of life (Jn 4:14). In those days, there were many saints who preached the word of God, but there is no record in the Bible that says they were able to give the water of life. In any age, there is no verse that says the saints gave the water of life on behalf of God.
From this consistent teaching of the Bible, it is clear that the Bride who gives the water of life in the book of Revelation is the Savior, not the saints. That’s why in Revelation 21, it is written that “God” will give the water of life without cost to the thirsty; and in Revelation 22, it is written that “the Spirit and the Bride” will give the free gift of the water of life.
He who was seated on the throne [God] said, “. . . To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. . . . I will be his God and he will be my son.” Rev 21:5–7
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Rev 22:17
In conclusion, the Spirit and the Bride are Gods who give the water of life freely to those who are thirsty.
The Water of Life That Only God Can Give
Why do you think there is no verse in the Bible that says the saints (prophets or apostles) can give the water of life? We can easily understand the reason through the case of Moses.
While in the desert, Moses struck a rock with his staff which brought water for the Israelites. It is important to note that it was God, not Moses, who gave them the water. However, Moses, who was afflicted by the people’s grumbling, said, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Nu 20:10).
At this time, Moses misspoke as if he gave the people the water that God provided. Moses was a great prophet who led Israel for about 40 years, but because of what he said at that time, he could not enter the promised land of Canaan (Dt 32:48–52).
As for even natural water God gave, when a prophet said as if he himself had given it to people, he couldn’t enter Canaan. Then, what will happen if the saints say that they will give the water of life that only God can give? In the Bible, which is God’s word that the prophets received from God, there is no record of a mere man giving the water of life. This means that the Spirit and the Bride, who give the water of life in the book of Revelation, can never be the saints.
The Bride Is the Mother of God’s People
Then, who is the Bride that gives the water of life in Revelation 22?
One of the seven angels . . . came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”. . . and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. Rev 21:9–10
The Bible tells us that the Bride is Heavenly Jerusalem. If the Bride is the saints, the Bible should describe Heavenly Jerusalem as us, the saints, who will be saved. In Galatians 4, however, Heavenly Jerusalem is our Mother.
But the Jerusalem that is above (in heaven) is free, and she is our mother. Gal 4:26
The Bride does not represent the saints, but our Mother. The Bible repeatedly testifies that God’s people are the “children of the free woman” (Gal 4:31). It teaches us that we are the children of Heavenly Mother, and clearly distinguishes us from Her. Therefore, the “Bride” in Revelation 22 is not the church (saints), but Heavenly Mother who gives the water of life. In the Age of the Holy Spirit, only the Spirit and the Bride can give us the water of life.
