Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 67:1 (Mar 2024)
Article: The Holy Spirit In The New Creation Of Revelation 21:1–22:5
Author: David L. Mathewson

JETS 67:1 (March 2024) p. 113

The Holy Spirit In The New Creation Of Revelation 21:1–22:5

David L. Mathewson*

* David L. Mathewson is associate professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: Significant attention has been given to the Apocalypse’s theology of God and of Christ articulated throughout John’s vision. However, less attention has been devoted to the pneumatology of the Apocalypse. The purpose of this article is to further attention to and discussion of the Holy Spirit in Revelation by arguing for a further reference to the Holy Spirit in the final vision of 21:1–22:5. This article argues for a metaphorical reference to the Holy Spirit in the water imagery of 21:6 and 22:1, where the water of life is the Spirit who gives life to the new creation. Though this view has been suggested previously, this article will provide argumentation from Old Testament references, rabbinic background, Johannine parallels, and the structure of Revelation itself. Preliminary considerations are then offered as to how this might contribute to the Trinitarian nature of Revelation.

Key words: Holy Spirit, water of life, Old Testament, Apocalypse, Johannine, Trinitarian

The book of Revelation is known for its profound doctrine of God and its rich Christology, both articulated within the context of challenging the claims of imperial Roman rule.1 Sometimes overlooked in discussion of the theology of John’s Apocalypse, however, is the rich and variegated pneumatology also found throughout the book, though perhaps not as ubiquitous and overt as references to God and Christ. In fact, one could make the case that, along with the fourth Gospel, Revelation is probably the most Trinitarian book in the entire New Testament!2

Usually treatments of the pneumatology of the Apocalypse are limited to explicit mentions of the Spirit (πνεῦμα) within the text.3 The book begins with a reference to the Spirit (the seven Spirits) as part of the “trinitarian salutation” in 1:5, 4 establishing the Spirit as a key actor in the visionary drama in the rest of Revelation: “Grace and peace from the one who is and who was and who is to come, and from

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