The Greek formulation draws attention to the source of this river as coming out of God’s throne. John first saw the throne of God when the Spirit carried him into heaven (Revelation 4:2). A throne itself is significant only in as much as it denotes the authority and power of him who sits upon it, and in this case that is “the Lord God the Almighty” (Revelation 21:22). Given the glory and power of this God from where the river comes, it is no wonder that this river is “bright as crystal.”
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb