While the gospels and Acts give accounts of historical healings in the life of Christ and His apostles with a few comments and reactions concerning them, the epistles approach the topic of healing as a spiritual gift (I Cor. 12) by Paul. In addition, we have James’ prescription of prayer and anointing for the one who is ailing (James 5). Other comments in the Epistles give some insight. But, when we reach the last book of the Bible, we are reading a different genre.  Healing in this present life is simply not a topic that John pursues. We do, however, have a few indicators of John’s perspective on the issues. The first point to be gleaned from the Revelation to John is that God is sovereign even over death. God can and will give life to those who are his and who have died; resurrection to everlasting life is a reality. That resurrection has already taken place for Jesus, and someday soon believers will experience it. We read, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Rev. 20.4-6)
John often uses analogies to illustrate spiritual conditions to the groups of saints in seven cities. For example, Thyatira is “on a bed of suffering … ” (Rev. 2.22).  Laodicea is “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked” and will receive “salve” for her eyes (Rev. 3.17f.) These images lead to some of John’s comments as to suffering brought on by refusing to conform to God’s plan. The plagues from the seven bowls of God’s wrath are distributed to those who richly deserve them because of their sin (Rev. 16.7) or a refusal to repent: “Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done” (Rev. 16.11). Physical suffering and illness, even death, can be disciplinary measures. A person can bring on suffering by making bad choices. At the end of the book, physical plagues are threatened if anyone adds to the book, or death if anyone were to remove something from John’s testimony.
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Rev. 22.18f.)
Then, John offers positive messages of hope to those who will live forever with God: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Rev. 21:4). He writes, “On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him (Rev. 22:2ff ).
As was the case of visions in the Old Testament of the age to come, so also here, the curse is reversed. The healing of the nations appears in the context of chapters 21-22 to be a complete picture: spiritual fellowship with God in wonderful conditions in a new heaven and earth, right relationships among all those who are there serving the Lord, and no longer any physical or psychological suffering or death.
The age to come will have been fully consummated, fully arrived when these things become a reality.
In summary:
• God himself controls life and death.
•Foolish choices, sinfulness and/or a refusal to repent can all lead to physical suffering.
• The negative effects of the curse pronounced at the fall will one day be overcome, and sickness and death will give way to eternal life in joyful service to God.