The Tree of Life: Then, Now, And Forever
The Tree of Life is central to this creation and to the world to come
God says,
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
Revelation 22:1,2
God originally intended for there to only be one tree in Eden
The tree of life stands throughout all time as God’s promise of eternal life. Freely given we freely receive life through Jesus Christ who finally restores immortality to God’s people.
Originally, I do not believe that God intended to plant two trees in the garden. I believe that the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is a result of the war in heaven. Mankind was never meant to eat of the forbidden fruit and live by their own reasoning. Rather, God intended the first man and all his descendants to live forever by revelation. This is why, on the New Heavens and New Earth, we only see the tree of life.
The Tree of Life is immortal
In fact, the tree of life is eternal. The tree we must pass through to enter New Jerusalem is the same one that God planted in the Garden of Eden. God kept the very tree that He planted in Eden from the corruption of sin to take root again in the New Heavens and Earth. Thus, what God originally intended will take place on the New Creation which Jesus is making for us at this present time.
Christ’s kingdom is not of this world
The kingdom of heaven is finally realized in the world to come. This is why Jesus did not call down twelve legions of angels to fight for him against those who sought to crucify him. Jesus said,
” Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
John 18:36
The tree of life and New Jerusalem
The tree of life is a literal tree and exists at this present time in heaven and it will descend to the New Heaven and New Earth when New Jerusalem descends out of heaven. The New Jerusalem is the saints of the Most High. God shines through Jesus. That is why there is no night in that city, because God lights it through Jesus who is the lamp thereof.
When Jesus says,
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
If ye abide in me and I in you
In conclusion, Jesus speaks about access to the tree of life. Without the tree of life, which symbolizes God Himself, no one can live forever. Mankind eats the twelve types of its fruit as we grow in God taking on different aspects of His nature. We live by His grace for we are dependent upon Him through our need for His nourishment. God needs to be in us so that we might fully live. Amen.