A River, The Tree of Life and Fruit Trees Revelation 22:2

After all the events of the tribulation period, the millennial reign of Jesus and the “Great White Throne” judgment, John the apostle wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” John described the heavenly city as he wrote, “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” In Revelation chapter twenty-two and verse two John shares, “on either side of the river, was there the tree of life” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “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:” John began with the words, “in the midst” which means “within the middle and center point” “of the street” or “belonging to the broad way or wide plat” “of it” which refers to “pertaining to the city”, “and on either side” or “even, also and indeed on both sides” “of the river” or “belonging to the stream or torrent”; “was there the tree” which means “the wooden timber” “of life” or “real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever”, “which bare” that refers to “that made ready and prepared” “twelve manner of fruits” which refers to “twelve different kind and types of fruit”, “and yielded” which means “and delivered, discharged, produced and rendered” “her fruit” or “the tree of life's fruit” “every month” which means “each, all, the whole and everyone of the months of the year”. John saw how the “tree of life” within the center of the “street” and on both “sides of the crystal river” bearing “twelve” different “fruit” in every month.

The verse goes on to say, “and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” John continued with the words, “and the leaves of the tree” which means “the leaves belonging to the tree of life” “were for the healing” which means “were toward and belonging to the purpose of curing, service and attendance” “of the nations” or “belonging to the multitudes associated or living together, individuals of the same nature or genus, tribes or people groups”. John shared how the “leaves” belonging to the “tree of life” were for the “curing and attendance” of the nations of the world.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see the beauty and value of this “tree of life” in the midst and on each side of the crystal river. This “tree of life” was first mentioned in the book of Genesis chapter two and verse nine, “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil”, and now this tree appears again. After Adam and Eve sinned against God, He put them outside of the garden of Eden where the “tree of life” was located. He kept them from it by placing an angel with a flaming sword before the entrance of the garden, but at this time allows access to the “tree” within the “heavenly city”. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and He wants people to enjoy this “tree of life”. Those who submit their lives to Him shall partake of it's fruit, but those who do not shall never enjoy what God intended for all people.

Next time we see John share about “no more curse”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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