20161125 Friday, November 25 2016
Revelation 22: The Return Of The Tree Of Life

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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 ... Blessed are they that do His Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life"

Humanity began in the Garden of Eden - Paradise. There, "a river went out of Eden to water the garden." Among the trees nourished by the river of Eden were "the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (see The Garden In Eden and Was The Garden Of Eden At Jerusalem?)

"2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 2:9 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.

2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 2:11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 2:12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 2:13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 2:14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 2:7-17 KJV)

When humanity rebelled and sinned by taking of the one tree that they were not to touch, "the tree of knowledge of good and evil," they lost the garden so that they could not take also of the other tree, "the tree of life." (see What Happened To The Trees In The Garden Of Eden?)

"3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." (Genesis 3:22-24 KJV)

Human history continued from that time with the same spirit of rebellion and self-destruction - while awaiting the self-inflicted death sentence of sin. (see How Did Eden Become Babylon? and Come Out Of Her, My People)

The Messiah however provides the means for the repentant to return to Paradise, in due time (see The LORD God Our Saviour and The Harvest Prophecies).

Notice the return of the "river of life" and "the tree of life" in the Kingdom of God - where there is no "forbidden tree" because the overcoming life of a true Christian is the same test that Adam and Eve failed (see Faith Is The Law).

Our lives as Christians are a daily choice of not taking of the forbidden fruit of sin - regardless of whatever form it now takes. Adam and Eve had only one kind of sin to choose from, while we have an infinite world of sin available to us (see Iniquity In History And Prophecy and Is Iniquity Liberal Or Conservative?).

The Holy Bible ends with the beginning of life forever, for the repentant - and of obliteration forever for all rebels. Everyone is free to choose their fate. (see The New Jerusalem and Who Is Headed For Hell Fire?).

"22:1 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. 22:2 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. 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Revelation 22:1-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does the famous "born again" teaching actually mean?
See What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?