Last week’s post answered a question sent to me via Facebook about the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. To summarize, God knew Adam and Eve would live forever in a fallen state if they ate from the tree of life. The Lord dispatched angels and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree. Whether the garden decayed over time, Noah’s flood (see Genesis 6-9) finished the job. The Garden of Eden is no more.
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, recounts the sad tale of this wasted opportunity (see Genesis 2-3). But in Revelation, the last book of the Bible, God restores access to the tree of life. Once removed, the tree returns.
Four verses in the book of Revelation mention the tree of life. One occurs in the second chapter, and three are in the final chapter. We’ll review each of them to gain a vision of the future God is designing for us.
Reward
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” – Revelation 2:7
In Revelation 2-3, Jesus dictates seven letters for the apostle John to write for seven churches located in present-day Turkey. Most of the letters contain a mix of encouragement and correction, and each ends with a promise.
Jesus addresses these congregations because He knows what they’re going through and what’s next. He wants them to remain loyal to Him no matter what. To keep believers from succumbing to persecution, Christ describes their future rewards.
The first honor is the tree of life. He doesn’t describe it much, except to emphasize that it’s in God’s paradise. This sounds like the original Garden of Eden, except that’s gone. This is in heaven. We don’t have the details, but it has to be awesome!
Think of it like this. In Genesis, God made all the plants of Eden available as food, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. All the first couple had to do was obey Him, and they’d enjoy these forever. But they failed.
Jesus now promises His disciples the tree of life in paradise. How would we qualify for this gift? In the same manner as Adam and Eve–by obedience. The original human beings botched their test, but the grace of the gospel helps us persevere.
The New Heavens and New Earth
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. 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.” – Revelation 22:1-2
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” – Revelation 22:14
“And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” – Revelation 22:19
When history comes to a close, God will judge the effects of all the deeds everyone has committed. The wicked will face punishment and the righteous will receive God’s blessings. He will recreate reality to accommodate these blessings. As the apostle Peter says, God will create a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells (see 2 Peter 3:10-14).
And in our new home, we have–wait for it–the tree of life! This suggests the new heavens and earth resemble Eden. Our home will abound in beauty and perfection.
Adam could maintain his access to Edenic blessings if he had obeyed the Lord. We gain access to heavenly blessings through consistent obedience to the gospel. Chapter 22 places progressive emphasis on this theme.
Verse 2, the first verse in the chapter to mention the tree of life, describes the power and purpose of this tree. Following the damage wrought on souls who endured the trials of the end times, the tree of life provides healing nourishment. The fruit and the leaves are for the nations. God isn’t biased; anyone who trusts in His Son Jesus is welcome. The offer is open.
But verse 14 provides a subtle caution. The tree of life is for those who’ve “washed their robes.” It’s for people who’ve ceased identifying themselves with this fallen world. We’re invited to enjoy the tree of life and the heavenly city. The world doesn’t let go of people without a fight, so maintaining our loyalty to Jesus will not go unchallenged. But to avoid future judgment, we must. Allegiance to Jesus is paramount.
Then verse 19 warns against minimizing or reducing the book of Revelation. We could apply this admonition to the whole of Scripture. In the midst of spiritual battles, our enemies–the world, the flesh, and the devil–seek to undermine God’s Word. Should we lose confidence in the truth of the Bible, we’re vulnerable to the temptations of our opponents. But when we stick with “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), we have the power to overcome. And the reward for the victorious is, as Jesus said in Revelation 2, the tree of life.
Application
Christ calls us to fearless obedience. Mindful of our loyalty, He will reward us with eternal life represented by the tree of life. What Adam and Eve lost, Jesus restores. What we must do now is follow Him through good times and bad. The Lord will honor us with access to the tree that reflects and enhances our eternal state–everlasting life with Jesus Christ.
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