Eternity: The Tree of Life Reappears-We will see God & Walk in His light!

The Tree of Life Reappears

Revelation 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. 

After telling us about the river filled with the water of life, John tells us about the tree of life. We have not seen or read anything about the tree of life since Genesis 3. 

Genesis 3:23-24  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 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. 

After God judged Adam and Eve for sinning, He drove them out of the garden and placed a cherubim and a flaming sword to keep the man and woman away from it. Why? So that they would not eat the fruit and have to live eternally in their sin and separated from God. 

The tree of life will not be mentioned again until Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 22. In Revelation 2 the right to eat fruit from the tree of life is promised to believers who overcome and it is located in the paradise of God in heaven.

What we can glean from this is God moved the tree of life. He took it from the earth and transplanted it into His heavenly garden. It will produce a different fruit each month and the leaves have some type of healing properties. 

Remember what the Lord Jesus Christ's resurrection body was like. He had a physical body and invited Thomas to touch His wounds (John 20:24-29).  He could enter a room even though the doors were locked. He ate with His disciples (John 21; Luke 24:28-31; 24:36-43).

In some manner, leaves from the tree of life will bring healing. The word translated "healing" is found in our word "therapeutic." There will not be any kind of illness in eternity so this word may be best understood in terms of part of our diet that promotes well being in eternity. 

It seems safe to say that we will be vegetarians in eternity. How often and how much will we need to eat? The Bible does not tell us the answer. 

Man will be rightly related to God

Revelation 22:3-4  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: 4) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

What we read of next is the reversal of the curse. The fall of mankind into sin resulted in Adam and Eve's relationship with God being changed and they were expelled from the garden. Sin resulted in Adam and Eve being denied the close communion with God that they previously enjoyed. John is telling us that all believers will once again enjoy a close, personal relationship with God. His holy name will be in our foreheads and we will see His face.

We will see God 

Exodus 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Moses loved God so much and he pleaded with the Lord to see His face. Jehovah's answer was that no man could look on His glory and live. But, in eternity we will be able to see our glorious God.

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

John taught us that we will see God as He is when we are transported to heaven and receive our glorified bodies. Honestly, words cannot describe what this will be like but it is a promise from God. 

The Godhead is the source of Light

Revelation 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. 

We read once more that there will not be night and no one will need light from the sun or from lamps. The Lord God will give us light throughout eternity. 

Jesus Christ: "I Am the Light of the World."

John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) The same was in the beginning with God. 3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Looking back into John's gospel we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Word of God and that He is God. He made everything that exists and is the source of all life and light. Later in his gospel, John recorded one of the seven "I Am" statements of Jesus. Jesus said "I am the light of the world" and He will be the light in heaven when we go there to live with Him. 

Teachings of Christ about Light.

Matthew 5:14-16  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus taught a lot about the subject of light. The world is darkened by sin and the princes of darkness currently hold sway over the hearts of many people. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus tells us how believers should live. We are the light of the world. Light drives back the evil and shows the way forward to a right relationship with God. 

Think about the reality of living out the teachings of Jesus Christ in His eternal kingdom. We will be light in the sense that we will rightly reflect the glory of our God. Since sin will be gone and evil vanished, there will be no darkness to drive away. The Light of His glory will not be hidden. 

Saints will not need any encouragement to let our lights shine throughout eternity. We will live in glorified, resurrected bodies and our old sin nature will be eradicated forever. Our lights will shine forth undimmed by our fallen humanity. 

Matthew 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Think about this for a moment. When we enter eternity we will have a singular focus upon God, our Creator, Sustainer Defender and Savior.

Paul tells us that Jesus is the source of life and light.

1 Timothy 6:15-16  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 

Paul spoke of our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus is King of kings, lord of lords, the only Potentate who is forever blessed. Jesus is the source of all life and light (John 1:1-5). Paul said that no man can see Him but we will see Him as He is in eternity. 

2 Timothy 1:9-10  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:  

In this text Paul tells us that Jesus saved us, called us out of darkness into His light. Christ brought eternal life to light through His gospel. Jesus abolished death. 

Saints will inherit the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Father makes us fit for His kingdom. A saint is a believer who is born again, regenerated by the Spirit of God.  God sets that believing man, woman or young person apart for Himself. He makes us saints. We are saved by grace and not by works and God sees fit to make us saints even though we often do not live like one.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

My words are woefully inadequate to describe what is waiting for each born again believer when we enter eternity. May the Lord will use His living truth and fill each of our hearts with a joyful anticipation when we think about eternity. 

Where will you spend eternity? I hope that you are born again and are looking forward to living in heaven with our Lord, our Great Shepherd, our Mighty King and Lord. If you are not born again, please read through our posts covering the End Times. Those who are unsaved, have a future filled with judgment, death and destruction.

Jesus said "Ye must be born again." Call upon Him while you have time.

Bob