Tree of Life in Heaven

May 30, 2024

Title : Tree of life and Purpose

Scripture:

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 22:2

SDA Bible commentary

Volume 7 page 66.

Tree of life.

Compare Ezekiel’s “many trees” (see on Eze. 47:7, 12). For the tree in the original Garden of Eden see on Gen. 2:9. For its subsequent history see 8T 288, 289. The tree is a symbol of eternal life from the source of life. Compare Rev. 21:10 with PP 62; GC 645, 648; EGW Supplementary Material on Rev. 22:2.

Twelve ...fruits.

There will be a constant abundance, sufficient to fill all the life needs of the saved throughout eternity. Compare Eze. 47:12.

Healing.

Greek word: therapeia, “service,” “healing,” sometimes, collectively, “household attendants.” There are only four occurrences of the word in the NT (cf. Matt. 24:45; Luke 9:1 1; 12:42). In classical Greek therapeia has the various meanings of “service,” “nurture,” “care.” For the function of the tree of life in Eden restored see references above under “tree of life.”

Ellen Gould White

Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life.... The fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver.

37Early Writings, 17.

The fruit of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden possessed supernatural virtue. To eat of it was to live forever. Its fruit was the antidote of death. Its leaves were for the sustaining of life and immortality.... After the entrance of sin the heavenly Husbandman transplanted the tree of life to the Paradise above.

38Testimonies for the Church 8:288.