the Tree of Life

[jw]

Something I've often been curious about is the Tree of Life. In Genesis, it is said to be one of the trees in the midst of the Garden. When man fell, God said..

Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—
23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.

The Tree isn't really mentioned again until Revelation 2:7

7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

Then again in Rev 22:2, 14, & 19 describing the Tree being present in the New Jerusalem and one's part being taken away from the Tree if their name is not written in the book of life.

2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

So this beggs a few quesions.

1. Do you think this is a literal tree?
2. Is this the method by which we will gain eternal life?

 

[Grasshopper]

1. I could go either way on that. I would say yes.
2. Maybe it was the way to gain immortality? Think about that for a while and see where it leads.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by jw:
1. Do you think this is a literal tree?

Dunno. It was obviously something real. But a literal tree? Dunno, and it doesn't really matter.

2. Is this the method by which we will gain eternal life?

I don't think so. In Rev, it's an analogy. Rev tends to be very nonliteral and symbolic. Use of the tree of life here is an analogy, methinks. But again, as with anything in Rev, it's, at best, speculation.

 

[Salamander]

Not!

Nothing speculative about the Great White Throne, Nothing speculative about the Marriage Supper! Many literal events soon to come laid out in the Book of Revelation.

The Tree if Life could only be salvation, so it is very possibbly symbolic of Christ, but then Adam and Eve could have partaken without repentence if it weren't for two flaming swords blocking the way back into the Garden upon their removal.

Simple theology: no other way to gain immortality/eternal life but through Christ, and the only way to Christ is repentence upon conviction and the drawing power from the Holy Ghost.

Much speculation on the exact location of Eden, but no one can be sure, everytime some one gets close they meet a flame or two.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

It is interesting that Rev. 22:2 says that the 'tree of life' is on both sides of the river.

Does not say trees ans in more than one, but tree, singular. Only one tree.

 

[blackbird]

Originally posted by standingfirminChrist:
It is interesting that Rev. 22:2 says that the 'tree of life' is on both sides of the river.

Does not say trees ans in more than one, but tree, singular. Only one tree.

Only one Lord and Savior!!!

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Amen, Blackbird!

the tree on either side makes one wonder though, is it like one of those giant redwoods with the tunnel through the trunk.

At any rate, thank God for that tree!

 

[Keith M]

Originally posted by Salamander:
Nothing speculative about the Great White Throne, Nothing speculative about the Marriage Supper! Many literal events soon to come laid out in the Book of Revelation.

The Tree if Life could only be salvation, so it is very possibbly symbolic of Christ, but then Adam and Eve could have partaken without repentence if it weren't for two flaming swords blocking the way back into the Garden upon their removal.

Simple theology: no other way to gain immortality/eternal life but through Christ, and the only way to Christ is repentence upon conviction and the drawing power from the Holy Ghost.

AMEN!

Originally posted by Salamander:
Much speculation on the exact location of Eden, but no one can be sure, everytime some one gets close they meet a flame or two.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

Genesis 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.

I only see one sword, not two.

 

[Salamander]

Originally posted by standingfirminChrist:
Genesis 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.

I only see one sword, not two.

Hmmm? I suppose you're right, but where do the cheribim stand? In front or behind the sword that must be shaped like a bowl? Four-square? Either way, man cannot enter until brought there by the LORD.

 

[bapmom]

well the Cherubim wouldn't still be there........

The Flood would have sort of wiped out the Garden of Eden anyway.

 

[standingfirminChrist]

interesting concept, bapmom.

I always thought that because there was no mention of the tree being removed, that it would still be here on earth and guarded still.

But your statement reminds me of one verse.

Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

The Tree of Life would have been destroyed, so the Tree of Life mentioned in Revelation is an entirely different Tree.

 

[bapmom]

Right,

and there is indication that all people in some regular fashion will travel to the New Jerusalem in order to partake of the Tree of Life.....during the Millenium, or after all that and on into eternity. There is one passage in one of the prophetic books describing this.

So Id say its an indication that somehow the Tree of Life continues to give us life somehow forever.

Its all speculation though, of course.

 

[mountainrun]

I think the tree is a literal tree.
I think it is the same tree that was in the Garden. I believe it was removed to Heaven.
I believe that eternal life is gained by eating the fruit of the tree and only those saved by the blood of Jesus will be allowed to eat from the tree.

"To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God."

This will not happen in the millenium in the New Jerusalem, bapmom.

The New Jerusalem does not come down until AFTER the earth is destroyed AFTER the millenium.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were gone; and there was no more sea.
2. And I saw the holy town, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride made beautiful for her husband.


MR