Tree of Life

The Book of Revelation was written to the seven churches which are mentioned in the second and third chapters. As they received the words of the prophecy of the book, they understood they needed to not merely hear the message, but that it was necessary for them to "keep those things which are written in it" (Revelation 1:3). This could only be accomplished through the obedience produced by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit spoke saying, "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14). As we notice this promise, it is for those "who do His commandments." "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).

The Lord wants us to understand the tree of life is abundantly available to those who enter the kingdom of God. He helps us by describing His kingdom in this way: "In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

In addition to understanding the promise in Revelation 22:14 applies to those who keep His commandments, when He says, "they may have the right," the Lord reveals access to the tree of life to be ongoing. By this we see the connection between living continuously in keeping His commandments, and the enjoyment of the tree of life. The two are inseparable. Additionally, the two are not reserved for the time after the resurrection. Rather, as it has been indicated in Revelation 1:3, the seven churches understood the message required their faithfulness in keeping the commands of the Lord. As He said to the church at Ephesus, "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

The Bible speaks of wisdom in very certain terms. In Proverbs 3:18 we read, "She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her." This wisdom referred to is the wisdom of the kingdom of God, which is separate from anything else wrongly called wisdom. James 3:17 tells us how those in the kingdom of God operate. "Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." This is what John was referring to in Revelation 22:2 when he described the tree of life as constantly bearing fruit. This is the constant fruit of the Spirit which is evident in those who love the Lord and follow His commandments.

Proverbs 11:30 tells us, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." Again we are seeing an inseparable connection. Here again the tree of life is clearly shown to be for those who live righteous lives which bear fruit of the same. Furthermore, we see wisdom directly connected to the winning of souls. Those who operate in the wisdom of God according to the Lord's commandments will develop God-honoring kingdom relationships, which is the result of producing consistent Spiritual fruit.

The Lord spoke to the church in Philadelphia, the faithful church, in Revelation 3:10 where He articulated their reward for having kept His "command to persevere." Their godly wisdom and brotherly love was going to keep them "from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." The Holy Spirit tells us in Proverbs 10:2 and 11:4, "righteousness delivers from death." In other words, those who honor the Lord discover they have already accessed the tree of life, just as we just read regarding the church of Philadelphia.

Paul tells us he became a servant of all men, that he "might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). Regarding the reward for those who run a good race, he says we must all "run in such a way" that we may obtain it" (1 Corinthians 9:24). Through Proverbs we understand right desires (13:12), as well as "a wholesome tongue" (15:4), are a tree of life. God gives grace to "all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" (Ephesians 6:24), and who "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Finally, Revelation 22:14 tells us each person "may enter through the gates into the city." The words "may enter" indicate free access, and also indicate no other access. In Revelation 21:12 the Holy Spirit tells us the gates are, "the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." In addition, we understand "the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14) are the foundation of the New Jerusalem. They are the beginning of God's new heavenly order through the people of the twelve tribes of Israel. This new heavenly order is the New Covenant which has been established in the blood of the Lamb. As our Lord said, He is the door to the sheepfold, which is the New Jerusalem. Whoever "climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber" (John 10:1). The access to the city through the gates indicates there must be love and honor given to the Jewish people who come to faith in Jesus Christ, beginning with the apostles. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Without the ministry of Jesus Christ as "the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2:20), and without "the foundation of the apostles and prophets" (Ephesians 2:20) , everyone, both Jew and Gentile, would be "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). The Paradise of God is accessed through Jesus Christ and is built upon this solid foundation, and it is through this gate that all may enter.

This is the message of the gospel, and the Holy Spirit says, "Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world" (Romans 10:18). It is for this reason, because of the established New Covenant, that the unrepentant Jews collaborate with the nations of this world and persecute the New Jerusalem, even as they persecuted our Lord whom they crucified. This they do to no avail, because their "fight against God" (Acts 5:39) is futile, as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the book of Revelation. The people of God referred to as the New Jerusalem, the Paradise of God, or the church, continue to call everyone to repentance, understanding the wisdom of God is a mystery to this world. It is "the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

The Paradise of God exists forever and is comprised of individuals from every nation, of both Jew and Gentile, because Jesus Christ came to "create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace" (Ephesians 2:15). The New Jerusalem is therefore inclusive of every individual who lives according to the Spirit of God, and who lives in keeping with the Lord's commands which "yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Hebrews 12:11). The Holy Spirit tells us we are to "honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (1 Peter 2:7). He further assure us, "if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:10-11).

As the Lord has said, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7). God's Paradise awaits those who will overcome and who will eat of the tree of life in all Spiritual wisdom. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8).