Three more lessons, after today, the Lord willing. And we shall have come to the end of the most accurate Bible description of Heaven, New Jerusalem, in all literature. That’s because of the “miracle” of Divine Inspiration!
And Revelation 22:2 certainly proves helpful to the student of prophecy. “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
The “Tree of Life,” as was described in several of the great Millennial Passages of Scripture. (Though the Millennium precedes the “Eternal State,” which we are now studying.) Ezekiel wrote of the 1,000 year Kingdom Rule of Christ: “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all TREES for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” Ezekiel 47:12, from which John seems to have borrowed some of the former Prophet’s vocabulary. Though not all of it.
Also Millennial, when these words will be fulfilled. Jesus’ Promise to the Church at Ephesus: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7
So this captivating Tree, first seen in the Garden of Eden, is still in God’s Plan! As in Genesis 2:9. “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the TREE OF LIFE also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
Then look!
Yes food … in Heaven! “The tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month ….” Do recall that Jesus, even in His post-resurrection, glorified Body, ate “broiled fish and honeycomb” one evening! Luke 24:42 proves it. “And they (the Disciples) gave him (Jesus) a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.” After He surprisingly asked, “Have ye here any meat?”
Like each Season here on earth now produces its own set of “blessings.” So each “month” in Heaven will do the same. A tree that bears different kinds of fruit apparently! Sounds just like our Lord, His Handiwork!
And instead of a local pharmacy?
“Leaves” as medicines, though there is no longer any sickness! Maybe medicine like “vitamins?” The (Greek) noun “healing” (in English this would be called a “gerund”) is spelled “therapeia,” our very word “therapy!” Eating as an act of worship, maybe? To the Provider of everything good?
And the word “nations” is “ethnos.” Any “ethnic” identity. Remember Revelation 5:9-10 describes for us a worship service in Heaven. (The “old” Heaven, I guess I should say. It has now passed away and the “New Heaven” and the “New Jerusalem” have been created, along with the “new earth.”) Anyway, the verses: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou (the Lamb, Jesus) art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of EVERY KINDRED, and TONGUE (LANGUAGE), and PEOPLE, and NATION; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Wow, “every nation” John said, observed.
New Jerusalem!
Eternal joy!
Eternal well-being!
Eternal life!
All because of Jesus.
Because of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
And God willing, even more tomorrow about this amazing Place!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell