The Tree Of Life...

[LovethroughDove]

Then please tell me why a Tree of Life is needed in Heaven?

It gives the fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

John 6:62-64 "What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."

 

[Edward]

For the same reason it was also in the Garden of Eden, to sustain eternal life.

Things were different before the Fall of Creation so what we consider to be literal now is not the same as it was preFall.

The purpose of the Tree of Life is to keep people alive as long as they keep partaking of it. One consequence of disobeying God was *denial of access to the Tree of Life, the result being spiritual death and eventually physical death.

Adam and Eve were ignorant of the difference between good and evil before they disobeyed God's instruction.

We are not told the extent of the knowledge of good and evil that they gained from eating of the forbidden fruit, but we can be sure it was experiential. An immediate change took place. They knew they were guilty of disobeying God and were ashamed now that they had lost their covering of innocence and the countdown was on for their bodies to age and die.

It was not only Adam and Eve's experience that changed, the whole of Creation changed. It went from being free of decay or corruption to being contaminated by sin.

The Bible reveals that Adam's disobedience brought judgment on everyone, but Christ's obedience brought justification, and renewed access to the Tree of Life for the Redeemed.

*Denial of Access to the Tree of Life:
Gen 3:22-24 Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"— (23) therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. (24) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Maybe that was true pre fall that they needed to eat from the tree of life, but after the Lord's work on the cross it was revealed in 1 Corinthians 15 that, when He comes for us again, we will be transformed and put on immortality.

Now, to me,to put on immortality would mean the Tree of Life os no longer needed by those who have been transformed...

That makes sense, doesn't it?

 

[eddif]

Maybe that was true pre fall that they needed to eat from the tree of life, but after the Lord's work on the cross it was revealed in 1 Corinthians 15 that, when He comes for us again, we will be transformed and put on immortality.

Now, to me,to put on immortality would mean the Tree of Life os no longer needed by those who have been transformed...

That makes sense, doesn't it?

Well ah, you know I ain’t a shore?

There is a tree planted on either side of the river.

We need help in our heart and mind.
Heart of flesh
Spirit of mind

Both get help, but one is more flesh and one is more spirit.

I really see through a glass darkly.

1 Peter 2:24 kjv
24.Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The passion of Christ had the whipping and then the cross.

One was for healing of disease and taking care of needs?
One for forgiveness of sins on the cross.

I am pretty sure Ezekiel 47 helps understand the river and tree / trees, but it has not completely clicked for me yet.

eddif

 

[Edward]

Well ah, you know I ain’t a shore?

There is a tree planted on either side of the river.

We need help in our heart and mind.
Heart of flesh
Spirit of mind

Both get help, but one is more flesh and one is more spirit.

I really see through a glass darkly.

1 Peter 2:24 kjv
24.Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The passion of Christ had the whipping and then the cross.

One was for healing of disease and taking care of needs?
One for forgiveness of sins on the cross.

I am pretty sure Ezekiel 47 helps understand the river and tree / trees, but it has not completely clicked for me yet.

eddif

Check me on this, when the Lord raptures His people and goes off to have the Marriage supper of the Lamb, those who were raptured are the ones who get transformed in the twinkling of an eye. Then those saints get their spiritual bodies when transformed, right?

Ok, but when the Lord makes His 2nd coming and puts the enemies down and after that He sets up His Millenial reign on earth for 1000 years...

But there's going to be Christians alive on the earth when Jesus returns. Scripture doesn't say that they get transformed, so there's going to be two classes of people on earth at that time. Those who have spiritual bodies and those who do not.

I think that's correct. What do you think?

What a thought! After Jesus resurrected He had His spiritual body and could walk through walls and stuff, and He ate fish with the Apostles too.

Wow, I'm not sure I would want to live on earth for 1000 years with a human body I think, lol. So I hope I don't miss the rapture part. (I can't miss that BBQ!) God has to throw the biggest best BBQ in the universe! A wedding feast in fact...so I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Exeter]

Maybe that was true pre fall that they needed to eat from the tree of life, but after the Lord's work on the cross it was revealed in 1 Corinthians 15 that, when He comes for us again, we will be transformed and put on immortality.

Now, to me,to put on immortality would mean the Tree of Life os no longer needed by those who have been transformed...

That makes sense, doesn't it?

The Theology of the Divine Source:

• Partaking of Tree of Life = Putting on Immortality
• Putting on Immortality = Partaking of the Tree of Life.
• If there was no Tree of Life there would be no immortality.
• The right to the Tree of Life was removed after the Fall in Eden.
• The right to the Tree of Life was restored after the Resurrection of Christ.

Rev 22:12-14 “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (14) Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

There have been some issues over the translation and meaning of Rev 22:1-2 but I like the WEB phrasing below in which both the street and the River of Life flowing in its middle are encompassed by the Tree of Life on both sides. Wow!

The Bible states the Tree of Life bears 12 kinds of fruit month after month, so we can understand from this familiar wording that a continuous source of Life is intrinsic to Heaven.

World English Bible

Rev 22:1-2 He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, (2) in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

[Edward]

If there was no Tree of Life there would be no immortality.

Maybe it's just for keeping the physical body immortal? Because this,

1 Corinthians 15:52-53
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.../

It says we shall be changed. That at that moment we put on immortality. It doesn't say He brings fruit from the tree of life for us, lol.

I says in the twinkling of an eye. That's much fast than the blink of an eye.


How long does it take to blink in seconds?


Each blink lasts between 0.1 and 0.4 seconds. Given how many times the average person blinks per minute, this makes up about 10 percent of the time you're awake.



The fundamentalist philosopher Jack Van Impe has defined the twinkling of an eye as "eleven one-hundredths of a second." We would like to hear from anyone who has verified this number experimentally. But it is much faster speed than the blink of an eye. Uh, that's not really enough time to eat a piece of good fruit is it? I don't think so.

Starting to wonder if, those who have been transformed and return with Jesus will already be immortal so they wont need to eat from the tree of life. But the other people, those who are alive and remain...will need fruit from the tree of life to make it through the Millenial period?

 

[eddif]

Houston I think we are finding a solution to the problem in our operation manual.

John 5:28 kjv
28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

We are all changed at the resurrection last trump.. We all become eternal.
The believers, in Christs work, will leave the throne of judgement headed for heaven.

The unbelievers, with their names not written in the Lambs book of life, will leave the throne of judgement headed for eternal separation from God.

Thanks to the Holy Spirits leading all the folks comments that led to a better understanding.
Edward, thanks for sharing several questions.
So now I have some searches for more understanding.

eddif

 

[eddif]

The Declaration of Independence might be better as:
The Declerstion of Dependence on God.

In the course of human events we all need to become united in Christ Jesus.

The river course from heaven?

eddif

 

[journeymanisnothing]

I have a question. If it's going to happen that, in the twinkling of an eye we will be transformed into our new spiritual bodies and become immortal eternal beings... (1 Corinthians 15:52-53) ....

Then please tell me why a Tree of Life is needed in Heaven?

The Tree of Life and the River of Life which is described in Revelation 22 is in the New Jerusalem, that's what it's talking about. But if we have immortal bodies then why would we need to eat and drink ti have sternal life?

I guess the question has now become, do not all people who get saved receive glorified bodies? Maybe they will be the ones to need the tree of life?

Revelation 22 And he showed me a [a]pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 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.

I believe John is referring to how the tree of life was the Spirit of God working through believers,

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psa.1:3

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. Eze.47:12

 

[Edward]

I believe John is referring to how the tree of life was the Spirit of God working through believers,

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psa.1:3

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. Eze.47:12

I've heard it taught that way before. Kind of makes sense too. And his big point at the conclusion was, it's up to us how far out in the waters of God's Spirit that we go. Who don't like to swim though?! That lines up with scripture too. If we draw closer to God, then God will draw closer to us.

 

[eddif]

I believe John is referring to how the tree of life was the Spirit of God working through believers,

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psa.1:3

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. Eze.47:12

I have waited years before posting this.

Where is?
The Sanctuary in us:
The promise / prophecy (I will put my law in your hearts and minds).
Paul reveals with the mind he serves?
Romans 7:25 kjv
25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Ephesians 4:23 kjv
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

What am I saying?
King David was a man after the Heart of God. The new man. He just seemed to never fully get there. He repented over and over, got up and tried again.

When God put the law in our mind:
It is like heaven moved into our conscience. We suddenly saw Jesus as:
The sacrifice for sin
The firstborn of the dead
The Passover sacrifice
The high priest
The suffering servant
etc

That knowledge flows to our carnal thought brain.
IMHO the cerebellum. In the cerebellum is the tree of life (a midsection dissection of the cerebellum shows tree symbols on either side of spinal fluid made in the cerebrum.

There are 12 cranial nerves which are the gates to the new born again man and new Jerusalem, and a pathway to the heart. Through this pathway to a better heart is revealed.

Just symbols. In one sense, but Romans 1:20 shows that our creation in the image of God; shows Gods nature.

To do this my carnal mind is a bit overwhelmed. So you have to go to Revelation 4 for an anatomy lesson.

This thread is about the heart. I get that. The heart is not the only part of the body.

Too much at one time? I left off pages and pages.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

 

[journeymanisnothing]

I've heard it taught that way before. Kind of makes sense too. And his big point at the conclusion was, it's up to us how far out in the waters of God's Spirit that we go. Who don't like to swim though?! That lines up with scripture too. If we draw closer to God, then God will draw closer to us.

Yes and on your point a out the Bride of Christ, I think there is a sort of pecking order for faithful service. Like when James and John wanted to sit right beside our Lord in the Kingdom. Not everyone has the same position.

 

[journeymanisnothing]

I have waited years before posting this.

Where is?
The Sanctuary in us:
The promise / prophecy (I will put my law in your hearts and minds).
Paul reveals with the mind he serves?
Romans 7:25 kjv
25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Ephesians 4:23 kjv
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

What am I saying?
King David was a man after the Heart of God. The new man. He just seemed to never fully get there. He repented over and over, got up and tried again.

When God put the law in our mind:
It is like heaven moved into our conscience. We suddenly saw Jesus as:
The sacrifice for sin
The firstborn of the dead
The Passover sacrifice
The high priest
The suffering servant
etc

That knowledge flows to our carnal thought brain.
IMHO the cerebellum. In the cerebellum is the tree of life (a midsection dissection of the cerebellum shows tree symbols on either side of spinal fluid made in the cerebrum.

There are 12 cranial nerves which are the gates to the new born again man and new Jerusalem, and a pathway to the heart. Through this pathway to a better heart is revealed.

Just symbols. In one sense, but Romans 1:20 shows that our creation in the image of God; shows Gods nature.

To do this my carnal mind is a bit overwhelmed. So you have to go to Revelation 4 for an anatomy lesson.

This thread is about the heart. I get that. The heart is not the only part of the body.

Too much at one time? I left off pages and pages.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

I think he's saying we are a tree of life because we have the Spirit of God in us.
The law shows us the goodness of God and his Son and the sins we're all guilty of. We must thank our Lord for his mercy, as he suffered contrary to the law.

 

[Edward]

I have waited years before posting this.

Where is?
The Sanctuary in us:
The promise / prophecy (I will put my law in your hearts and minds).
Paul reveals with the mind he serves?
Romans 7:25 kjv
25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Ephesians 4:23 kjv
23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

What am I saying?
King David was a man after the Heart of God. The new man. He just seemed to never fully get there. He repented over and over, got up and tried again.

When God put the law in our mind:
It is like heaven moved into our conscience. We suddenly saw Jesus as:
The sacrifice for sin
The firstborn of the dead
The Passover sacrifice
The high priest
The suffering servant
etc

That knowledge flows to our carnal thought brain.
IMHO the cerebellum. In the cerebellum is the tree of life (a midsection dissection of the cerebellum shows tree symbols on either side of spinal fluid made in the cerebrum.

There are 12 cranial nerves which are the gates to the new born again man and new Jerusalem, and a pathway to the heart. Through this pathway to a better heart is revealed.

Just symbols. In one sense, but Romans 1:20 shows that our creation in the image of God; shows Gods nature.

To do this my carnal mind is a bit overwhelmed. So you have to go to Revelation 4 for an anatomy lesson.

This thread is about the heart. I get that. The heart is not the only part of the body.

Too much at one time? I left off pages and pages.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

I've heard sparts of this before too, Dr. Caroline Leaf and she's good. She ha a live tree ad a dead tree explains how the human brain systems (and circulatory system!) look like Trees. That every time we think, our brain creayes nueral pathways and they can look at them now. And they look like Trees. What could that mean, indeed. She says every thought, if positive and loving, then it creates a nice looking strong tree. But when people think toxic thoughts that there's quite a bit of difference between the two. and it isn't even asthetic.

And that's what scripture says too. ...don't think on those tings, think on these things, virtue compassion love. so as a man thinks so he is in his heart and who he becomes...

(and the gospel of Thomas says, when the two agree then he can say to this mountain be removed and cast into the sea) But...Oh, yes Brother, sorry. By all means please continue...! you was on a roll there and I'm with you!

 

[Edward]

I think he's saying we are a tree of life because we have the Spirit of God in us.
The law shows us the goodness of God and his Son and the sins we're all guilty of. We must thank our Lord for his mercy, as he suffered contrary to the law.

There's no doubt that this is right too. With the S[irit of God within us...life and death are in the power of the tongue. We can let our spirit speak by a willful act of obeying what he says. Either we let ourselves be led by the s[irit, or we allow our flesh to lead us. Many times I have told that guy (my flesh) to stfu. and if we continue to do that, then eventually the spirit will overcome the flesh and the flesh will have to be in submission to the spirit.
I'm not there yet, but I know it's on up the road a piece, lol.

 

[JLB]

Then please tell me why a Tree of Life is needed in Heaven?

…for the healing of the nations

 

[christian1724]

Many times I have told that guy (my flesh) to stfu.

Is that Hebrew brother?

 

[Edward]

Is that Hebrew brother?

It's not tongues, lol.

 

[Exeter]

Starting to wonder if, those who have been transformed and return with Jesus will already be immortal so they wont need to eat from the tree of life. But the other people, those who are alive and remain...will need fruit from the tree of life to make it through the Millenial period?

There is imagery, symbolism, & conceptualism all through the Bible. Absolutely everything that has eternal life receives it from the same source which is described using various metaphors, the Tree of Life being one of them.

Virtual reality presents man-made scenes that exist only in the mind.

Divine reality presents God-made scenes that exist in the heavenly realm and serve a heavenly purpose, the purpose of the Tree of Life as first mentioned in Genesis 2 & 3.

In Scripture many things ovelap, such as Christ being the Good Shepherd and also the Lamb of God and also the heavenly temple and also the heavenly lamp of God's glory.

Rev 21:22-23 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. (23) The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

 

[Edward]

…for the healing of the nations

This just might be the crux of it. That is what it says so it must be true.

So now tell me, if everyone got transformed in the twinkling of an eye and put on immortality...and, go to be where jesus is, that we may be also. that's why He is bringing us with Him after the marriage supper...and we are the body, then would that mean that Jesus will be walking around with sickness within Himself?

That can't be Brother and we know that. So the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations, and that's people, souls. So I presume that there will be blemished Christians in Heaven. That have need for the healing. And an unblemished Bride, and everybody inbetween too.

And this makes sense with scriptures too that say, there will be rank in Heaven. Servants, Friend, Sons, Bride.

If the Lord makes everyones cup runneth over, then that don't make sense! But in fact, it does make sense. Oh there is huge differences in the ranks of Heaven. But if servants cup is coffe cup sized and the sons cup is Stein sized, is the servant disappointed? No because his cup still runneth over and He is overjoyed to be there whereas the sons have a greater capacity for the things of God. So must have a bigger cup. Makes sense to me.