Tree of Life – River of Water of Life

Tree of Life and River of Water of Life – What are These?

Revelation 22:1-5 contains 6 challenging descriptions of the heaven like earth. As you bear in mind the heavenly city (New Jerusalem) New Jerusalem, and the new earth described in chapter 21, we turn now to additional details to make this utopian state even more ideal.

1. “Then the angel showed me a pure water of life : Pure Water of Life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev. 22:1). In the eternal paradise God has planned for us, an abundance of water will proceed out of the throne of God Himself, indicating that God will be the source of that life giving substance.
2. “The tree of life: The Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month” (Rev. 22:2). When Adam and Eve sinned, God forbade them to eat of the Tree of Life. Genesis 3:22 states: And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So, the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. This text clarifies that the eating of the Tree of Life makes a person live forever.
3. “No longer will there be any curse : No More Curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him” (Rev. 22:3). The curse that God placed on the earth as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden will be partially lifted during the Millennium, but completely lifted during the eternal order. Therefore, the unlimited potential of the planet God gave to the human race will be realized for the first time. As proof that it will not be cursed earth, God will place His throne here. His angelic hosts and human beings will be with Him as His servants. No rebellious servants of God will exist in the eternal order.
4. “They will see his face: They Shall See His Face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Rev. 22:4). The seal of God in the forehead of a person indicates that he or she is the blood bought child of God through faith in Jesus Christ. The superiority of the future status of humanity in relationship to God is seen in the fact that we will actually be able to see God” (John 1:18); in that order we will literally see God.
5. “There will be no more night: There Shall Be No Night There, They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light” (Rev. 22:5). As expressed (in Rev. chapter 21), God Himself, who is the light, will be the light of that eternal order, suggesting a consistency of heat and light. These first 5 characteristics bring beauty and warmth into the heaven like condition of the new order. The description in chapter 21 of the stone city with golden streets, pearl gates, and rock foundations does not suggest the warmth that the water, vegetation, and light described here convey. These elements indicate that it will not be a cold city, like some of our concrete jungles, but a city furnishing the warmth of natural life that is so advantageous to human beings.
6. “And they will reign for ever and ever:” They Shall Reign Forever and Ever (Rev. 22:5). Just as we rule with Christ for 1000 years, so we will reign with Him forever. Whether that will involve universes, galaxies, and other planets can only be guessed at. But one thing is for certain: We will reign with Him forever.

Since the Bible does not in any one passage offer a complete presentation of God’s plan for our activities during the eternal order, it would be good to examine the characteristics delineated by Dr. Pentecost in his book, Things to Come:

1. A life of fellowship with Him (1 Cor. 13:12; 1 John 3:2 Rev. 22:4);
2. A life of rest (Rev. 14:13);
3. A life of knowledge (1 Cor 13:12);
4. A life of holiness (Rev. 21:27);
5. A life of joy (Rev. 21:4);
6. A life of service (Rev. 22:3);
7. A life of abundance (Rev. 21:6);
8. A life of glory (2 Cor. 4:17; Col. 3:4);
9. A life of worship (Rev. 19:1).