The Tree of Life

May 29, 2011

Lesson: Revelation 22:1–9

Key Verse: Revelation 22:2

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Introduction

Matthew Henry introduces this section of Revelation with these words: “The heavenly state which was before described as a city, and called the new Jerusalem, is here described as a paradise, alluding to the earthly paradise which was lost by the sin of the first Adam; here is another paradise restored by the second Adam. A paradise in a city, or a whole city in a paradise! In the first paradise there were only two persons to behold the beauty and taste the pleasures of it; but in this second paradise whole cities and nations shall find abundant delight and satisfaction.” Through the Redemptive sacrifice of Christ the divine nature of the “Garden of Eden” is again the place of God’s People; and within this garden is “the tree of life.” The Prophet Ezekiel was given the privilege of having a taste of the wonder and beauty of this eternal garden, the eternal abiding place of God and His people: “And (the Lord) said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come hither: for they shall be healed: and every thing shall live whither the river cometh” (Ez. 47:6–9). The eternal abode of God’s people is expressed in these words of our Savior to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise!”

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Water of Life: Revelation 22:1–4

John had been given the vision of the “holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”—and he “heard a great voice,” saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with, and be their God” (Rev. 21:2–3). Within in this new Jerusalem would be a unique tabernacle: “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it” (21:22).

John’s eyes are now drawn to this throne: “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Before the fall of man, God had placed Adam in a beautiful garden, which He had planted, “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. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it parted and became into four heads” (Gen.2:8–10). This water was to nurture the earth, bringing life to every part of the land. However, Adam’s transgression would bring judgment upon the generations of man. Adam and Eve had eaten of the tree of good and evil, which teaches us the nature of sin. Before Adam had sinned, he was being taught how to take care of the land, what was the nature of the animals, etc. He had received true knowledge from his Creator. Now, Scripture teaches us, that the triune God said, “Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil” (3:22). In other words, man took upon himself to be as gods, as those who had the authority and means to define what is good or what is evil. They took the place of their Creator. Thus God took from them the tree of life that they might once again look to their Creator as the only One who can give life.

Within the new Jerusalem, the tree of life was returned: “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 yielding her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Life was returned to man and his dwelling place because of the redemptive work of Christ the Son: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope be in God” (1 Peter 1:18–21).

Christ confirmed our hope and faith when He gave the beloved apostle this vision of eternal glory: “And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” As servants whose lives are made new by the Word of God, we proclaim the glory of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That which is our life in Christ today will be truly manifested in the new Jerusalem: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18). All those who are redeemed of the Lord Jesus bear the name of the Father upon their foreheads; “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

Discussion: How does this vision of John give hope to the Christian in persecution?

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The Faithful and True Word: Revelation 22:5–9

Within this great city, the new Jerusalem, John records this vision: “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” There will be no longer any wondering or questions of what is right or wrong; the Lord will be what He always was, the true authority of what is good and evil. Our eyes will behold the Light which alone will teach us. And because of this, the saints will reign with Him for ever and ever. We will surely understand that we serve only the King of kings and Lord of lords; there is no other teacher: “These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angels to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.”

We should remember that we are reading that Book which is called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”—“which God unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Rev. 1:1). Thus, when we note that John is moved by an “angel,” he is confronted by Christ Jesus the risen Lord; as in the first verse of chapter 20: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.” Only the Son of God has such a judgment upon the unrepentant sinner. Only the Son can give the saints, especially those who face tribulations, the hope of his imminent coming: “Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” The tribulation of A.D. 70 was below the sunrise, and the saints needed this confirmation that Christ would be present with them as was prophesied. The eternal Temple is to be revealed in their generation by Jesus: “Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Rev. 3:11–12).

The response of John to this revelation of Christ Jesus is this: “I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.” Understanding that he represents Christ alone, the angel replies, “See thou do it not; for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” How easy it is to be subjective in our worship of God as He is revealed in Scriptures. We love to have our ears tickled by man, our hearts moved by our emotions, claiming that we have worshipped because we have truly felt good. Look to Christ alone in worship. Entertainment turns our eyes inward and we trip over our robes of self-righteousness. Look to Christ, who alone is our salvation, His Word which alone is Truth, to our Father who first loved us and sent His Son to take our place upon the cross of Calvary, and to the Spirit who gives us that new birth that we may hear His teaching of that precious Word. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into his grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1–2). Thus we worship God, not by feelings but by faith which honors God and His Word.

Discussion: Wherein lays our hope both in tribulations and peace?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.