What is the Tree of Life in the Bible?

by Mr. Whitney V. Myers

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Eat from the Tree of Life (Revelation 2:7)

"Out of the ground the Lord God caused every tree to grow that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."  (Genesis 2:9)

"The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God."  (Revelation 2:7)

This lesson explains the original purpose of the tree of life, where the tree of life is now, that we overcome the world through faith in Christ, and that Jesus will grant to eat from the tree of life.

     Consider.  What was the original purpose of the tree of life in the garden of Eden?  Why did God later prevent Adam from eating of the tree of life?

1. The Original Purpose of the Tree of Life

     The original purpose of the tree of life was to preserve life.  The tree of life was a special tree in the garden of Eden that God provided for the purpose of preserving life.  Genesis 3:22 tells us if Adam had stretched out his hand and taken from the tree of life and eaten its fruit that he would have lived forever.      

However, Adam lost access to the life-giving tree of life.  Why?  Adam sinned against God by disobeying God's command not to eat from the other special tree in the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9, Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:6-7).  After Adam had sinned, God drove him out of the garden of Eden.  God stationed cherubim [angelic beings, Ref. 1] to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).

God is merciful in that he prevented Adam (and prevents us as Adam's descendants) from living forever in a state of disobedience and sin.  

2. Where is the Tree of Life Now?

     The tree of life now is in the Paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).  Paradise is where believers will be with Jesus after death.  This is the same Paradise that Jesus spoke about to the penitent thief on the cross.  "Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43; "Paradise, Jesus, and the Penitent Thief" -- Ref. 2).

In the future heavenly holy city, new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2, Revelation 21:10), the tree of life will be on both sides of the river of the water of life (Revelation 22:1-2, Ezekiel 47:12).

3. We Overcome the World through Faith in Christ

     In Revelation 2:7, Jesus said, "The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." 

Jesus promises he will grant to eat from the tree of life to the one who overcomes.  To overcome means to conquer and to come off victorious (HELPS Word-studies, Ref. 3).

We overcome the world through faith in Jesus, faith in the One who has already overcome the world.  Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 

The apostle John confirms that we overcome by faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ.  "For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5).  Faith in Christ means believing in, trusting in, and having confidence in Christ (Ref. 4).

4. Eat from the Tree of Life

     To the one who overcomes through faith in Christ, Jesus promises to grant (give, Ref. 5) to eat from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7).  To eat from the tree of life is a gracious gift from God.  Compare Revelation 2:7 with Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Adam, through disobedience to God, lost access to the tree of life.  As Adam's descendants, we overcome the world through faith in Jesus, and he will grant us to eat from the tree of life. 

     Apply.  Put your faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ.  Believe in, trust in, and have confidence in him.  Overcome the world through your faith in Christ, and he will grant you to eat from the tree of life.

Related Lessons
"What is Eternal Life?"(John 17:3)
"Paradise, Jesus, and the Penitent Thief"(Luke 23:43)
"Biblical Definition of 'The World'" (John 1:10)

References
1.  https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3742.htm - Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
2.  https://www.scriptureway.com/home/paradise-jesus-and-the-penitent-thief
3.  https://biblehub.com/greek/3528.htm
4.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm
5.  https://biblehub.com/greek/1325.htm