For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
A tree’s growth rate changes in a predictable pattern throughout the year in response to seasonal climate changes, resulting in visible growth rings. Each ring marks a complete cycle of seasons, or one year, in the tree’s life. Radiocarbon dating requires a long rage to study the rate at which decay occurs and it is outside the scope of our discussion here. The point we want to focus here is that time has certain value so we count time to separate events from one another. Thus in a sedimentary rock finding a fossil tells us passage of time. In the matter of trees as mentioned above time is recorded. In the Land of the living Life we have thus time in its classic sense and it speaks for the world of the flesh. In the quantum world however time and space lose their traditional meaning so God a Spirit sets the tree of life in the Garden which is watered perennially source of which is beyond any man’s reckoning.
Before God set man in the Garden we read that “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
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(Ge.2:6-9)”.
There is another set of which we read in the creation account.”And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament:(Ge.1:7)”
Water below the firmament went on to make seas that we are told shall no more be found in the eternity.”And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea(Re.21:1)”.
The waters above is the source for the river ‘a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb(Re.22:1). We come across this in the vision of the Book of Ezekiel, “a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over./ And he 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(Ez.47:5-7)”.
Now we shall look at the version of Apostle John who sees,” 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./ 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(Re.22:2-3)
From the mist going from the earth watered the whole face of the ground. Glory of God sensitized the natural world and it leaves its own impression on all things, living and inanimate objects. Thus time as man may count for his needs is at his disposal. In addition to the above there is spiritual corollary to it so tree planted by water as we have it in the Book of Psalms, ‘a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither;(Ps.1:3) The tag ‘of trees on either side of the river by the Spirit compares the vision of Ezekiel to that of John. ‘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(Re.22:3).
Ezekiel speaks of very many trees on the one side and on the other’ while St John speaks of it as the tree of life the same tree as was available for Adam. Satan beguiled Eve and by disobedience sin entered into the world. Throughout the Scripture we find mention of this river for example,”And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters(Ex.15:27)”.
Earlier to the above passage where God revealed to the people that He was the healer we have mention of the waters,’And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?/ And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet(15:24-25)”
Finally we have the nature of the tree of life which is for the healing of nations. In eternity there shall be only inheritors of light and there shall be no more curse. What does it mean then of healing of nations? Is it not than the tree of life as a tag of Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever?. Whoever is in him, is made new. Time goes forward and backwards. In the world of the Spirit time loses its significance.
To sum: we carry,- as adopted in Christ unto God, eternity in our ‘now’. Now is the day of salvation. The tree of life is a testimony.
GuidetohisWord 