Eden’s Tree of Life to New Jerusalem’s Hope

The Fall and the Lost Garden

In the cool of the day, God walked through the garden. God's visits with Adam and Eve must have been a wondrous time, until that moment they reached for a fruit that opened their eyes to good and evil. Then in shame they hid from Him. Mercifully God cast them out of Eden before they could eat from the Tree of Life, for if they had they would've lived forever in their fallen state.

This act reflects both His justice, because sin must not remain unpunished, and His mercy, as He provides the promise of restoration. The Tree of Life who had brought them such joy in Eden was now blocked and hidden, forever it seemed, until we read the book of Revelation where the Tree of Life reappears in the New Jerusalem bringing hope.

From Genesis to Revelation: The Bible’s Bookends

Genesis chapters 2-3 and Revelation 21-22 explain how these events are similar and how they are different. The Garden of Eden was planted by God "in the east" (Genesis 2:8) while in Revelation the New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven to earth (Revelation 21:2). One image sums up both our greatest loss and our future hope: the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is a real feature in Scripture and also a symbol of God’s provision, fully realized in Jesus. From the center of Eden, to our Savior hanging on a tree, to the banks of the River of Life in Revelation, we are told a story of exile, restoration, and promise.

Eden's Tree of Life t o New Jerusalem's Hope: Lost and Restored

The Tree of Life was planted in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:9) but in Revelation we see it placed on either side of the River of Life that flows from the Throne of God (Revelation 22:1). This life giving river nourishes the Tree of Life. The tree produces twelve kinds of fruit and its leaves are "for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2). Access to the Tree of Life was freely given until the Fall, but in the New Jerusalem it will be once again be freely available to the redeemed (Revelation 22:14).

The twelve fruits the tree produces have symbolic meaning as well. It's a number used often in Scripture, seen in the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve disciples, all pointing to divine completeness, abundance, and provision. The life it provides is not for those who only know about the existence of God, but for those who are new creations. Only a heart that is changed, a heart that "hungers and thirsts" after righteousness, is the kind of heart that is sustained by God.

The Tree of Life doesn't just offer us eternal life but also healing and restoration. Does your heart and soul need to be healed? We feed on the word of God (Matthew 4:4). His word brings eternal life; His word brings spiritual healing through His Son. The same idea is found in Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found and I ate them, and Your word became to me the gladness and joy of my heart.”

The River of Life and God's Provision

The River of Life nourishes the Tree of Life and is foreshadowed in the river in Eden. With the coming of Jesus as our source of living water we truly understand what that river means. “Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). Jesus' living water shows us the spiritual meaning of The River of Life, which will flow literally in the New Jerusalem. It symbolizes the life giving presence of God with us.

The River of Life is also a symbol of God's provision for us. Just as a river sustained the Garden of Eden, so the River of Living Water will sustain us. It will meet our every need. Water cleanses, renews, nourishes and water heals. Even now, we see this spiritual truth. Our Father cleanses us from sin, renews our life, and heals us spiritually. Our spiritual nourishment comes from the Holy Spirit living in us. In baptism we see this same symbolism at work, as our sins are washed away, our life is reborn in Christ.

As Jesus told us in John 7:37-38, these life giving waters would even flow from those of us who believe. How can this be? Because we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God. It is with His spirit that we love and reach the world for His Son. The grace of God is never ending, it doesn't just flow into us, it flows out from us. This grace nourishes us and gives us eternal life.

Pause & Pray:

Lord, when I feel distant from Your presence, remind me of the open gates and the freely flowing river of life that awaits a life lived for you. Amen

God’s Presence and Man’s Restoration

Where in Genesis, God walked in the garden, in Revelation, God will now dwell with His people forever (Revelation 22:3-4). God dwelling with man fulfills the hope spoken of throughout Scripture. And how will this change man?

After the Fall, Adam and Eve lived with shame, sin, and death but in the New Jerusalem no more sin or death or curse will exist, and we will serve God without burden (Revelation 22:3). In the Garden man tended it but after man's rebellion he was cursed with toil (Genesis 3:19), even the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:17). Sadly, after the breaking of God's command, the way to the Garden was blocked by a cherub with a flaming sword but in Revelation, in the New Jerusalem, the gates will always be open to the righteous (Revelation 22:14).

The Defeat of Satan

And what of Satan? Satan the tempter and deceiver of man in the Garden is finally and forever cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10). The cross accomplished the defeat of Satan and death (Colossians 2:15) though his final punishment is still to come. Just as believers will have eternal access to the Tree of Life, Satan will spend eternity without God or hope. How does knowing Satan’s final fate make our faith bolder today?

 The Cross: Bridge Between Two Trees

The Tree of Life is the connection between the Fall and the restoration of the New Jerusalem. Between these two trees stands the cross. One arm reaches back to Eden, taking on the first sin and every sin that followed. The other arm stretches forward to the New Jerusalem with healing, a restored relationship, and a reunion with our Father.

Jesus offered us a way to end the curse of the garden so one day in the future we could eat from the Tree of Life once more. It is no surprise that John tells us that there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified (John 19:41). The disobedience of man that led to sin was overcome by the obedience of Christ on the cross (Romans 5:19).

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

From Symbol to Reality: God's Eternal Home

Where the Garden was vulnerable to temptation and sin, the New Jerusalem will offer a home with God without these things. The New Jerusalem is all the Garden offered and more. It is the original intention of God for all of His creation. You won't find a temple here because in Revelation 21:22 we are told that the Lord God and the Lamb are the temple.

The temple symbolically represented God's presence. In the New Jerusalem we will have no need of symbols. The temple also represented the separation between God and His people in the Holy of Holies. This separation will no longer exist. We will have an eternal connection with God, one that began at the moment of our conversion. This fulfills completely the promise of the New Covenant and the law that He has written on our hearts.

Knowing Jesus, the True Tree of Life

The Tree of Life for us is Jesus our Savior because He gives us eternal life and heals us through His sacrifice. We thank God for knowing Him, serving Him, and loving Him. In return we will see our world restored to a time of perfection and joy living in the presence of God eternally, as it was meant to be. One day, if you know Him, you will walk beneath living boughs, taste that fruit, and feel the healing in your bones. Thank you, Jesus!

Ask yourself:

Do you know Him?

People also ask:

Why is Adam and Eve's sin called the Fall? Because disobeying God caused them to fall away from a state of grace, innocence and perfect obedience, to one where sin, separation from God, and death entered the world.