SUMMARY
In the new Jerusalem stands the tree of lifeIn the Garden of Eden, the tree of life is the tree that confers immortality. Adam and Eve, because of their disobedience, lost access to the fruits of the garden. In the book of Revelation the tree of life appears again; this time it is.... It is a place of perpetual light, where the people of God worship God and the Lamb face-to-face.
ANALYSIS
The river of the water of life flows through the streets of the new Jerusalem. The imagery recalls promises from EzekielEzekiel was a priest and prophet who was raised in Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon in 597 BCE. 47:1-12 and Zechariah 14:8, showing that God will be true to God’s word. Within the city stands the tree of life. According to Genesis, the tree of life stood in the Garden of Eden, but people were sent away from the garden and the tree because of their sin (Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24). The vision of the new Jerusalem holds the promise that the consequences of sin can be overcome, so that people can find true life in a right relationship with God. Such life begins in faith, but its future is endless life in the presence of God. Therefore, the visions in Revelation culminate with the redeemed joining in worship before the throne of the God who created them and Christ the Lamb who redeems them.
