that the Nations will resort to the root of Jesse,
Who will stand as a signal for the peoples;
and His resting place will be glorious.
Isaiah 11:10
Preface
Last weekend, I just completed reading the book Yochanan (John) Presents the Revelation of Yeshua The Messiah by Rabbi Gavriel Lumbroso. As I concluded Revelation, chapter 22, I was deeply moved with excitement and hope after reading about the Tree of Life. John writes:
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…[and believers] have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:1-2, 14).
Christ, the Tree of Life, Nicholas T. Batzig
https://feedingonchrist.org/christ-the-tree-of-life/
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we desperately need the pure of water of life as well as the spiritual blessings that the leaves of the tree of life grants to the nations Now! In what now appears to be the bleakest time in America’s history if not all of your nations, please permit your eternal Truth and Light power to prevail through our darkest hour(s).
It is my deepest prayer and intention through this writing, to offer encouragement, hope, and practical spiritual insights to those who are in Christ as well as those who do not know Him as their personal and eternal Savior. Amen
God’s Love is stronger than Human Evil
Throughout the entirety of the Holy Scriptures, the seeker of Truth will encounter the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Blessings such as eternal life that is associated with one, and curses such as death with the other.
The Tree of Life grants being in the presence of God and His Kingdom, while the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil guarantees banishment from His blessings and His daily presence.
The Knowledge of the Tree of Good and Evil grants aging; corruption, deterioration, decay, death, suffering, division, disasters. The Tree of Life will grant knowledge of the mind and heart of God; pure wisdom and practical understanding, loving-kindness, strength, spirituality, eternity, glory, foundation, and an eternal Kingdom.
The entirety of all of the Scriptures after the Fall in Genesis 3 until the reappearance of the Tree of Life that John sees in chapter 22, is the completion of God’s promise to restore fallen humanity through His covenants to grant humanity the right to the Tree of Life!
In the book of Proverbs, the seeker of truth is told that “wisdom” is a Tree of Life for those who take hold of her, [Prov. 3:18] that the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, [11:30].
Jesus as the Son of Man and the Lamb of God said that His Father’s heavenly presence was arriving on earth through Him and His mission. And He often likened this to a huge tree, growing and spreading in surprising ways (Matthew 13:31-32).
The Mustard Seed, He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full-grown Jesus even claimed to be a tree of life, a vine that offers God’s life to the world (John 15).
In the appointed time in human history, Jesus of Nazareth would be cursed while suffering physical death on Golgotha, what they mistakenly believed to be a tree of death. But because of God’s love, which is stronger than human evil, God transformed the cross into a tree of life. Whoever eats from this new tree of life, by trusting and following Jesus (John 6:41-58), will discover the gift of God’s eternal life.
Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, gloried with the Father, who is Prophet, Priest, and King, renders a promissory note to the Church in Ephesus, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, “I will grant to eat from the Tree of Life, which is amid the Paradise of God!” [Rev. 2:7]
In relation to the totality of God’s plan of redemption from the power, presence, and the results of the law of sin as the result of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Christ Jesus is “The Tree of Life” for all eternity.
Please consider this summation of Christ as the “Tree of Life” by Francis Turretin, [1992-1997], Institutes of Elenctic Theology.
“Christ is the true tree of life…because as life to the world and eternal life in heaven by glory; for He is “the resurrection and the life” who will most certainly bestow upon His own eternal life.”
Truly He is the only tree because no one except Christ is the author of eternal life (nor is there salvation in any other, Acts 4:12). No one except Christ is in the midst of paradise (Rev. 2:7) and of the street of the city (Rev. 22:2).
Christ is in the midst of the church (as a more honorable and suitable place) to be near all and diffuse His vivifying power among all; to be seen by all, like the center in which all the lines of faith and love ought to meet, that they may acquiesce in Him.
The sweetest and most exquisite fruit for the support of believers (Cant. 2:3) bears twelve kinds of them (Rev. 22:2), i.e., the most abundant and richest, sufficing for the twelve tribes of Israel (i.e., for all the members of the church, which from His fullness draw all gifts necessary for them).
It bears them every month (i.e., perpetually) because the power and efficacy of the righteousness and Spirit of Christ are perpetual and unceasing for the consolation and sanctification of believers.
Its leaves (never falling and perpetually green) are appointed for the healing of the nation’s ailment (to feed our souls), but also of medicine (most healthful to cure all our disease, Is. 53:5; Mt. 11:28).
The Promise of Blessing
In this final section, I wish to offer each reader of this blog the blessed assurance that everything that God has promised in the Holy Scriptures, is based upon His covenants.
Regardless of the condition or circumstances within the life of the individual, God will remain faithful because of the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. In this agreement between God and the ancient Israelite [which in Christ includes every Nation], God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.
Nothing is so clearer than the promises made by our Creator in Psalms 103:1-22 [Complete Jewish Bible]
103 (0) By David:
(1) Bless Adonai, my soul!
Everything in me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless Adonai, my soul,
and forget none of his benefits!
3 He forgives all your offenses,
he heals all your diseases,
4 he redeems your life from the pit,
he surrounds you with grace and compassion,
5 he contents you with good as long as you live,
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 Adonai brings vindication and justice
to all who are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known to Moshe,
his mighty deeds to the people of Isra’el.
8 Adonai is merciful and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in grace.
9 He will not always accuse,
he will not keep his anger forever.
10 He has not treated us as our sins deserve
or paid us back for our offenses,
11 because of his mercy toward those who fear him
is as far above earth as heaven.
12 He has removed our sins from us
as far as the east is from the west.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
Adonai has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he understands how we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 Yes, a human being’s days are like grass,
he sprouts like a flower in the countryside —
16 but when the wind sweeps over, it’s gone;
and its place knows it no more.
17 But the mercy of Adonai on those who fear him
is from eternity past to eternity future,
and his righteousness extends
to his children’s children,
18 provided they keep his covenant
and remember to follow his precepts.
19 Adonai has established his throne in heaven;
his kingly power rules everything.
20 Bless Adonai, you angels of his,
you mighty warriors who obey his word,
who carries out his orders!
21 Bless Adonai, all his troops,
who serve him and do what he wants!
22 Bless Adonai, all his works,
in every place where he rules!
Bless Adonai, my soul!
Amen!
Brother Alonzo