The Tree of Life in Revelation 2:7 -- By: Daniel K. K. Wong

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 155:618 (Apr 1998)
Article: The Tree of Life in Revelation 2:7
Author: Daniel K. K. Wong


The Tree of Life
in Revelation 2:7

Daniel K. K. Wong

Daniel K. K. Wong is President and Professor of Biblical Studies, Truth Theological Seminary, Alhambra, California.

Revelation 2:7, with its reference to the tree of life, is included in Christ’s message to the church at Ephesus (vv. 1–7). This church, although praised for its works, perseverance, and discernment (vv. 1–3), had left her first love, and therefore the Lord exhorted her to repent and return to the state from which she had fallen (vv. 4–5). To those who heeded the Spirit’s warning and overcame Christ promised the blessing of eating from the tree of life: “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” This promise to overcomers raises several questions. What is the background of this blessing? What is the nature of the blessing? For whom is the blessing intended?

The Background of the Blessing

The tree of life is first referred to in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9). God did not at first prohibit eating from the tree (vv. 16–17). When Adam and Eve sinned, God removed them from the garden so that the tree of life would not be in their path (3:22–24). Mankind would have access to the tree of life in another way, namely, by faith, and this will be in Paradise (Rev. 22:2, 14, 19).

The tree of life is mentioned four times in Proverbs (3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4), metaphorically depicting wisdom, fruitful works, hope, and the benefits of the wise use of the tongue.

The tree of life is alluded to in Ezekiel 47:12, in which the prophet described the vision of a river flowing from the future millennium temple. On the banks of the river he saw trees yielding fruit. The fruit of the trees will not fail nor will their leaves wither because of the water that will flow from the sanctuary. The fruit is for food and the leaves

are for healing. Ezekiel 47 addresses the futur...

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