A Tree of Life

“In the midst of the garden” (Gen 2:9).
It is the center of paradise.
The central tree of beauty in a garden of peace.

The fruit of the tree (Gen 3:22)
They had to eat of it. (implies that they had to eat of it daily, not merely one time to have eternal life. They would live forever as long as they ate of it.)

NOTE: Man was free to eat of this tree before he disOBeyed; it seems that he may have eaten of it already, yet the eternal life was not eternal, it had to be replenished from the fruit of the tree.

God put guards around the tree (Gen. 3:24) to keep man from eating of it, and having eternal life.(as long as he ate of it; prOBably every month.). Eternal life was taken from man at this time.

The “tree of life” is not mentioned again until we get to Proverbs, but for now we must interject Rev. 22: 2:

“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.”

This takes place in Heaven. Note that it bear twelve types of fruit (perhaps symbolic of the apostles or the tribes of Israel) It seemed to bear a different fruit every month, as opposed to twelve types of fruit hanging from the same tree all at once.

“Twelve manner of fruits”, in today’s reckoning is most likely related to the fruit of the Spirit, of which there are nine elements (Gal 5: 22-23). Note here that the “fruit” is singular (one fruit) and that it has nine elements to it. These elements make up the “fruit“.
Now, if we will continue to Proverbs, we shall see a few examples of the tyoe of fruit that the tree bore.

Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

“She” is wisdom. Wisdom is a “tree of life” to them that lay hold on her. So, wisdom is a fruit of the tree of life;


Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Righteousness is another “fruit” that is gleaned from the tree of life.

Pro 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Hope’s seeing is also a “tree of life” or a fruit thereof.

Pro 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

So is a “wholesome tongue” a tree of life. The fruit is bearing seed!
A wholesome tongue is one that speaks no guile;

“Wholesome“ 1. That which promotes morality; is morally beneficial.
2. Sensible; based on honesty and common sense.



The “Tree of life” is given to “overcomers”; (Rev. 2:7)
These are they that have “overcome the world” in Christ. It is a promised blessing or “right” to those that have accepted Christ. (Rev. 22:14) They have “kept His commandments” by the grace of God in Christ Jesus.

Incidentally the “tree of life” is mentioned twelve times in scripture, only three of which are New testament passages. That leaves nine in the Old Testament, which is also the number of elements in the “fruit of the Spirit” (again see Gal. 5:22, 23) Coincidence? Furthermore, three is the number of God, who is three God’s in one; three verses in Revelation speak of the “Tree of life”

It appears that this same tree that was in the center of Eden, is now in Heaven. The Bible implies one tree, though it seems to occupy both sides of the street that came out from the throne of God. (Rev. 22: 2) The fruit of it was for the healing of the nations, and those that had access to it had eternal life. What a blessed treat for the child of God!

Jesus hung on Calvary
There He died upon a tree;
He lived the life of liberty,
And died alone to make men free.