The Lord planted all kinds of natural trees in the garden of Eden along with two symbolic trees. The Lord placed Cherubim east of Eden to maintain the way to the tree of life. To reach the tree of life, we must pass through that fiery sword, which is the word of God. Righteous wisdom is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her. The hope we all have that has been long deferred is to be judged to life in that glorious new heaven that will be.
The tree of life grows in the midst of the one street in new Jerusalem. There is only one street because there is only one way, God’s way, in the world to come. We must wash our robes, that is put on righteousness to have the right to the tree of life. We must overcome our flesh and the Lord will give us to eat of the tree of life. Wisdom symbolizes Christ’s true way that brings us to Him and the Father.
Gen 2:9 RV And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The Lord planted all kinds of natural trees in the garden of Eden along with two symbolic trees. The tree of life represents Jesus, the works of the spirit, faith. The tree of knowledge of good and evil represents Adam, the works of the flesh, unbelief.
Gen 3:22-24 RV
(22) And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
(23) therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
(24) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Pro 3:7-18 RV
(7) Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil:
(8) It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
(9) Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
(10) So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
(11) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his reproof:
(12) For whom the LORD loveth he reproveth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
(13) Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
(14) For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
(15) She is more precious than rubies: and none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
(16) Length of days is in her right had; in her left hand are riches and honour.
(17) Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
(18) She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Righteous wisdom is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her.
Pro 11:30 RV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that is wise winneth souls.
Pro 13:12-15 RV
(12) Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
(13) Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
(14) The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
(15) Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of the treacherous is rugged.
Rev 22:2-14 RV
(2) in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
(3) And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall do him service;
(4) and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.
(5) And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
(6) And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.
(7) And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.
(8) And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
(9) And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them which keep the words of this book: worship God.
(10) And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.
(11) He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
(12) Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.
(13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
(14) Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
Rev 2:7 RV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
We must overcome our flesh and the Lord will give us to eat of the tree of life.
Pro 9:1-12 RV
(1) Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
(2) She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
(3) She hath sent forth her maidens, she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
(4) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
(5) Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
(6) Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.
(7) He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
(8) Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
(9) Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
(10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(11) For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
(12) If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself: and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Wisdom symbolizes Christ’s true way that brings us to Him and the Father.
Image by Todd Quackenbush on Unslpash.com