The Tree of Life: Christ is our Eternal Life Supply
Revelation 22:1 presents the river of water of life in New Jerusalem. Verse 22:2 continues, “And on this side and on that side of the river was the tree of life, producing twelve fruits, yielding its fruit each month.” The number twelve for the fruits and the months signifies eternal completion.
Once again the number twelve is used. What does it mean that the tree bears twelve kinds of fruits and yields its fruit every month? This is a way of saying that everything is satisfied, and that this satisfaction is for eternity. Every month there is life. In eternity we will continue to know Christ and continue to receive the life of the Lord without any interruption—there will not be a month when there is no fruit.*
Christ, through His death and resurrection, brought forth His mystical Body, the predecessor of New Jerusalem. This included regenerating us as in 1 Peter 1:3. Now Christ is our life supply for our growth in Him which results in the building up of His Body to culminate in New Jerusalem.
“The Head, Christ, out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:15b-16)
The Lord is supplying but we all have a share and a responsibility to participate in the growth and building. This will bring forth New Jerusalem and sustain it eternally.
* From chapter 5 of The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, available at www.ministrybooks.org/ and www.livingstream.com/en/the-church/8012401-glorious-church-the.html.
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Posted by Don on August 17, 2022
