1LoverofGod
Well-known
"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."
Revelation 22:2
David Guzik's commentary in his Enduring Word website explains the answer to that question....
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations: Why do the nations need healing?
In the ancient Greek language, the word for healing can also mean “health-giving,” and this may be the sense here.
i. “The word for ‘healing’ is therapeian, from which the English word therapeutic is derived, almost directly transliterated from the Greek. Rather than meaning ‘healing,’ it should be understood as ‘health-giving,’ as the word in its root meaning has the idea of serving or ministering.” (Walvoord).
Another point in the commentary about the description of Heaven is the question whether the description is literal or symbolic.....
Street… river… tree… fruit… leaves: Are these pictures of heaven literal or symbolic?
It may be that you can’t describe another dimension like heaven without using symbols, but they are symbols connected to their reality. What John saw may or may not be exactly like a river on earth, but when we see it we will also say, “That looks like a river.”
i. Even though this great chapter of the Bible tells us of heaven, we should think deeply about it and take in now what we can. “We do not suppose that a man is shooting at a target if he does not look that way; nor can we imagine that a man’s ambition is fixed on heaven if he has no heavenward thoughts or aspirations.” (Spurgeon).
My final thoughts:
I take it that what John saw in Heaven he could only describe it in the sense of "like" and comparing it to familiar things that can be understood with our human comprehension with things he could describe as "like".
But one thing for certain is when we do see it with our own eyes, we will not be disappointed but will marvel at what we see
"But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
Can't wait!
Revelation 22:2
David Guzik's commentary in his Enduring Word website explains the answer to that question....
The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations: Why do the nations need healing?
In the ancient Greek language, the word for healing can also mean “health-giving,” and this may be the sense here.
i. “The word for ‘healing’ is therapeian, from which the English word therapeutic is derived, almost directly transliterated from the Greek. Rather than meaning ‘healing,’ it should be understood as ‘health-giving,’ as the word in its root meaning has the idea of serving or ministering.” (Walvoord).
Another point in the commentary about the description of Heaven is the question whether the description is literal or symbolic.....
Street… river… tree… fruit… leaves: Are these pictures of heaven literal or symbolic?
It may be that you can’t describe another dimension like heaven without using symbols, but they are symbols connected to their reality. What John saw may or may not be exactly like a river on earth, but when we see it we will also say, “That looks like a river.”
i. Even though this great chapter of the Bible tells us of heaven, we should think deeply about it and take in now what we can. “We do not suppose that a man is shooting at a target if he does not look that way; nor can we imagine that a man’s ambition is fixed on heaven if he has no heavenward thoughts or aspirations.” (Spurgeon).
My final thoughts:
I take it that what John saw in Heaven he could only describe it in the sense of "like" and comparing it to familiar things that can be understood with our human comprehension with things he could describe as "like".
But one thing for certain is when we do see it with our own eyes, we will not be disappointed but will marvel at what we see
"But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
Can't wait!
