Revelation Chapter 2
The First Church
VERSE 7 “He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
This is the first of the seven choruses which contain BOTH the phrase “He who has an ear . . .” and “To him who overcomes . . .”
The order is reversed, however, after the first three Churches. In either case, however, this chorus seems to be in a way the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 16:12-14 that the Holy Spirit would give to each as he was ready to hear. These choruses certainly apply to all periods of the Church; yet, each seems in its own way to be specifically fitted for the Church to which it is mentioned. The phrase, “hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (plural) never changes.
The fact that this is spoken at the end of all the messages to the seven Church’s is to show that we can learn from the experiences of each of the periods.
The phrase, “To him who overcomes. . .” however does change meaningfully from Church to Church.
“All seven churches have the same comment at the end that says, "He who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches." This implies that in order to understand the messages to the churches, you have to have a hearing ear. Having a "hearing ear” generally implies that you are someone who wants to know the truth, and that you are willing to discard old ideas that do not square with the Bible. We need to be careful that we don't belong to the class mentioned in Daniel.” (Revelation Notes Southern Wisconsin)
“And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many (that is those who are humble, meek who are willing to discard old ideas which don’t square with the bible) shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Dan 12:9, 10)
I WILL GRANT TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD:
This promise has seemed perplexing to some in that it sounds like it belongs to the world of mankind. But, as always, Revelation uses one thing to symbolize another.
This is NOT about the tree of life; nor is it about the Garden of Eden. Brother Russell suggests, in a plausible explanation, that since the tree of the knowledge of good and evil IS … A tree of life, this might mean that the over-comers will ultimately eat of this tree (figuratively speaking) and gain life, not death from it. However, the text does NOT mention the tree of knowledge.
It is possible to explain this promise in another way. There are three primary references to the tree of life: one in Eden (Gen 2:9), this one in Rev 2:7, and one in Rev 22:2. The tree of life in Eden was, no doubt, a literal tree. Man was expelled from its presence so that he might not eat of it and live forever.
The tree of life in Rev 22:2 however is symbolic and represents the CHURCH which will give sustenance to the world of mankind.
Where is it planted?
This, of course, is a strange question, because the CHURCH IS NOT LITERALLY A TREE! It is not “planted” …anywhere. But if a location must be found, it is planted in heaven —in the “paradise” of God. When we examine 2:7 again, the meaning of the promise seems to be, something like: The over-comers will be granted to renewed fellowship with God based on being granted eternal life in His presence. This tree and garden are not literal; they are spiritual symbols. Spirit beings will not need to eat —YET, will they not “partake anew” with Jesus beyond the veil? The thought is that ETERNAL LIFE will be regained in an *IDYLLIC CONDITION.
The meaning is better understood if we realize the position of the Ephesus Church in history. Ever since the fall in Eden, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN LIFE. The Jewish Law only brought death.
This FIRST promise to the overcoming Church erased four thousand years of impossibility -NOW there was a new and LIVING way —a way which would lead to life in the Garden of God —a way which, in effect, erased everything bad that had happened to the race. True, this promise goes far beyond the simple implications of this because the over-comers would receive IMMORTAL life in HEAVEN. But the CONCEPT is the thing: you will LIVE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD! (New Albany Notes on Revelation)
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*IDYLLIC CONDITION See Rom 11. Perhaps the olive tree symbolizes the Tree of Life. Thus all receive from the Abrahamic Promise life on SOME PLAIN —all of God’s planting, and, thus, all of His “garden” or “paradise.”
In our next post we should like to take another look at Verse 7 as explained in The Keys of Revelation.
The First Church
VERSE 7 “He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
This is the first of the seven choruses which contain BOTH the phrase “He who has an ear . . .” and “To him who overcomes . . .”
The order is reversed, however, after the first three Churches. In either case, however, this chorus seems to be in a way the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 16:12-14 that the Holy Spirit would give to each as he was ready to hear. These choruses certainly apply to all periods of the Church; yet, each seems in its own way to be specifically fitted for the Church to which it is mentioned. The phrase, “hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (plural) never changes.
The fact that this is spoken at the end of all the messages to the seven Church’s is to show that we can learn from the experiences of each of the periods.
The phrase, “To him who overcomes. . .” however does change meaningfully from Church to Church.
“All seven churches have the same comment at the end that says, "He who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches." This implies that in order to understand the messages to the churches, you have to have a hearing ear. Having a "hearing ear” generally implies that you are someone who wants to know the truth, and that you are willing to discard old ideas that do not square with the Bible. We need to be careful that we don't belong to the class mentioned in Daniel.” (Revelation Notes Southern Wisconsin)
“And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many (that is those who are humble, meek who are willing to discard old ideas which don’t square with the bible) shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Dan 12:9, 10)
I WILL GRANT TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD:
This promise has seemed perplexing to some in that it sounds like it belongs to the world of mankind. But, as always, Revelation uses one thing to symbolize another.
This is NOT about the tree of life; nor is it about the Garden of Eden. Brother Russell suggests, in a plausible explanation, that since the tree of the knowledge of good and evil IS … A tree of life, this might mean that the over-comers will ultimately eat of this tree (figuratively speaking) and gain life, not death from it. However, the text does NOT mention the tree of knowledge.
It is possible to explain this promise in another way. There are three primary references to the tree of life: one in Eden (Gen 2:9), this one in Rev 2:7, and one in Rev 22:2. The tree of life in Eden was, no doubt, a literal tree. Man was expelled from its presence so that he might not eat of it and live forever.
The tree of life in Rev 22:2 however is symbolic and represents the CHURCH which will give sustenance to the world of mankind.
Where is it planted?
This, of course, is a strange question, because the CHURCH IS NOT LITERALLY A TREE! It is not “planted” …anywhere. But if a location must be found, it is planted in heaven —in the “paradise” of God. When we examine 2:7 again, the meaning of the promise seems to be, something like: The over-comers will be granted to renewed fellowship with God based on being granted eternal life in His presence. This tree and garden are not literal; they are spiritual symbols. Spirit beings will not need to eat —YET, will they not “partake anew” with Jesus beyond the veil? The thought is that ETERNAL LIFE will be regained in an *IDYLLIC CONDITION.
The meaning is better understood if we realize the position of the Ephesus Church in history. Ever since the fall in Eden, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN LIFE. The Jewish Law only brought death.
This FIRST promise to the overcoming Church erased four thousand years of impossibility -NOW there was a new and LIVING way —a way which would lead to life in the Garden of God —a way which, in effect, erased everything bad that had happened to the race. True, this promise goes far beyond the simple implications of this because the over-comers would receive IMMORTAL life in HEAVEN. But the CONCEPT is the thing: you will LIVE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD! (New Albany Notes on Revelation)
..........................................................................................................................................................
*IDYLLIC CONDITION See Rom 11. Perhaps the olive tree symbolizes the Tree of Life. Thus all receive from the Abrahamic Promise life on SOME PLAIN —all of God’s planting, and, thus, all of His “garden” or “paradise.”
In our next post we should like to take another look at Verse 7 as explained in The Keys of Revelation.
