Musing – Insight #1 – Tree of Life – January 9, 2009

 Hebraic Musing – Insight #1 – Tree of Life – January 9, 2009*

Revelation 22:1-2 has interesting and allegorical significance that requires some Hebrew insights to fully appreciate.  “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of G-d and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Rev.22:1-2 NIV

I have been viewing that last sentence in isolation, simply a tree in heaven that had leaves with healing power; and that the “Tree of Life Missions” team in their Honduras site, called “Plan Escalon”, had adopted that reference because of their vision – to Elevate and heal the nation of Honduras.

How can a tree be on 'each side of the river'?    Applying Hebraic thought and imagery to the combined verses (1 & 2) we have a picture of a Torah Scroll which every Jew in Jesus’ time would recognize.
                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with the Eitz Chayim (Trees of Life) which are the two fancy dowels on each side.  Opening the scroll reveals pages (referred to as Leaves) between the ‘trees’ upon which the Torah (Pentateuch in gr.) is written.  God’s written word on those pages is ‘truth’ which in Hebrew is symbolized by ‘water’ (the Hebrew letter Mem is a symbol of ‘water’ and represents ‘truth’).  From His throne room, God teaches ‘truths’ to His people and those ‘truths’ are words of ‘life’.  And if those words are accepted, applied and written on their hearts, then a nation will be healed – Israel and/or Honduras and/or your nation.    

Points to Ponder

You may want to read Rev.22:1-2 again in the light of these Hebraic Insights.

Can we fully appreciate the New Testament without knowing Hebraic symbolism?

Simchat Torah!!! (the JOY of the TORAH)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     September 12, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

*  This teaching/learning came to me in a January 2009 Torah Study while I was wearing my Honduras missionary shirt emblazoned with “Tree of Life Ministries” and with “Rev. 22:2” on the collar.  The shirt came from a mission in Honduras called “Tree of Life” or “Arbole de Vida” (in Español) where my son & family were ministering (for over 10 years) at a school called Plan Escalon (Plan to escalate/elevate the students and thereby the nation of Honduras).