Musing – Tree of Life

Hebraic Musing – Tree of Life

This was the first HEBRAIC Insight originally distributed in January 2009. 

Both Ezekiel 47:12 and Revelation 22:1-2 have interesting and allegorical significance that requires Hebraic or Jewish insight to fully appreciate:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God 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. It simply mentions a tree in heaven that had leaves with healing power. I assumed that the Tree Of Life Missions team adopted that reference because their vision and purpose is to elevate and heal the nation of Honduras. But how can a tree be “on each side of the river”?

Applying Hebraic thought and imagery to the combined verses in Revelation, we have a picture of a Torah scroll which every Jew in Biblical times would recognize.

The two fancy dowels, one on each side of the Torah scroll, are called Eitz Chayim (Trees of Life). Opening the scroll reveals the pages of parchment (the pages of a Torah Scroll are referred to as leaves).  God’s written word is on those pages (leaves) and God’s written Word flowing between the trees is God’s truth which in Hebrew is symbolized by water. The Hebrew letter  <  (MEM)  is a symbol of water and represents truth.   God teaches truths to His people and those truths are words of life.  And if those words are accepted, applied, and written on people’s hearts, then a nation will be healed — Israel or Honduras or your nation.  You may want to read Revelation 22:1-2 again in light of this Hebraic Insight.   

Point to Ponder

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

Simchat Torah! (Joy of the Torah!)  

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                   September 20, 2016

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life”  “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com