The Tree of Life in Revelation signals the restoration of eternal life and pleasure on the New Earth, where its fruit is given for the redeemed to eat.
The tree disappeared after Eden because fallen man could not be allowed to eat and live forever. In Revelation 22, it stands on both sides of the river of the water of life, yielding fruit every month. Les Feldick teaches that this fruit is food, and that resurrected believers will enjoy eating it in eternity.
Revelation 22:2 — This verse directly describes the tree of life in the eternal city, showing its location, its fruit, and its leaves.
The tree of life first appears in Genesis 2:9, where it grows in the midst of the garden of Eden. After the fall, God drove the man out and 'placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life' (Genesis 3:24). The next time the tree appears is in Revelation, where John sees it in the eternal city beside the river of the water of life. Revelation 22:1-2 describes the scene: 'And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.' The Bible itself does not explain the tree's meaning beyond this description; it simply places it in the eternal state.
Les Feldick teaches that the tree of life was originally placed in Eden to 'enhance eternal life.' If Adam had partaken of it, he would have lived forever. After Adam sinned, the tree disappears from the scriptural account, and Les notes that it does not surface again until the final chapter of Revelation — a pattern where truths introduced in Genesis return in the book of endings. In Revelation 22, Les points out that the tree stands on both sides of the river, produces fruit twelve months of the year, and that the fruit is 'to be eaten.' He connects this to the resurrection body: as Christ ate broiled fish and a honeycomb after His resurrection, believers will likewise be able to enjoy food in eternity. The tree's fruit will 'enhance eternity' — not as a healing in the English sense, but as something therapeutic that makes eternal life pleasurable.
The Bible shows that after Adam's sin, man was driven from the garden and cherubims guarded the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). No further mention of the tree appears until Revelation 22, where it is present in the eternal Jerusalem. Les observes that things introduced in Genesis often come back in Revelation; the tree of life is one of them.
According to Les, the tree of life in Revelation will 'enhance eternal life' — not as a healing, but as something therapeutic. It stands on both sides of the river and provides fruit all twelve months of the year. Since the tree yields fruit to be eaten, eating is one of the pleasures of the new creation.
Les points to Christ's resurrection body as the pattern. In Luke 24, the risen Christ took a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb and ate before His disciples. Les says that proves believers' resurrected bodies will be capable of enjoying food forever, with no health problems. The fruit of the tree of life is one example of that future pleasure.
What Does Revelation 22 Really Mean? Eternity Explained
We read these things, and we really don't lock them in for what it says plainly. And of course, the other point I always like to make and have over the years is, it's just as important to realize what the Book does not say. You know, a lot of people think it says this, and it doesn't. And that's just as important as being able to see what it does say. Well, I guess maybe I've been remiss.
The Purpose of the Tree of Life
God designed the tree of life to enhance eternal life; because Adam did not eat from it in Eden, the tree returns in the new heaven and new earth to do that very thing.
The Tree of Life Reappears in Revelation
After Adam's sin the tree of life disappears from the scriptural account, and the next mention is in the last chapter of Revelation.
Fruit of the Tree Is for Eating
Les uses Revelation 22 to show the tree of life on both sides of the river, producing fruit twelve months of the year, and says plainly the fruit is to be eaten.
Genesis and Revelation Bookends
Les connects the tree of life in Genesis with the tree of life in Revelation, showing how the book of beginnings ties into the book of endings.
Christ's Resurrection Body Ate Food
Jesus ate broiled fish and honeycomb in His resurrected body; Les uses this as proof that believers will enjoy food in eternity, which relates to why the tree of life bears fruit.
What Happens After the Millennium? Revelation 21 Explained
And I will give unto Him that is a thirst of the fountain of water of life freely. That's the eternalness again. Verse 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be His God, and He shall be My Son. And then of course in verse 8 we have a recap. I don't know why God put this in here, but He did. And I think again it's just a reminder of who will not be in this eternal state with us.
What Happens When the Lamb Opens the Seals — Revelation 6
His dominion, and when He picks it up now again as He enters the Kingdom, it's not going to be just for a thousand years, as we know Revelation teaches it, but it's going to go on into eternity. It's an eternal Kingdom, everlasting, see, and which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed.
Revelation 22:1: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
This verse places the tree of life beside the river that flows from God's throne in the eternal city.
Revelation 22:2: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
This is the key verse about the tree of life in Revelation, describing its fruit, monthly yield, and leaves for healing.
Genesis 2:9: And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
This is where the tree of life is first introduced in Scripture, in the garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:22: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
This verse explains why God prevented Adam from eating from the tree of life after the fall.
Genesis 3:24: So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
This verse shows the tree of life being guarded after the fall, which is why it disappears from the biblical account until Revelation.
Luke 24:42-43: And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
This passage shows the risen Christ eating in His resurrection body, which Les uses to support the idea that believers will eat in eternity.
It appears in Revelation 22:1-2, standing by the river of the water of life in the holy city, bearing fruit every month with leaves for the healing of the nations.
Les Feldick teaches that the tree was designed to enhance eternal life. Since Adam did not eat from it, God brings it back in the eternal state so that resurrected believers can enjoy its fruit and enhanced existence forever.
Yes, according to Les. He says Revelation 22 specifically describes the fruit as being for eating. He also points to Christ eating broiled fish and honeycomb in His resurrection body to show that resurrected bodies can enjoy food.
The Bible says its leaves are 'for the healing of the nations.' Les explains this is not a healing in the English sense but something therapeutic that enhances eternal life.
Watch the Teaching: What Does Revelation 22 Really Mean? Eternity Explained