The Tree of Life

The Story

Read about the Tree of Life in Revelation 22 (verses 1-5, 14, 21)

Ideas for discussion

1. An angel showed John the Tree of Life in the Holy City, New Jerusalem. What did it look like?
2. The Tree of Life is a symbol of the Lord and His love for us. And the leaves of the tree are truths that show us the way of life—the life that leads to heaven.
3. The leaves of the Tree of Life symbolize truths that can heal people spiritually. These leaves of healing have something to offer everyone, because we all have areas in our life that need spiritual healing.
4. “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). The Lord’s love gives strength to those who do His commandments. It is this “quiet inner strength that sustains us and brings us happiness in life” (Kurt Horigan Asplundh).
5. In Revelation 2:7 we read, “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Eating of the Tree of Life means to strengthen our life from God. What are some of the things that we can do to strengthen our life from Him?
6. What do you think is meant by the overcoming that we must do?
7. The Holy City pictures the beautiful teachings of the New Church that the Lord is establishing in heaven and on earth. The Tree of Life in the middle of that city of gold pictures the Lord’s love which gives us life and is the source of all happiness. To the extent that we open our hearts and minds to the Lord’s love, we may approach the spiritual peace and happiness pictured by the Holy City. 
8. As we walk on our spiritual journey, it may help us to remember the last words in the book of Revelation: “The grace of our Lord God Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21).

Read more about the Tree of Life:

• “The Crystal River and Tree of Life” by George de Charms (ages 4-6)
  Describes the Holy City New Jerusalem and Tree of Life with color illustrations.
• “The Tree of Life” by George de Charms (ages 7-14)
  If we keep the Lord’s commandments, we will see the Tree of Life and taste its fruit.
• “The Clear River and the Fruitful Tree” by Grant H. Odhner (ages 15-17)
  The Tree of Life stands for the Lord Himself, as to His Divine Love. The water of life stands for the truths revealed for the New Church. These truths “flow” from the Lord like a river.
• “The Meaning of the Tree of Life” by Kurt Horigan Asplundh (ages 18 and up)
  The Tree of Life pictures the Lord as to His Divine love. Like a tree that takes root and grows, and brings forth fruit, the Lord’s love must grow in our life and give us the inner strength to bring forth uses.

Projects and activities for various ages:

• Picture the Tree of Life with Play Dough (ages 4-10)
  Use play dough to picture of the Tree of Life on a paper plate, then add colored beads for the twelve different kinds of fruit.
• John’s Vision of the Tree of Life (ages 2-7)
  Provides a pattern for making the Tree of Life and fruit for a felt board activity.
• The Tree of Life with Twelve Kinds of Fruit Coloring Page by Leon Rhodes
  Shows a beautiful tree with various kinds of fruit growing on it.
• The Tree of Life Prayer for Children
  A prayer about entering the Holy City and eating of the twelve fruits of the Tree of Life. 
• Enter Through the Gates (ages 7-14)
  Those who do the Lord's commandments may enter the gates of the Holy City and see the Tree of Life. Draw a picture of the Tree of Life and lay open gates on top of it.
• Tree of Life Reading Chart (ages 7-14)
  Color one of the leaves every day that you read a chapter of the Lord’s Word.
• Tree of Life Banner (ages 8-14)
  Use various colors of felt to make this banner. Note that the illustration shows one Tree of Life spanning the river of the water so that it is one tree on both sides of the river.
• Leaves for the Healing of Nations Journal Page (teens and up)
  Reflect on ways that you can help the Lord share His truth with others to facilitate spiritual healing in the world.

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