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. (Revelation 22:2)
Gr. therapeia, “service,”“healing,” sometimes, collectively, “household attendants.” There are only four occurrences of the word in the NT (cf. Matt. 24:45; Luke 9:11; 12:42). In classical Greek therapeia has the various meanings of “service,”“nurture,”“care.” For the function of the tree of life in Eden restored see references above under “tree of life.”
Twelve … fruits.
There will be a constant abundance, sufficient to fill all the life needs of the saved throughout eternity. Compare Eze. 47:12.
Tree of life.
Compare Ezekiel’s “many trees” (see on Eze. 47:7, 12). For the tree in the original Garden of Eden see on Gen. 2:9. For its subsequent history see 8T 288, 289. The tree is a symbol of eternal life from the source of life. Compare Rev. 21:10 with PP 62; GC 645, 648; EGW Supplementary Material on Rev. 22:2.