Read: Revelation 22:1-10
On either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. (v. 2)
Adam and Eve enjoyed a wonderful life in the garden of Eden. But then they sinned. They gave in to the serpent’s temptation and ate from the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil that was in the midst of the garden. God then put angel guards in place to keep Adam and Eve from having access to the tree of life, which was also in the midst of the garden.
The new heaven and earth remind us of the glory of the garden of Eden. In Eden, there was a river that watered the garden (Gen. 2:10). In the new Jerusalem, there’s the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1). The tree of life was in the midst of the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9). We also find a tree of life in the new Jerusalem (Rev. 22:2).
But there’s one significant difference between the garden of Eden in Genesis and the new heaven and new earth: The serpent had access to the garden of Eden. He was able to tempt Adam and Eve. But the tempter Satan won’t have access to the new heaven and new earth. We read in Revelation 20:10, “The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur.” He will be tormented there forever.
The new heaven and new earth promise the demise of Satan and a garden even better than Eden! That is good news!
As you pray, give thanks that Satan is a defeated enemy.
Rich Bawinkel is a retired pastor who has served churches in the Reformed Church in America and the Kingdom Network. He is married to Anne and serves as a musician in their local church, as the administrator of the Kingdom Network, and on the Words of Hope Board of Directors.
