The Garden of Eden
The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9 NIV)
The Bible begins and ends with the “Tree of Life” – first in the Garden of Eden, and then in the midst of the paradise of Heaven.
The twelve months of the Jewish Year are directly linked to the twelve fruits from the Tree of Life “each month rendering its fruit” – 12 months, 12 fruits… The sequence of biblical Festivals written in the Book of Leviticus teaches us revelation about God. That is why we read in Genesis 1:13 that God created the Sun and Moon for signs and for “appointed times.”
In Psalm 104:19 the Word tells us: “He made the moon to mark the appointed times, the sun knows it’s time for setting”.
Then in Revelation 22:14 we read: “Blessed are those who do His commandments so that they may have access to the Tree of Life…”
Faith and obedience being two sides of the same coin.
Tu B’Shevat is the New Year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. Leviticus 19:23-25 states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year's fruit is for God, and after that, you can eat the fruit. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B’Shevat, so if you planted a tree on Shevat 14, it begins its second year the next day, but if you plant a tree two days later, on Shevat 16, it does not reach its second year until the next Tu B’Shevat.
Scriptures clearly teach that God is the Creator of all life, including vegetation.
God told Adam in Genesis 1:29 “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. (Genesis 1:11-13 NIV)
God told Adam in Genesis 1:29
"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
The Almond tree is the first tree to blossom in Israel at the end of winter and it announces the arrival of springtime. Its perfume permeates the air in Jerusalem and throughout the land which falls in late January, February, or early March on our calendar. Every year without fail, on the 15th of the month of Shevat miraculously the Almond trees burst into blossom even when there is snow still on the ground. The Almond produces blossoms and fruit before the leaves appear. It is traditionally believed that the cross that Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified on was made of Almond wood.
In Hebrew it is called Shekadiyah which means ‘awakening’ and symbolises the ‘dependability or faithfulness of God’. It is referred to in the book of Exodus in reference to the design of the Menorah or lampstand for the Tabernacle. The patriarch Jacob included almond nuts in his gifts to Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 43:11). In Judaism it is forbidden to make images of mankind or animals, however God specifically gave instructions for using almond blossoms, pomegranates and other horticultural species to fashion decorations for the Tabernacle in the wilderness, on the borders of the priestly robes and then later when it was finally built by Solomon, for the Temple. One of the names of Jesus in Hebrew is Tzemach Tzaddik (God’s Righteous Branch). He is also known as the Nazarene which comes from the root word in Hebrew meaning ‘the branch.’ Early believers and followers of Jesus were known as No tsri and modern Hebrew refers to Christians as Notzrim or followers of the branch.
For more information about the Almond Tree check out the following link:
http://www.righteousbranch.org/prodigy-of-the-almond-tree.html
In Deuteronomy 20:19 we read that fruit trees are not to be destroyed during warfare. God obviously cares about the trees of the field and doesn’t want them needlessly destroyed, since they are unable to escape when the city is besieged. “You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down.”
When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?
(Deuteronomy 20:19 NIV)
It is interesting to note here that Turkey’s President Erdogan recently ordered the destruction of over 2,000 olive trees in the South of Turkey because they were “Jewish”. Some poor farmers lost their livelihood because Erdogan believes that the Koran teaches the other trees will expose Jews who try to hide behind them when Muslims seek to kill them, but the olive trees will hide them, therefore they must be ‘Jewish!’
Now this brings us to the shocking end-time revelation we can read about in Zechariah 14:12-15. These verses accurately describe the aftermath of a Neutron or Thermonuclear Bomb which destroys all flesh but leaves structures such as buildings and trees intact and with which the enemies of Israel hint at having access to.
The leader of Islamic State (IS) is reported to have publicly announced that they had immense power available to use against those who came against them.
And the following was reported on 14 January 2015: Hezbollah has more types of weapons than Israel can imagine, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah told the Arab-language Al-Mayadeen television network during an interview on Wednesday 14 January:
Iran has unveiled plans for more nuclear installations, in spite of being in talks to downgrade their nuclear ambitions. They have this week (11-17 January 2015) signed an agreement with Russia for joint military cooperation.
Zechariah the prophet wrote:
This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps. (Zechariah 14:12-15 NIV)
In 2014 I brought a message “Lunar Tetrads, Signs of the Times?” I asked the question – are these signs of the end of the age and our Lord’s soon return? Who could have imagined the worldwide events unfolding over the past 12 months: Russia taking over the Crimea. The rise and rise of Islamic State committing atrocities in Iraq and Syria and even around the world through Islamic Jihadis and Al Qaeda and other linked terror groups. The Turkish President Erdogan working towards reinstating the Ottoman Caliphate and slowly but surely dismantling democracy in Turkey. The outbreak of Ebola, the atrocities in Africa by Boko Haram, Hamas aligning itself with Iran and using funding from Iran and Qatar preparing to continue to strike Israel. The rise of Anti-Semitism in Europe to mention but a few.
These events certainly do look like the end of the age approaching, specifically the 4th seal of Revelation 6:7-8 where it says:
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
In Hebrew the pale horse is a sickly green colour representing illness or a plague.
The ‘wild beasts’ can also symbolise microscopic bacteria and viruses as well as literal wild animals. The closer we come to Jesus return, the more evil appears on the earth because the enemy of our souls, Satan, knows he has little time left to turn the hearts of mankind away from God. We see an increase in Godlessness and the rise of deception in the church worldwide. The words of Jesus to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation are very relevant to the times we are living in now. There are stern warnings to get our house in order and focus on the one who was and who is and who is to come.
To the church in Ephesus Jesus says: to him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. To the church in Smyrna, he speaks to the persecuted church and encourages them to be faithful even to death, and He will give them the crown of life and promises they will not be hurt by the second death. The church in Pergamum is acknowledged as the city where Satan lives and they are called to repent from idolatry and immorality and for those who overcome, Jesus promises hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. The church in Thyatira is warned against the satanic teachings of Jezebel which lead to intense suffering. Those who repent are encouraged to hold on to what they have until Jesus returns and gives them authority over the nations and the morning star. Sardis is warned to wake up and strengthen what remains, to remember what they have received and heard and obey and repent. Those who overcome will be dressed in white and their names will never be blocked out from the book of life. The Philadelphian church is commended for keeping His word and not denying His name. They are promised an open door before them that no man can shut and that they will be kept from the hour of trial coming upon the whole earth. Those who overcome will become pillars in the temple of God and receive the name of God and the city of God, the new Jerusalem. They will also receive Jesus new name. The Laodicean church receives a strong rebuke and warning that although they think they are rich, they are in fact poor, wretched and naked and need to become zealous for God and repent from being lukewarm. They are encouraged to open the door of their hearts and invite Jesus in. Then to the overcomer He promises the right to sit with Him on his throne just as He overcame and sat down with the Father on his throne. (Taken from Revelation chapters 2 & 3)
Surely these 7 churches are quite recognisable in the world today. Jesus warns if they don’t heed the warnings and repent, their Menorah or lampstand will be removed, however there are great promises for those who stay true to God’s word.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:1-3 NIV)
Tu b’Sh’vat marks the beginning of spring in Israel! Most of the rains have already fallen. The beautiful almond trees show the first sign of spring as they begin to bloom.
In Israel although it isn’t a public holiday they plan special activities to celebrate the day, more along the lines of an arbor day. This year (2015) however, there will be no planting trees as it is a Shmittah year, meaning the land must lie fallow as it is a Sabbath for the land. See Leviticus 25:20-21. There are prayers of thanksgiving offered to the Lord Who gave them the Land of Israel and all its goodness.
I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41.19-20 NIV) In Isaiah 27:6 it is recorded that: In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.
You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. (Leviticus 25:20 – 21 NIV)
Sin entered our world by an act of eating from a tree. The victory over sin also was obtained by means of a tree, on that day when Messiah hung on a tree and took upon himself the curse of sin pronounced by the Law;
“If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy. 21:22-23 NASB)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— (Galatians. 3:13 NASB):
So then what is the relationship between the introduction of sin by means of a tree, namely the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the victory over sin by means of another tree, the Cross of Messiah?
Through his death on the Cross and his resurrection three days later, Jesus the Messiah became the Tree of Life for all those who put their trust in him.
According to Jewish tradition, Seth, the son of Adam, after Adam died, received from the Cherubim guarding the Garden of Eden, a branch of the tree of good and evil from which Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, as a warning reminder against the path of evil. The pious Seth planted this branch on the burial place of Adam, which later would be named Golgotha. It is said that the Cross of Messiah was made from the wood of this tree.
The Word of God in Genesis 3:21-24 tells us that the Cherubim guarded the way back to the garden with flaming swords. My understanding of this is that there is no way back, only forward. I doubt that God intended Adam should take anything from the garden other than the garments that God himself had supplied from animal skins before he banished mankind from the garden – this speaks of the very first blood sacrifice providing covering for their nakedness – where again we can interpret ‘nakedness’ in this context as sin!
There was, and there is, no way back! However, the story essentially portrays the same truth as the Holy Scriptures do, namely that the Messiah took upon himself the full consequence of sin, which is death, and thus through his death destroyed the power of death, because as the only completely sinlesss one, he was worthy to be resurrected to eternal life. As a result of his work the destructive forces of evil in the end will be removed from the universe and then there will be healing for the world, in Hebrew this is called tikkun olam.
When the Apostle John in the book of Revelation tells us about his vision of the City of God, he speaks about the tree of life;
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 NASB)
While in the midst of the Garden of Eden there were two trees according to Genesis 2:9, here is there is only one. In the beginning there were two, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In the end there will be only the tree of life.
In the beginning man had access to both trees. He didn’t have to die because he had access to the tree of life. Because he made the wrong choice to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil he lost his access to the tree of life and was then subjected to the power of death and sin.
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection the effects of this wrong choice were reversed, and the dead wood of the Cross in a sense became our tree of life. In the renewed creation of the resurrection, the tree of knowledge of good and evil is no more.
We as believers and followers of Jesus are considered to be fruits of the Tree of Life, i.e. fruits of the Cross of Messiah. The resurrected Messiah himself is the first fruits, because he inherits eternal life by his own merit. He is the first one to be resurrected from the dead.
Because we are included in him when we repent from going our own way and invite him into our hearts, we are sanctified in the first fruits, and we inherit eternal life by his sacrifice and shedding of blood on the cross which in turn is His grace towards us.
Jesus is our High Priest presently in Heaven seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us – He is the only intercessor between man and God. No-one comes to the Father except through Him.
However the Book of Revelation shows him (the Messiah) transitioning from the role of the High Priest and Intercessor after the order of Melchizidek (which means King of Righteousness), to one of the conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords as he returns on a white horse to defeat the armies of the nations that have come against Jerusalem, then to reign on earth for 1,000 years from his throne in Jerusalem.
King of Kings & Lord of Lords
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16 NIV)
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV)
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all [the saints]. Amen. (Revelation 22:12-21 NASB)
The NIV reads: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Eden Restored
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. (Revelation 22:1-2 NIV)
Prayer:
Almighty God, you are the Creator and King of the universe, yet through Jesus your son we can approach your throne and call you Father; This is so amazing and wonderful to us. Our thanks appear so inadequate at times, yet Lord God we do thank you with all our hearts for all you have done, all you are doing and all you will do in our lives. Lord Jesus you are the beginning and the end, the Alef and the Tav, the son of David, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and you invite us to come to you to drink from the river of life and to eat from the Tree of Life that we may have life and bear fruit even into our old age remaining fresh and green and boldly proclaiming the Gospel until your return – even so Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha! Amen.
Scriptures used in this message are from the New International Version (NIV)1984 UK and the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
A link to a message by Amir Tsarfati on 30 January 2019 and recorded on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/bEiFgIv1n30
The Bible begins and ends with the “Tree of Life” – first in the Garden of Eden, and then in the midst of the paradise of Heaven.
The twelve months of the Jewish Year are directly linked to the twelve fruits from the Tree of Life “each month rendering its fruit” – 12 months, 12 fruits… The sequence of biblical Festivals written in the Book of Leviticus teaches us revelation about God. That is why we read in Genesis 1:13 that God created the Sun and Moon for signs and for “appointed times.”
In Psalm 104:19 the Word tells us: “He made the moon to mark the appointed times, the sun knows it’s time for setting”.
Then in Revelation 22:14 we read: “Blessed are those who do His commandments so that they may have access to the Tree of Life…”
Faith and obedience being two sides of the same coin.
Tu B’Shevat is the New Year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. Leviticus 19:23-25 states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year's fruit is for God, and after that, you can eat the fruit. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B’Shevat, so if you planted a tree on Shevat 14, it begins its second year the next day, but if you plant a tree two days later, on Shevat 16, it does not reach its second year until the next Tu B’Shevat.
Scriptures clearly teach that God is the Creator of all life, including vegetation.
God told Adam in Genesis 1:29 “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. (Genesis 1:11-13 NIV)
God told Adam in Genesis 1:29
"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
The Almond tree is the first tree to blossom in Israel at the end of winter and it announces the arrival of springtime. Its perfume permeates the air in Jerusalem and throughout the land which falls in late January, February, or early March on our calendar. Every year without fail, on the 15th of the month of Shevat miraculously the Almond trees burst into blossom even when there is snow still on the ground. The Almond produces blossoms and fruit before the leaves appear. It is traditionally believed that the cross that Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified on was made of Almond wood.
In Hebrew it is called Shekadiyah which means ‘awakening’ and symbolises the ‘dependability or faithfulness of God’. It is referred to in the book of Exodus in reference to the design of the Menorah or lampstand for the Tabernacle. The patriarch Jacob included almond nuts in his gifts to Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 43:11). In Judaism it is forbidden to make images of mankind or animals, however God specifically gave instructions for using almond blossoms, pomegranates and other horticultural species to fashion decorations for the Tabernacle in the wilderness, on the borders of the priestly robes and then later when it was finally built by Solomon, for the Temple. One of the names of Jesus in Hebrew is Tzemach Tzaddik (God’s Righteous Branch). He is also known as the Nazarene which comes from the root word in Hebrew meaning ‘the branch.’ Early believers and followers of Jesus were known as No tsri and modern Hebrew refers to Christians as Notzrim or followers of the branch.
For more information about the Almond Tree check out the following link:
http://www.righteousbranch.org/prodigy-of-the-almond-tree.html
In Deuteronomy 20:19 we read that fruit trees are not to be destroyed during warfare. God obviously cares about the trees of the field and doesn’t want them needlessly destroyed, since they are unable to escape when the city is besieged. “You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down.”
When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an axe to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?
(Deuteronomy 20:19 NIV)
It is interesting to note here that Turkey’s President Erdogan recently ordered the destruction of over 2,000 olive trees in the South of Turkey because they were “Jewish”. Some poor farmers lost their livelihood because Erdogan believes that the Koran teaches the other trees will expose Jews who try to hide behind them when Muslims seek to kill them, but the olive trees will hide them, therefore they must be ‘Jewish!’
Now this brings us to the shocking end-time revelation we can read about in Zechariah 14:12-15. These verses accurately describe the aftermath of a Neutron or Thermonuclear Bomb which destroys all flesh but leaves structures such as buildings and trees intact and with which the enemies of Israel hint at having access to.
The leader of Islamic State (IS) is reported to have publicly announced that they had immense power available to use against those who came against them.
And the following was reported on 14 January 2015: Hezbollah has more types of weapons than Israel can imagine, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah told the Arab-language Al-Mayadeen television network during an interview on Wednesday 14 January:
Iran has unveiled plans for more nuclear installations, in spite of being in talks to downgrade their nuclear ambitions. They have this week (11-17 January 2015) signed an agreement with Russia for joint military cooperation.
Zechariah the prophet wrote:
This is the plague with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day people will be stricken by the Lord with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps. (Zechariah 14:12-15 NIV)
In 2014 I brought a message “Lunar Tetrads, Signs of the Times?” I asked the question – are these signs of the end of the age and our Lord’s soon return? Who could have imagined the worldwide events unfolding over the past 12 months: Russia taking over the Crimea. The rise and rise of Islamic State committing atrocities in Iraq and Syria and even around the world through Islamic Jihadis and Al Qaeda and other linked terror groups. The Turkish President Erdogan working towards reinstating the Ottoman Caliphate and slowly but surely dismantling democracy in Turkey. The outbreak of Ebola, the atrocities in Africa by Boko Haram, Hamas aligning itself with Iran and using funding from Iran and Qatar preparing to continue to strike Israel. The rise of Anti-Semitism in Europe to mention but a few.
These events certainly do look like the end of the age approaching, specifically the 4th seal of Revelation 6:7-8 where it says:
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
In Hebrew the pale horse is a sickly green colour representing illness or a plague.
The ‘wild beasts’ can also symbolise microscopic bacteria and viruses as well as literal wild animals. The closer we come to Jesus return, the more evil appears on the earth because the enemy of our souls, Satan, knows he has little time left to turn the hearts of mankind away from God. We see an increase in Godlessness and the rise of deception in the church worldwide. The words of Jesus to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation are very relevant to the times we are living in now. There are stern warnings to get our house in order and focus on the one who was and who is and who is to come.
To the church in Ephesus Jesus says: to him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. To the church in Smyrna, he speaks to the persecuted church and encourages them to be faithful even to death, and He will give them the crown of life and promises they will not be hurt by the second death. The church in Pergamum is acknowledged as the city where Satan lives and they are called to repent from idolatry and immorality and for those who overcome, Jesus promises hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. The church in Thyatira is warned against the satanic teachings of Jezebel which lead to intense suffering. Those who repent are encouraged to hold on to what they have until Jesus returns and gives them authority over the nations and the morning star. Sardis is warned to wake up and strengthen what remains, to remember what they have received and heard and obey and repent. Those who overcome will be dressed in white and their names will never be blocked out from the book of life. The Philadelphian church is commended for keeping His word and not denying His name. They are promised an open door before them that no man can shut and that they will be kept from the hour of trial coming upon the whole earth. Those who overcome will become pillars in the temple of God and receive the name of God and the city of God, the new Jerusalem. They will also receive Jesus new name. The Laodicean church receives a strong rebuke and warning that although they think they are rich, they are in fact poor, wretched and naked and need to become zealous for God and repent from being lukewarm. They are encouraged to open the door of their hearts and invite Jesus in. Then to the overcomer He promises the right to sit with Him on his throne just as He overcame and sat down with the Father on his throne. (Taken from Revelation chapters 2 & 3)
Surely these 7 churches are quite recognisable in the world today. Jesus warns if they don’t heed the warnings and repent, their Menorah or lampstand will be removed, however there are great promises for those who stay true to God’s word.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:1-3 NIV)
Tu b’Sh’vat marks the beginning of spring in Israel! Most of the rains have already fallen. The beautiful almond trees show the first sign of spring as they begin to bloom.
In Israel although it isn’t a public holiday they plan special activities to celebrate the day, more along the lines of an arbor day. This year (2015) however, there will be no planting trees as it is a Shmittah year, meaning the land must lie fallow as it is a Sabbath for the land. See Leviticus 25:20-21. There are prayers of thanksgiving offered to the Lord Who gave them the Land of Israel and all its goodness.
I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41.19-20 NIV) In Isaiah 27:6 it is recorded that: In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.
You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. (Leviticus 25:20 – 21 NIV)
Sin entered our world by an act of eating from a tree. The victory over sin also was obtained by means of a tree, on that day when Messiah hung on a tree and took upon himself the curse of sin pronounced by the Law;
“If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy. 21:22-23 NASB)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— (Galatians. 3:13 NASB):
So then what is the relationship between the introduction of sin by means of a tree, namely the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the victory over sin by means of another tree, the Cross of Messiah?
Through his death on the Cross and his resurrection three days later, Jesus the Messiah became the Tree of Life for all those who put their trust in him.
According to Jewish tradition, Seth, the son of Adam, after Adam died, received from the Cherubim guarding the Garden of Eden, a branch of the tree of good and evil from which Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, as a warning reminder against the path of evil. The pious Seth planted this branch on the burial place of Adam, which later would be named Golgotha. It is said that the Cross of Messiah was made from the wood of this tree.
The Word of God in Genesis 3:21-24 tells us that the Cherubim guarded the way back to the garden with flaming swords. My understanding of this is that there is no way back, only forward. I doubt that God intended Adam should take anything from the garden other than the garments that God himself had supplied from animal skins before he banished mankind from the garden – this speaks of the very first blood sacrifice providing covering for their nakedness – where again we can interpret ‘nakedness’ in this context as sin!
There was, and there is, no way back! However, the story essentially portrays the same truth as the Holy Scriptures do, namely that the Messiah took upon himself the full consequence of sin, which is death, and thus through his death destroyed the power of death, because as the only completely sinlesss one, he was worthy to be resurrected to eternal life. As a result of his work the destructive forces of evil in the end will be removed from the universe and then there will be healing for the world, in Hebrew this is called tikkun olam.
When the Apostle John in the book of Revelation tells us about his vision of the City of God, he speaks about the tree of life;
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 NASB)
While in the midst of the Garden of Eden there were two trees according to Genesis 2:9, here is there is only one. In the beginning there were two, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In the end there will be only the tree of life.
In the beginning man had access to both trees. He didn’t have to die because he had access to the tree of life. Because he made the wrong choice to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil he lost his access to the tree of life and was then subjected to the power of death and sin.
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection the effects of this wrong choice were reversed, and the dead wood of the Cross in a sense became our tree of life. In the renewed creation of the resurrection, the tree of knowledge of good and evil is no more.
We as believers and followers of Jesus are considered to be fruits of the Tree of Life, i.e. fruits of the Cross of Messiah. The resurrected Messiah himself is the first fruits, because he inherits eternal life by his own merit. He is the first one to be resurrected from the dead.
Because we are included in him when we repent from going our own way and invite him into our hearts, we are sanctified in the first fruits, and we inherit eternal life by his sacrifice and shedding of blood on the cross which in turn is His grace towards us.
Jesus is our High Priest presently in Heaven seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us – He is the only intercessor between man and God. No-one comes to the Father except through Him.
However the Book of Revelation shows him (the Messiah) transitioning from the role of the High Priest and Intercessor after the order of Melchizidek (which means King of Righteousness), to one of the conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords as he returns on a white horse to defeat the armies of the nations that have come against Jerusalem, then to reign on earth for 1,000 years from his throne in Jerusalem.
King of Kings & Lord of Lords
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-16 NIV)
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV)
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all [the saints]. Amen. (Revelation 22:12-21 NASB)
The NIV reads: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Eden Restored
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. (Revelation 22:1-2 NIV)
Prayer:
Almighty God, you are the Creator and King of the universe, yet through Jesus your son we can approach your throne and call you Father; This is so amazing and wonderful to us. Our thanks appear so inadequate at times, yet Lord God we do thank you with all our hearts for all you have done, all you are doing and all you will do in our lives. Lord Jesus you are the beginning and the end, the Alef and the Tav, the son of David, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and you invite us to come to you to drink from the river of life and to eat from the Tree of Life that we may have life and bear fruit even into our old age remaining fresh and green and boldly proclaiming the Gospel until your return – even so Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha! Amen.
Scriptures used in this message are from the New International Version (NIV)1984 UK and the New American Standard Bible (NASB).
A link to a message by Amir Tsarfati on 30 January 2019 and recorded on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/bEiFgIv1n30