An angel showed me the river of life-giving water … On either side of the river grew the tree of life. This passage from the end of the Bible in the Book of Revelation mirrors the story of Adam and Eve at the beginning of the Bible. Eden had a “tree of life in the middle of the garden.” After the fall, an angel was sent barring the way to the tree because “The man must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22). The tree of life is back, accessible to humanity because of the Resurrection of Jesus. The angel guarding the tree has been dismissed and all can enjoy its fruit.
