The Tree of Life & Christ

Throughout all ages, mankind’s main desire has been to live a long life. People even pursue above and beyond measures to extend their lives, spending excessive amounts of money on health products, treatments and many other kinds of methods for the sole purpose of living longer.

Elizabeth, referred as the “The Queen of the Century,” trembled in the face of death and announced that she would give a great prize to anyone who could prolong her life. Unfortunately, even this offer did not produce the solution she sought and she came to die. Even the Spaniards came to the Americas searching for the fountain of youth yet they too failed. In spite of all the efforts the human race makes, time limits mankind’s existence on this earth.

The Bible says, “The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength” (Ps 90:10). We have the natural instinct to want eternal life. Nevertheless, our days are not long, even if we eat healthy food and drink expensive water.

Then, is there a way that we can have eternal life on this earth? If so, how can we attain it? Now, let us find the answer in the teachings of God, the Creator of life itself.

• The Tree of Life Hidden Since the Creation

  Matthew 13:34-35 『Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”』

  Jesus revealed the things hidden since the creation through parables—stories with hidden meanings. Among the 66 books of the Bible, which book has the history of the creation of the world? It is the book of Genesis.

  In the book of Genesis, there are many parables showing God’s providence. Among the parables, let’s learn about the tree of life.

  Genesis 2:16-17 『And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”』

  God, the LORD, put many trees in the Garden of Eden, yet among them, was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, they were tempted by Satan and violated the commandment of God. As a result of breaking God’s commandment (not the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil itself), human beings are destined to die. God promised us that if we eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil then we will die. God’s warning not to eat from this tree demonstrates the love of God: God warned us not to eat from the tree so that we would not face the pain of death. However, through sin and disobedience, death entered this world (Ro 5:12).

  After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, has God ever given us an opportunity to be saved from death? Is there no way to be freed from the chains of sin and death?

  Genesis 3:22 『And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”』

  As stated in the above verse, there is only one way for us to live forever: we must eat from the tree of life. Even if a sinner ate from the tree of life, that sinner would live—forever. Truly, the reason we come to die is because we cannot eat from the tree of life.

• The Reality of the Tree of Life

  Then, how can we eat from the tree of life?

  If we look into the history of the Garden of Eden, we can find out that it was God who banned the sinners from eating from the tree of life. Then, we can reason that it is only God who can allow us to eat from the tree of life again. Jesus Christ, who is God Himself, came to save us, sinners, by restoring the way to the tree of life.

  John 10:10 『The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.』

  The above words, “I have come that they may have life,” mean, “I have come that they may eat from the tree of life.” Then, what is the reality of the tree of life?

  John 6:53-54 『Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.』

  In the book of Genesis, what should we eat to live forever? It is the fruit of the tree of life. However, what did Jesus say we should eat to live forever? He said we should eat His flesh and drink His blood. Then, what is Jesus’ flesh and blood? It is the fruit of the tree of life.  The fruit of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden is Jesus’ flesh and blood. By eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking Jesus’ blood, we can eat the fruit of the tree of life, which  Adam and Eve lost access to in the Garden of Eden when they went against the commands of God. Therefore, we need to eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood in order to regain eternal life.

• The Fruit of the Tree of Life is Obtained through the Passover

  Now, the most important question becomes: how can we eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood, the reality of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden? It is impossible to eat Jesus Himself. Therefore, what do the words of John 6:53 mean? These words are clarified through the words of Matthew 26:17. In this verse, we can find the way to eat the flesh and blood of Jesus.

  Matthew 26:17-26 『On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover[…] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.』

  Jesus said that the bread and wine of the Passover are His flesh and blood—Jesus Himself. Eating the bread of the Passover and drinking the Passover wine gives us access to eat fruit from the tree of life in the Garden of Eden.

  So far, we have studied that the tree of life is a parable and its reality is Jesus. In addition, we learned that the truth through which we can eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood is the Passover. We can understand that the tree of life is allowed to us only through the Passover and that Jesus, who allowed us to eat from the tree of life, is God.

• Christ Ahnsahnghong Restored the Tree of Life for Us

  Now, it is possible that even though we lost the tree of life and were destined to die, we can have eternal life from God who came in the flesh. God allowed us to have access to the fruit of the tree of life—that is, the bread and wine of the Passover. However, the truth of the Passover was abolished through the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. From that time forth, the way to the tree of life was lost once again, due to rebellion against God’s commands. This means the tree of life had been hidden and no one could have eternal life. We cannot expect salvation without the Passover—the truth of the tree of life. In this situation, the only one who is able to restore access to the tree of life, the Passover, in these last days,  is God Almighty, as it was 2,000 years ago.

  Hebrews 9:28 『so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.』

  The purpose of Christ coming a second time is for our salvation. In order for us to have salvation, we need the Passover. The One who gave us the Passover truth is Ahnsahnghong.

  Therefore, Ahnsahnghong is Christ who came in this age, according to all the prophecies of the Bible. He restored the truth of the Passover, the tree of life, and saved us from our sin and death. He is our God.