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The Messiah’s Crucifixion Tree 87

...And on either side of the river was the tree of life....yielding its fruit every month; and the
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and
may enter by the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14).

...And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of this prophecy, God shall take
away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book
(Revelation 22:19).

The use of the same Greek word confirms a DIRECT LINK between the Tree of Life and
the crucifixion tree. That link, both LITERAL and SYMBOLIC, has been traced from the Tree of
Life in the Garden of Eden to the crucifixion tree on the Mount of Olives.

The Lifting Up of the Messiah

There is evidence that Aaron’s rod, a branch from the Tree of Life, was planted on the
Mount of Olives at the place of sin sacrifice, by King David. Even though Hezekiah later destroyed
the copper serpent attached to its trunk, the tree remained
for YEHOVAH God to work His ultimate redemptive
plan for all humankind.

Yeshua the Messiah told Nicodemus: “...as Mo-
ses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in
him have eternal life” (John 3:14-15). We should remem-
ber that the use of the copper serpent attached to the rod
was to provide healing and forgiveness to the Israelites.
Both symbolic and literal meanings are here evident --
Yeshua was lifted up on the same standard! Just as the
serpent was lifted up high so that all could see it, so too
was the Messiah lifted up on the highest location in Jeru-
salem -- so that all could see him. And all who look to him
find total spiritual healing and eternal life.

Jeremiah’s vision of the rod of an almond tree --
found in Jeremiah 1:11-12 -- and YEHOVAH God’s
promise to watch over His Word (to perform the act of re-
demption) was fulfilled at the crucifixion. In this way, the
Tree of Life, the source of the almond rod, is both liter-
ally and symbolically represented in the redemption of all The Serpent on the Standard
humankind. Through it, YEHOVAH God brought re-
demption first to the Israelites and then, ultimately, to all humankind through the Messiah -- the
Fruit of the Tree of Life who gives eternal life to all who trust in him and YEHOVAH God the Fa-
ther!

The Berean Voice March-April 2003