The Life of the Spirit

2006-11-5 06:13:00

We finally arrive at the last chapter.

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1)

In past ages concerning the lower self, water stands for lower emotion, but there is another type of water that represents something much higher. This is symbolically called the "water of life."

Jesus identified this water of life in the following scripture: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive..." (John 7:38-39)

Here we are clearly told that the water of life is "the Spirit."

The inhabitants of the New Jerusalem, whether on earth or in heaven, drink freely of the spiritual life that comes from God.

The scripture says the river of water is "clear as crystal." The word clear here is a somewhat distorted translation. It comes from the Greek LAMPROS, which means brilliant, bright or glorious.

Pure spirit comes from God who lives in a "light which no man can approach." (1 Timothy 6:16). From the God of Glory comes a river of pure spiritual power, which gives eternal life to all who embrace it.

The Spirit thus circulates through the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem for "the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them." (Revelation 21:3) The true throne of God in this future time is thus with men, within their hearts and minds.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)

Let's go through this phase by phrase: "In the midst of the street of it..."

A street is that which takes you from one place to another. In the New Jerusalem the street is our consciousness, and in this case, higher consciousness guided by the Spirit. Thus the scripture is saying that in the midst of higher consciousness "...and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life..."

The river stands for higher spiritual energy, which flows through the disciples, as well as gathered disciples in the New Jerusalem and on either side of the river was "the tree of life."

The disciples in the New Jerusalem will stand between heaven and earth or spirit and matter. In this age the tree of life will not only be in heaven, but on earth and will thus be on both sides of the spirit as it manifests through the soul.

Now, what is this tree of life which stands in heaven and our future earth?

It is mentioned one other place in the New Testament: "...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7)

The paradise of God is found when the disciple, or group of disciples, become centered in light and love and soul energy flows through them. To obtain this state one must "overcome." Then he can eat of the fruit of the tree.

The tree of life is simply a symbol of the fruits or rewards we receive as we advance from a lower point in consciousness to a higher one. The flaming sword guarding the tree is a protection that keeps us from obtaining higher consciousness and the spiritual fire before we are ready. To obtain the spiritual fire while in a lower state of consciousness would be a tragedy, which could destroy the person and cause untold pain and suffering.

The seeker will progress toward the tree of life safely by "overcoming" all the limitations that keep him from the spiritual life.

"...which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month...":

The twelve fruits are the twelve rewards the disciple receives from performing twelve great labors in twelve great lives as he is born with twelve different signs of the reverse zodiac. This is sometimes called the Twelve Labors of Hercules and the fruit of each labor takes the disciple to a higher state of consciousness until all lower limitations are removed.

"...and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.":

It is interesting that leaves of various trees are used in physical healing by herbalists, but we must look toward the higher symbolism here. For instance, we are told that the leaves of the Tree of Life will heal the nations, instead of individual persons.

To understand what is represented by the leaves one must merely ask what it is that will heal the nations.

The answer is quite simple. The disciples which have the life of the spirit flowing through them and are connected to others who are the branches (the Masters) who are connected to the trunk (Christ) and then to the Source, are those who will go forth and teach the ways of life, peace and brotherhood. These shall heal the nations. Then will the great words of Isaiah be fulfilled:

⁷ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

⁸ Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

⁹ Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

¹⁰ The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:7-10

Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable.
John Patrick