What is the significance of the healing trees with leaves for medicine (Ezekiel 47:12)?

One element remains to be examined. It is probable that Ezekiel 47:12 refers to the same thing as Revelation 22:2. In both passages we learn that not only does the Tree yield meat, but the leaves are to be used for medicine. In the Revelation it distinctly applies this feature of the Tree of Life to the nations, i.e. such as are spared to enter the millennial blessing on earth. We shall not need medicine in heaven, beloved saints of God. Neither will there be there crippled or diseased bodies, nor broken and sorrowing hearts again. Ours to eat the fruit, ever varied, never palling, of all that Christ is, in its season. But how comforting, as we look around today and see the "open sores" as Livingstone called them, and the fevered condition of the nations on earth, to know that the Tree of Life will afford in its season healing for them. They will not learn war any more; and even to earth's utmost bound the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will spread as the waters cover the sea. Earth will unite with heaven in that thousand years of His glorious reign in glad acclaim of the benefit derived from being under Christ, Israel and the Gentiles sitting down under His shadow with great delight.

It helps to compare the verse we are now considering with Ezekiel 47:12, when concerning the tree of life we read, "the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for medicine". Definitely in Ezekiel 47 it is for a people are on earth. In Revelation we are in the world to come, that is, the earth inhabited by people with the flesh in them. The only thing that is different from the world today is that Satan will be in the "bottomless pit", man's lust will not be initiated by the action of Satan, but because evil remains in man there will be need for medicine and a need for healing. Sickness and all the difficulties in relation to it are the result of sin in the world. Sin is still there, whereas for the heavenly people, for the heavenly company, for the church, for the new Jerusalem, we will be beyond it. We are glorified, conformed to the very image of Christ, but still we are in relation with the earth. That is the reason why there is still the place for medicine, for healing.

We are of necessity reminded also of one of the closing visions of Ezekiel, while a comparison easily shows also the difference between the earthly and the heavenly in these pictures, — the one being indeed the shadow, but no more than the shadow, of the other. John here sees "a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." And in Ezekiel, the life-giving waters issue forth from the house of the Lord, and thus is specially noted in connection with the fruit of the trees that are nourished by it "And by the river, upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to its months, because their waters, they issued out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine." How like the account in Revelation is to this, no one can fail to understand: even the language might seem to be taken from it: "In the midst of the street of it, and on this side of the river and on that, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, and yielded its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."

But in Ezekiel all is distinctly earthly, and the blessing is not yet full. The waters go down into the salt sea and heal it, so that a great multitude of fish are in its waters; but there are miry places and marshes that are not healed, but given over to salt. With both the Old Testament prophet and the New, we see that the earth is yet in the millennial, not the eternal condition; for the leaves of the tree are for medicine in both alike; there is, in both, need of healing yet.

Evidence of life in a tree is that it has leaves. If there are no leaves it is a dead tree! This tree is being nourished by water in the river and this is this really what the nations in the millennial period will need. It flows out from the throne of God and is going to bring healing to the nations.

Finally, chapter 22:2 speaks of the leaves of the tree of life being for the healing of the nations. There will be no need of healing in the eternal state, where all things are made new, when nothing but the stainless new creation will characterize the scene, but in the millennium there will be need of healing. We think this healing is of the mind and soul rather than of the body. The tree of life speaks of Him who said, “I am … the Life,” and through whom life alone comes.

In verse 2 the leaves are for the nations, but the fruit is for God. The leaves are necessary for the simple reason that, whilst the millennial future will be a time of wonderful blessing it is not going to be absolutely perfect. It is implicit that healing will be necessary. In some cases there is going to be judgment, but it appears as always that God desires to work in grace. In Hebrews 6 we read of the "powers of the world to come". Clearly there will be miracles in that day as when the Lord was here in lowly manhood.

Further, we learn that "the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." The church in glory, beyond all her sorrows, will enjoy the fruit of the tree of life. But on earth the nations will have passed through the sorrows of the tribulation that will come upon all the world. The One that brings fruit to the church will bring healing to the nations, for "He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds" (Ps. 147:3).

Fourth, the leaves of the tree will be for the healing of the nations (v. 2). Just as the City will find in Christ a source of perennial vigour, the nations will find in Christ the source of healing. The judgments of the nations will be over. It will not be the Lord Jesus revealed from heaven in flaming fire dealing in destruction with those who know not God, but Christ in the midst of the City as the Tree of Life bringing healing to the sore-stricken nations. The nations that for long centuries have been torn with strife and violence, will find healing in the appreciation of Christ in His beauty, for the leaves set forth His outward beauty. Strife and conflict, jealousy and distrust will be ended by a leaf from the Tree of Life. Christ seen in the perfection of His way will end strife among the nations; even as Christ apprehended in His graces brings healing between the Lord's people today.

The leaves of the tree will be for the healing of the nations. This statement very plainly teaches that the heavenly city sustains, during the millennial period, a relationship to the earth, and that the nations will receive of the healing virtues of the Tree of Life. As has been written by another, "Only the glorified ever ate the fruit of constant growth; but what was manifested and displayed without, as the leaves of a tree, was blessing to those on earth." In some way, therefore — in what way is not revealed — grace, either mediately or immediately, will flow out from the assembly in glory. What an insight is thus afforded into the heart of God! And what an expansion is given to the conception of "the riches of His grace" even outside of the assembly!

The leaves of the tree will be for the healing of the nations. This statement very plainly teaches that the heavenly city sustains, during the millennial period, a relationship to the earth, and that the nations will receive of the healing virtues of the Tree of Life. As has been written by another, "Only the glorified ever ate the fruit of constant growth; but what was manifested and displayed without, as the leaves of a tree, was blessing to those on earth." In some way, therefore — in what way is not revealed — grace, either mediately or immediately, will flow out from the assembly in glory. What an insight is thus afforded into the heart of God! And what an expansion is given to the conception of "the riches of His grace" even outside of the assembly!