Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 2:7

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God." — Revelation 2:7 (ASV)

On the general exhortation and the meaning of “overcomes” (GK 3771), see introductory comments on 2:1–3:22. The overcomer is promised access to the “tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” The “tree of life” is first mentioned in Ge 2:9 as one of the many trees given to Adam and Eve for food and was off-limits after their fall into sin (Genesis 3:22, 24). It is last mentioned in Rev 22:2, 19, where it conveys symbolically the truth of eternal life. Those at Ephesus who truly follow Christ in deep devotion and thus experience the real victory of Christ will share the gift of eternal life that he alone gives.

Rabbinic and Jewish apocalyptic works mention that the glorious age of the Messiah would be a restoration to Edenic conditions before the Fall (Ezekiel 36:35; cf. Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8–9). Jewish thought joined the concepts of the renewed city of God, the tree of life, and the paradise of God. “Paradise” (GK 4137) is a Persian loan word meaning “a park” or “a garden.” The LXX uses it to translate the Hebrew expression the “garden” of Eden (Genesis 2:8–10). John seems to reinterpret the Jewish idea of Paradise. Jesus Christ is the restorer of the lost Paradise (22:1–4, 14), and he gives access to the tree of life. Paradise means to be in fellowship with him rather than the idea of a hidden paradise with its fantastic sensual delights.