Introduction

† From the beginning, access to life was never about location, it was about covenant access, and that access was shut off because of sin (Genesis 3:24).

† What most people miss is that the Bible does not present the Tree of Life as permanently lost, it presents it as guarded until the appointed time of restoration (Revelation 22:14).

† When you follow the full story from Eden to the cross to AD 70, you see one continuous plan, not separate events, but one unfolding reality completed in that generation (Matthew 24:34).

Genesis 3:24
24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the Garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

† The way to the Tree of Life was not destroyed, it was guarded, meaning access still existed, but it was restricted (Genesis 3:24).

† The flaming sword represents judgment, and throughout scripture, judgment is consistently tied to the Law that exposes sin (Deuteronomy 33:2).

† This shows that from the very beginning, access to life was blocked by a system that condemned sin, not permanently removed, but held back until fulfillment (Romans 3:20).

† The Law is identified as a ministry of death, which matches the barrier guarding life (2 Corinthians 3:7).

Hebrews 10:19-20
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh,

† The "way" that was once guarded is now reopened, not by removing the standard, but by fulfilling it through Christ (Hebrews 10:20).

† The veil represented separation, just like the guarded entrance in Eden, and both are removed through the same act, the death of Christ (Matthew 27:51).

† This proves access to life was restored at the cross, but not fully manifested until the old system that enforced separation was removed (Hebrews 8:13).

† The temple itself stood as the visible barrier, showing the way was not yet fully open while it remained (Hebrews 9:8).

John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

† Jesus is not just giving access to life, He is the life, meaning the Tree of Life was always pointing to Him (John 14:6).

† The guarded way in Eden and the opened way in Christ are the same path, now fulfilled (Hebrews 10:20).

John 6:51
51 I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh."

† Life is received by partaking of Christ, showing the Tree of Life was never about a physical tree alone, but about union with Him (John 6:51).

† This ties Eden directly to the cross, showing one consistent source of life throughout scripture (Genesis 2:9).

Proverbs 3:18
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are those who hold on to her.

† The Tree of Life is used as a living concept throughout scripture, not confined to Eden, but pointing to divine wisdom and life (Proverbs 3:18).

† This shows continuity, the promise of life was always present, but not fully accessible until fulfillment (Colossians 2:3).

Revelation 2:7
7 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’

† This promise was given to the first century church, showing access to the Tree of Life was about to be realized in their time (Revelation 2:7).

† It confirms the restoration of access was not future to us, but imminent to them (Revelation 1:1).

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

† The right to the Tree of Life is restored, not postponed, it is present access given to those made clean through Christ (Revelation 22:14).

† This is not describing a distant future, it is describing covenant access now open, directly tied to the removal of what once barred entry (Revelation 21:2).

† The gates are open because the Law that condemned has been fulfilled, and the sword no longer stands in the way (John 19:30).

Matthew 24:34
34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

† Jesus placed the timing of full access within that generation, not thousands of years later (Matthew 24:34).

† The destruction of Jerusalem removed the Old Covenant system that maintained separation, completing what the cross began (Luke 21:22).

† This is when the Tree of Life was fully reopened, because the last barrier tied to the Law was taken away (Hebrews 9:8).

Historical References

† Irenaeus wrote that access to life was restored through Christ, showing early believers saw fulfillment, not delay.

† Eusebius recorded the destruction of Jerusalem as the end of the old order, confirming the transition was completed in that generation.

† Josephus documented the fall of the temple in AD 70, marking the removal of the system that once restricted access.

How It Applies To Us Today

† We're not waiting for access to life, we already have it through Christ, because the barrier has been removed (1 John 5:11).

† Christ Himself is our life, meaning the reality of the Tree of Life is present with us now (Colossians 3:4).

† There is no returning to a system of separation, because that system has already passed away (Hebrews 10:18).

† We live in the reality of restored access, walking in life now, not waiting for it later (John 5:24).

Q & A Appendix

Q If the Tree of Life is already open, why do people still think it is future?
A Because they separate the cross from the destruction of the temple, but scripture ties both together as one completed work (Hebrews 9:26, Matthew 24:34).

Q Was the Tree of Life ever literal or only symbolic?
A It was real in Genesis, but its meaning always pointed to access to life through God, which is fulfilled in Christ (Proverbs 3:18, Revelation 2:7).

Q Does this mean we are in the New Jerusalem now?
A Yes, the city is described as present reality for believers, not a future descent (Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 21:2).

Q Why is it so hard for futurists to believe we're in the New Jerusalem?
A Because they're still looking for a physical city to come down instead of seeing what scripture already says is present. Hebrews 12:22 says But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. That's not future language, that's present reality. Revelation 21:2 describes the city in covenant terms as a bride, not a literal structure. If someone misses that the New Jerusalem is people, not bricks, they'll keep pushing it into the future instead of seeing it's already established.

Q If the Tree of Life is already open, why do people still feel separated from God?
A Because many are still taught an Old Covenant mindset of distance and waiting. Hebrews 10:22 says let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. The problem isn't access, it's understanding. People are living like the veil is still there when scripture says it was removed.

Q If access was restored at the cross, why does AD 70 matter so much?
A Because Hebrews 9:8 shows the way into the holy place was not yet fully revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing. The cross opened the way, but the temple system still stood as a visible reminder of separation. When Jerusalem fell, that last barrier was removed, and what Christ accomplished was fully revealed.

Q Does this mean eternal life is something we already have right now?
A Yes, scripture is clear on that. 1 John 5:11 says And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. It's not something we're waiting to receive, it's something we've already been given in Christ.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index

† Genesis 3:24, Hebrews 10:19-20, John 14:6, John 6:51, Proverbs 3:18, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:14, Matthew 24:34

† Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 36; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book 3, Chapter 5; Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book 6, Chapter 5**