We have had reference to a river of life and now to a
tree of life that bears fruit and leaves for health. This
poses a question. Does man have to drink and eat to live? Is
it necessary for life? Jesus Christ ate and drank with His
disciples after His resurrection in His glorified body. He
could eat and did, but it was not necessary to sustain the
life of His glorified body. At least there is no indication
of that from Scripture. Believers will have a glorified body
just like His after the resurrection (Philippians 3:21; 1
Corinthians 15:42, 43, 52-54), an imperishable, glorified
body that will not need food for sustenance after
resurrection. However, the literal tree and river will be
there as symbols of the abundant life that will exist in the
eternal state. All men will drink of these waters and eat of
this fruit evidently as an act of testimony and faith in the
eternality of this abundant life. It will stand as a special
memorial and symbol of the continuousness of our eternal and
abundant life and of the various aspects of our eternal life
in all its wonderful blessings.
