Revelation 22:2 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.

My excuse for missing it is that I do not frequent the book of Revelation. There are without doubt many mysteries to be discovered within the bible and most of them I find in the New Testament. It is there that I find help in my present condition. I also find marvelous help in the Old Testament which is replete in sound counsel, wisdom and historical resonance.

So what did I miss in Revelation 22:2 that I recently unearthed even though I have read this passage perhaps twenty time or more over the years? Maybe you missed it too. If you didn’t praise God but I am curious as to what the meaning of it did to you as a fellow believer. Ultimately how the scriptures affect you in life and living is the most important detail.

I missed nations. I was focused so strongly on the tree of life, the fruit born, the seasons of birthing, the distribution of fruit, that I totally missed the issue of the nations. This is a hint in the order of glory, to be under the Son, with the Father and totally and fully aware of His glory, majesty ad power. Even when I think in these terms the issues of nations fades in importance. Yet there it is, in the resurrected realm, in that life of perfection, and incorruptible condition, nations.

To be totally honest with you I have just begun to explore the possibilities of what that might mean and how it could be viewed in context of being present in that place. Here I sit, in the worldly realm of nations and can only relate to that time, that place, that order of His will, and view it by my failed weak imagination. The vanity of vanities is to think that nations will still mean the same thing there as it does here on this earth.

The fact that I missed the word in so many readings of that scripture should warn me not to assume I have the wherewithal to comprehend with more than a dim glimpse all that lays waiting for us there. No matter how learned I believe I am, no matter how well versed, no matter how much insight I have into the present mysteries, I pale in performance to that which is yet to come. 

2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Who are they? Who are these that say such a thing about Paul? All we know from this one verse is that “they” have both read some of Paul’s epistles, seen Paul in person, and talked about Paul to a point in which their sayings were reported back to Paul.

I can infer a gossip by action and judgment by speech. They speak praise and distain from the same mouth. This reminds me of what James said in 3:12 “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

So then by their fruits you should know them. Paul in addressing the issue even more precisely went on to say in verse 12 “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” This verse spoke directly to those that say, but Paul would be amiss if he did not also address the error in their thoughts and actions. This caused Paul to have to explain himself further.

V13-14 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

His final words about those “who say” wrapped up the chapter.

V18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.