Why will the nations need healing in the New Jerusalem?

Answer

One of God’s promises regarding the eternal state is that the nations of the world will experience healing. The question arises, however, as to why precisely healing is necessary. Isn’t the New Jerusalem already a place of perfection?

The promise of the healing of the nations is mentioned in Revelation 22, following the establishment of the new heaven and new earth «And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away; and there was no more sea. », (Revelation 21:1). John writes, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:1-5).

The healing of the nations is connected to the tree of life, as God restores Eden. It is the leaves of this tree that are described as “for the healing of the nations” «In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. », (Revelation 22:2). ItIt is possible that the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem is literal, and its leaves and various fruits will somehow enrich our existence in the eternal state. All the nations represented there will be “healed” of their divisions and strife through equal access to the Tree of Life.

Alternatively, the Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem could be symbolic, and its “healing” may signify the eternal life that all will enjoy there. The different fruits it bears could symbolize the unlimited variety of our existence in heaven. The clear flowing river that waters the tree could symbolize the spiritual life of God’s redeemed—the “living water” Jesus promised in John 4:13–14.

The healing provided by the leaves of the Tree of Life is not for wounds of battle—warfare will have ceased. The healing is not needed to combat sickness—there will be no more sickness, death, or pain. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”, (Revelation 21:4). The “healing” refers to the perpetual blessing of the new heaven and earth; the world will no longer be plagued by physical disorders, spiritual malaise, or corruption. There will be no more warfare, strife, or conflicting factions. God will heal all that ails His creation, and there will be no more curse. “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.”, (Revelation 22:3).

In the eternal state, everything will be blessed, and the Tree of Life represents that blessedness. There will be perfect sinlessness, perfect government, perfect service to God, perfect communion, and perfect glory. It is impossible for us tTo imagine living completely free from sin and existing in a state of glory before God is a remarkable thought. The Lord confirms the reliability of this concept by stating, “these words are trustworthy and true” «And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. », (Revelation 22:6).