Revelation 22:2; Twelve Manner of Fruits

Revelation 22:2 (KJV)  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. 

The forest of trees will produce “twelve fruit” which may mean a twelvefold harvest of fruit – i.e. an abundant supply of fruit (Beckwith, Mounce) or “twelve manner of fruits” (Alford, Lee). The month-by-month output indicated by “every month”. The seasonal bearing of fruit familiar to this old creation will be a thing of the past (Ladd).

Conditions of the new creation (Revelation 21:23) is not inconsistent with this reference to the twelve months of the year (contra Moffatt), because the new creation can have a basis for calendar reckoning entirely different from lunar calculation familiar to the present creation.

Revelation 21:3 (KJV)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

Though eating the fruit of the Tree of Life is unmentioned here, the implication is that this is what brings immortality, the same as was true for Adam and Eve originally (Genesis 3:22). Conditions of future bliss will mean a return to the original glories and privileges of God’s presence with man, before sin raised a barrier that prevented that direct contact.

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 484]