TREES:

Literal, because first in the text they are connected with and belong to the earth and sea. In my last work, (Vindication of the Sabbath,) where I referred to this sealing message as then being in the future, I then taught that trees was a symbol of man as used by the prophets. See Hosea 14:8; Psalm 1:3; Matthew 3:10, etc. The subject was then new to me, and not much agitated. Here then I imbibed an erroneous view, because on a more through examination I see it must be taken in the same literal sense that earth and sea is, because of their close connection and explanation which I now propose.SLG 12.3

In the beginning God created the trees with their fruit on them, and says to man, “to you it shall be for meat”. Genesis 1:29. Every green herb is for the beasts. 30th vs. God also planted a garden in Eden. “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that’s pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil”. Genesis 2:8, 9. It appears that after Adam and Eve had sinned, by eating of the tree of knowledge, of good and evil: that God turned them out of the garden into the earth; “lest also they should eat of the tree of life, and live forever. (22nd verse.) In which case they would have become immortal sinners. It is evident from this history that God in the beginning made ample provision for man, both in this mortal and immortal state, i.e. he created fruit for their meat during the 6000 years, for both the righteous and the wicked in this earth, with the difference; viz: for the righteous who keep the commandments and overcome, shall eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. (Same garden of Eden.) Jesus calls it “the city of my God.” John in vision says, it’s “the New Jerusalem.” Paul says, it’s “the Mother of us all.” It’s the dwelling place for the saints to “live and reign” with Christ “a thousand years.” They shall also have the tree of knowledge: “And EVERY TREE that’s pleasant to the sight and good for food”. Surely our God who declares “the end from the beginning,” has done all things well. To him be all the glory. Amen.SLG 13.1

No wonder then that Moses gave the following imperious command; viz: “when thou shalt besiege a city a long time in making war against it, thou shalt not destroy the TREES thereof by forcing an axe against them, for thou mayest eat of them; and thou shalt not cut them down for the TREE of the field is MAN’S LIFE! to employ them in the siege.” But trees that are not for meat may be used for the siege. Deuteronomy 20:9, 20.SLG 13.2

Now in Revelations the word tree is spoken of eight times; four times as the tree of life. This certainly is literal. Again, four times as literal trees connected with this earth. See 8: It was literal fire on the literal earth where green grass was, that destroyed the trees. See how clearly this compares with the 7th literal plague on Egypt. Exodus 9:25.SLG 13.3

Once more: “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree.” Revelation 9:4. Here is the literal earth and grass in connection with the tree. On this text it is stated on authority from Gibson’s history, that under the sounding of the sixth trumpet when the third part of the Roman Empire - the eastern part, was to be scourged, that the successor of Mahomet in issuing his orders to Mohammedan soldiers gave them in these words, viz: Destroy no palm trees, nor burn any fields of corn; cut down no fruit trees, etc., using almost the same language of John in his vision. See Litch’s Prophetic expositions. vol.2.SLG 14.1

I think this fully proves the word tree and trees in the text, Revelation 7:1, 3, to have a clear literal meaning, and as we have proved in the foregoing argument that the words earth and sea, are to be used here in their literal sense, so the trees are to be also.SLG 14.2