L'chaim to the tree of life!
Here it implies that the "wine guarded its grapes 馃崌 since the six days of creation" is the "etz hachayim" - the tree of life. When Moshiach comes we will merit to eat from the tree of life.
If that's the case, then, according to the opinion that the "etz hadas" - tree of knowledge was when Chava squeezed a bunch of grapes into wine and gave it to Adam, both "trees" are one and the same, the concept of wine.馃嵎 The first tree gives life while the second tree caused the decree of death.
How does one come to terms that they are the same?
My friend Lazer Stekel suggested that it's like the saying "Gehinom and Gan Eden are the same place, it all depends on your attitude."
Perhaps it's like the statement, "it is better to go to house of mourning that a wedding hall" , both instances where you drink wine.
Perhaps it is the juxtaposition of the two statements, "wine was created for mourners and for those who are about to be put to death by base-din" and "there is no joy other than with wine."
In the end "this world, as we leave it (when we pass on), is compared to a wedding."
The Torah itself is compared to a "sam ha'memis" and a "sam ha'mechayeh" - a potent elixer that has the potential to kill you if you take it towards the "left", in the wrong direction and a "life giving salve" to those who go "right" in it.
Indeed we say of the Torah, "it is a tree of life to those who hold onto it... long life is towards its right and to its left riches and honor..."
The two houses of the kingdom of Efraim and the kingdom of David are compared in Yichezkel to two "etz" - two branches (or trees). Yechezkel is told to join the two together and king David will rule them both forever. We say of David, "he is alive and well". Sounds like the Etz chayim to me.
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