~ The Bible Begins and
Ends with a Garden of Paradise ~
Eden
~ The word “Eden” has a root
meaning of “garden” and contains the thought of “delight” (which is the plural
of the word). With this in mind it is easy to see how the concept of Eden is
that of a “garden of delight” or simply “paradise.” Eden is clearly a symbol of
beauty, fruitfulness and God’s blessing (see Isaiah 51:3).
In a very
real way the Bible as a whole is the story of Eden lost and Eden regained. This
becomes clear by examining the first two chapters (Genesis 1-2) and the last
two chapters (Revelation 21-22) of the Bible. These last two chapters picture a
“river of the water of life” and “the tree of life”—once again picturing
paradise.
The Beginning
~ “In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “Then God said,
‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the
cattle, over all the earth and over
every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own
image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill
the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds
of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said,
‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all
the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything
that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb
for food;’ and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed
it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (1:26-31).
“This
is the history of the heavens and
the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of
the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on
the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the
earth and watered the whole face of the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (2:4-7). “Then
the Lord God took the man and put
him in the garden of Eden to tend
and keep it” (2:15).
The Conclusion
~ “Now
I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1). “And God
will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’
And He said to me, ‘Write, for these
words are true and faithful’” (21:4-5). But there shall by no means enter it
anything that defiles, or causes an
abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of
Life”(21:27).
“And
he showed me a pure river of water of
life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve
fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations. 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”
(22:1-3). “Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And
the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel
to show His servants the things which must shortly take place” (22:6). Jesus
Christ said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to
give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (22:12-13). “Happy are those who
do His commandments, that they may
have the right to the tree of life,
and may enter through the gates into the city” (22:14). “And the Spirit and the
bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts
come. Whoever desires, let him take the
water of life freely” (22:17). “He who testifies [Jesus Christ] to these
things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21—the last two verses of the Bible).
the key question: Will you be in the future Eden? Are you sure?
If not, you can be!
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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