Paradise literally means “a park”, “a pleasure ground”. The Genesis story, Chapter 1, brings before us just such a “Paradise” as set up in “The Garden of Eden”. We are told that it was a garden of trees, for food, set there for the first created man and woman, Adam and Eve. In the midst of the Garden grew two special and very important trees;
- “THE TREE OF LIFE” and
- “THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL”. (Gen. 2:9).
I want you with me to study again these two trees and ascertain their full meaning and significance to the human race.
In my view these two trees are symbolic and represent the Eternal Ail himself and His purpose in creation. This wonderful truth, I believe, is expressed in the names and titles given to these respective trees, which contain “The hidden mystery of God.” This we hope to prove.
“THE TREE OF LIFE” undoubtedly and unquestionably represents the Eternal God as the “CREATOR”. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” etc., (Gen. 1:1). Likewise “THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL” represents the Eternal One in relation to His purpose in creation. For proof of this, examine each word separately and we are presented with these facts. God is all knowledgeable, all wise; He is all goodness. Jesus said, “there is none good but One, that is God”. The next word “evil” is qualified by “good” and represents his power and authority in judgment upon those who disobey Him. Hence it is written, “I (God) form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things”. (Isa. 45:7).
Why, we may ask, did God say, “Thou shalt not eat of it”? The answer is obvious. To establish law and order. Heaven’s first and only laws is “obedience”. Simply expressed it means: “Obey and live; Disobey and die”. Death is negative; the positive answer for life is obedience. We emphasise this fundamental truth because reconciliation and salvation are based, by the grace of God, on the perfect obedience of one man, God’s only begotten son, our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
In a word, he exalted the law of obedience and is so doing manifested God; and in all truth could say, “I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE”. (John 10:30).
We take up the next lesson arising out of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, being “driven out of the garden” and “The Tree of Life” being guarded by “Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life”. (Gen. 3:24). The obvious question arising out of this incident is, what happened to the two trees under consideration? Did they cease to exist? My answer to this query is, Yes and No! They ceased to exist as “trees” but continued in other forms in representing the “Eternal Ail” and His holy will and purpose in creation. Let us together pursue this thought from the “Word of God”.
The obvious question arising in our minds is, what became, to Adam and Eve and posterity, “The Tree of Life” outside of Eden? I suggest the answer is found in Genesis 3:15, in the promise of a Redeemer, and confirmed throughout Old Testament times with promises becoming a REALITY in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. As John 1:4, says, “IN HIM WAS LIFE; AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN”. And again in support, Jesus himself says, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE”. (John 14:6).
The second tree, “of knowledge of good and evil” is represented down the ages to the present time by “the knowledge” (wisdom), of “good” (love) and “evil” (judgment) upon all those who disobey His holy law and requirements. Faith and obedience to the “law” of sacrifice came the required test of acceptance by the Almighty. Case in point is seen in the story of Cain and Abel. Cain’s offering was unacceptable, “the fruit of the ground” had little or no meaning to “life and death” required by sacrifice. The “life is in the blood”, but Abel’s offering recognized the true principle of sacrifice, “that without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins”. (Heb. 9:22).
This understanding, no doubt, had been passed on by Adam to his sons, as symbolized in the “covering” provided by God to cover their nakedness (sin) after he had eaten of the “forbidden fruit”. Cain did not acknowledge this lesson, choosing rather to do things his OWN way; Abel on the other hand did it God’s way.
Let us now turn to Abraham and those lessons in his life which focus our attention on the “two trees” in paradise. This is seen, firstly, in the “seed” promised, indicating a Redeemer. (A Lifegiver) Gen. 12.3. That “seed” is Christ. Gal. 3-16. Undoubtedly these “exceeding great and precious promises” to Abraham and confirmed in Isaac and Jacob, represented a “TREE OF LIFE”. However, these promises were based on “OBEDIENCE” in recognizing God as the Supreme Ail as indicated in the “TREE OF KNOWLEDGE” etc., to the command “Get thee out of thy country… and thy father’s house, unto a land which I will shew thee” (Gen. 12:1). To this was added the test of offering up his son Isaac, on the Altar of sacrifice (Gen. 22:2). The testimony of God to this man is conveyed to us in the title, “The father of the faithful”.
We now look at the man described by God as “Moses my servant”, and to “Israel”, declared to be by God “my people”, and to their witness of God-manifestation. Our details of necessity must be brief.
Moses, as a deliverer of Israel from bondage, by the power of God, was in type “The Tree of Life”. This accomplishment, however, necessitated the observance, and strictly so, of Divine power, both of knowledge as well as good with the added emphasis of the consequence of disobedience bringing upon them evil. They obeyed the “Passover Sacrifice” and were saved out of bondage. A nation was born in a night. At Sinai God gave to Moses the “law” of 10 commandments, and therein we have a reflex of what is comprehended in “The tree of knowledge of good and evil” and embodying the many “Thou shalt not” do this or that. Provision, however, being made under the law of sacrifice against sins committed by breaches of the law, and being ratified on the great day of atonement. The law of obedience would give life to the people and the nation, but disobedience would bring the evil of God’s judgments upon them. Summing up the position and its meaning to Israel, we have these words in Deuteronomy 30:15,
“SEE, I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE THIS DAY LIFE AND GOOD, AND DEATH AND EVIL”.
We now turn to the final stage of our study as found in the New Testament Scriptures. Therein the “hidden mystery of God” down the ages is made manifest. The apostle Paul supports this, saying, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of THE MYSTERY, which was kept SECRET since the world began; but is now made manifest…” (Rom. 16:25-26). In Jesus Christ, the mystery of godliness is made known by his perfect obedience to the will of God. He truly was “God manifest in flesh” and could say, “I and my Father are one”.
In view of this, it is not difficult to see him as “The tree of Life”. John says, “In him was life”; Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”, and “All power is given to me, in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). This also signifies what is conveyed to us in “The tree of knowledge of good and evil”. Jesus has all knowledge, and is all wise; He is all goodness (full of love); and has been given the authority of power and of judgments of evil against those “who know not God and who obey not the gospel”. He says plainly, “All judgment is given to the son”.
Need I say more in support of the view expressed regarding the two trees in the “midst of the Garden” of Eden, except to loudly proclaim My faith and Your faith, in the promise of God which unreservedly declares that the Paradise lost will be regained at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us sum up. Firstly, Isaiah beautifully portrays the conditions of the Millennium (65:17-25) —
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind… the voice of weeping shall be no more heard.. there shall be no more thence an infant of days… the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed… they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit… the wolf and the lamb shall feed together…” Isaiah 33:24—
“And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick…” Isaiah 2:4—
“nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Lastly, in the confirmation of the restoration of Paradise, we have a beautiful picture given by Jesus to the apostle John in Revelation 21:1-5. Quoting verse 4, “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.”
The apostle Paul confirms this wonderful hope and adds, that when he (Jesus) has subdued everything unto himself, “then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be ALL IN ALL.” (1 Cor. 15:24-28).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One