When you think about the Garden of Eden, you invariably think about a place of magnificent beauty. A place of running, crystal clear streams, and a tremendous variety of magnificent birds and animals. The creatures are human oriented and friendly and harmless.

 There are still some beautiful untouched places left in this world, which take your breath away: but I venture to say, that they are not a touch on the Garden of Eden. A closer look at these places always reveals thorns and prickles and animals and creatures, which have the fear of man in them.

In the midst of the Garden of Eden were two special trees: the tree of life, and the tree of good and evil. These trees have physical and spiritual fulfilments

God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of good and evil, as the result of eating it would bring on death.

Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

Satan told them, that they would not die, if they ate of the tree.

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

Satan would have appeared to be telling the truth, as Adam and Eve did not die physically upon eating the fruit. 

Adam was created flesh; and was always going to die physically, as flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. He died of old age.

Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

By eating of the tree of good and evil, and disobeying God: Adam sentenced himself and all mankind to the second death. Adam had eternal death inherent, the very day that he ate of the tree of good and evil: just as the scripture says. Mankind’s only hope, was Christ’s death and resurrection; after leading a sinless life.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

The first man, Adam, brought sin, which is the cause of eternal death, into the world. Each and every one of us has inherited the wages of sin, which is eternal death.

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Jesus Christ is our only hope.

Act 4:10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 
Act 4:11  This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 
Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Compare the following two scriptures. 

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: 

Satan speaking.

Gen 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan lied about dying, if they ate of the tree of good and evil, but he told the truth about them becoming as Gods.

Humans now became as God. They now ignored the real God and decided for themselves, what was right and what was wrong. The further we move away from God, the more bizarre these decisions are. We now live in a time where every thing that God regards as evil; is now accepted as good, in this world.

Isa 5:20  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 

The breaking of every one of Gods Ten Commandments is now happily accepted in this world we live in. 

The eating of the tree of good and evil has brought mankind to the brink of physical destruction, as well as spiritual destruction. God will not allow this to happen. Gods plan of salvation for all mankind will be brought to fruition, in spite of the enmity that mankind has for God and Gods way of life. That anger and hate will also be directed at Gods people. Gods servants will obey God regardless of the outcome to themselves; they will be prepared to die for mankind, just as Christ did. Gods servants will love those who hate them.

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Eze 7:10  Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. 

Eze 7:11  Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them. 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

1Jo 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

By eating of the tree of good and evil; mankind have taken to themselves, to decide what is right and what is wrong. God’s law is totally rejected. The following verses give an accurate summary of the result of leaving God out of our lives.

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 
Isa 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 
Isa 59:3  For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 
Isa 59:4  None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. 
Isa 59:5  They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. 
Isa 59:6  Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. 
Isa 59:7  Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 
Isa 59:8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. 
Isa 59:9  Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 

True peace is a Godly attribute and is not available because we have rejected our God.

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

THE TREE OF LIFE

The tree of life is the way to eternal life, and is available by Commandment keeping.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Adam rejected the way of eternal life, and chose the to live his life without Gods guidance. God will not give eternal life to those who choose to live their lives apart from God. 

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:
Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. 

Eternal life has not been available in this world, except for the few who God has called for His purpose.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

There have been six thousand years of shed blood, since God created humanity; and Cain killed Abel. Mankind has proved that they are unable to live in peace.

Isa 59:7  Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 
Isa 59:8  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. 

The following scriptures show that the tree of life is used as a general term for Godly attributes.

Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 
Pro 3:18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 
Pro 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. 
Pro 13:12  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. 
Pro 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. 

The tree of life has a much more definite application and is only available to those who overcome this world, and keep Gods commandments.

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

The fruit of the tree of life is eternal life. Eternal life is not available to carnal mankind; that is why God cut it off. It is only available, at the time of writing, to people who God calls according to his purpose.

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: 

The tree of life was in Eden, the garden of God. It was cut off from mankind until the end time: when it will be available to all who keep the commandments and overcome. It will once again be in the garden of God [paradise]

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 

The paradise of God is not Gods kingdom. The thief on the cross will be in paradise with Christ, and will be given a chance to make it into Gods kingdom by commandment keeping and overcoming this world. There is no deathbed repentance in Gods plan.

Luk 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. 

The fruit of the tree of life is eternal life: the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations. 

Rev 22:2  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. 

LIVING WATERS

Jesus Christ will eventually lead many nations into living waters.

Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

God the Father is the fountain of living waters. Israel forsook God during the exodus.

Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 

Jer 17:13  O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

The living water is Gods spirit.

Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

We must believe on Christ, as the scriptures tell us how.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 
Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 

The earnest of the spirit is given as a down payment of eternal life. The spirit of life is given at a later date. It is at this stage we have eternal life.

Jesus Christ can give living waters, which originate from the Father.

Joh 4:10  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

There is a time coming when living water [eternal life] will be available to all.

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

We have seen that the living waters have a spiritual meaning, which equates to eternal life. There is also a physical fulfillment. 

Rev 22:1  And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

The living waters from under the throne of God; go forth to heal the waters of this world.

Eze 47:8  Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 
Eze 47:9  And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 

The majority of water on this earth will be made fresh.

Eze 47:11  But the miry places thereof and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 

The spiritual living water is Gods holy spirit, which emanates from the Father and springs to eternal life. The physical living water also emanates from the Father, and turns all the water sparkling clear and fresh, except for the marsh areas.

Comment.

The tree of good and evil, the tree of life, and living waters: all have dual fulfillments.

The tree of good and evil has brought on eternal death and physical ruination of this planet.

The living water is Gods spirit and also heals the waters of this earth.

The tree of life is the way to eternal life by living a Godly life, and overcoming
, and also for the healing of the nations.

The great love and mercy and forgiveness of the Most High God, is beyond comprehension.