Tree of Life and Knowledge

[Rediscoveringgod]

I just discovered that there were 2 trees in the Garden that Adam and Eve were not supposed to eat from. They ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil. Gen 2:9 mentions both trees. I did not know that! Anyway, it got me to thinking: This chapter also talks about rivers and where they are located and that there is "gold and onyx." This is mentioned, so it must be important. Is it saying that the Garden can be located today? If so, I'd imagine the Tree of Life is still guarded or hidden. In Verse 22, Chapter 2, it sounds like God wants them to leave "lest they eat also of the Tree of Life and live forever." Why was this tree forbidden to eat from as well because they already were going to live forever. It must be there for a future reason. I know I've asked a lot. But this has me going. Thanx, Bonnie

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

I guess I should mention I am presently at an Air Base in Japan right now,so it 9:30 pm here on a Tues night. I don't know what the time is back home, but I think it is only Mon. there. I will be checking the forum daily until I get home to see if I got any hits. Thanx, Bonnie

 

[gratefulgrace]

My understanding is that they were only banned from the tree of life AFTER they ate from the knowledge of good and evil. God then banned the other tree as he did not want them to be forever stuck in the sinful state. If they then ate the other tree there would be no hope for salvation so God was actually acting compassionately. I am not sure about the tree being around today on earth I know expeditions have gone in search of it. Anyone else agree with that? I will have to reread my Genesis 1 to 3 to be sure. Jan

 

[clairefish]

This is awesome to discuss. I wish I knew more about it, but if anyone does, could you please explain it in layman's terms for all to understand? How wonderful it will be to understand and know more about this.
Thanks to Rebornfree for stepping up to the plate and asking!

 

[davedajobauk]

to assist in searches for information
regarding The Tree of Life
I have done some searches in the internet for you

http://www.the-tree.org.uk/Sacred Grove/Buddhism/BodhiTree.htm

http://www.purposeoflife.org.uk/secrets of the parables/fig_tree.htm

http://www.whatsaiththescriptures.net/tree_of_life.php

http://www.rapturechrist.com/tree_of_life.htm

http://www.eye-of-horus.com/html/the_tree_of_life.html

http://www.orderofthewhitelion.com/Qabalah@/Treeoflife.html

http://www.biblemeanings.info/Bible/Hoeck/index.html

http://www.amnh.org/programs/conference/tree_of_life/

http://www.shef.ac.uk/bibs/DJACcurrres/Postmodern2/Tree.html

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD026003.html


There is much more out there
but loads to read up above

Hope these links aid your research


dave

 

[Jim1927]

Are these real trees or symbols of God's intentions? Perhaps allegory?

Cheers,

Jim

 

[JeanR]

It's my understanding that if we were able to eat from the Tree of Life, then we would live forever in a sinful state. However, Jesus' death and the gift of salvation means that when we enter heaven, we will have access to the tree.

Has anyone heard of that before?

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

Thanx, Dave, for going to the trouble of searching the internet for me. I didn't like any of the sites except the one rapturechrist.com/tree_of_life. It was awsome and answered a lot of questions. It even went into Rev. and explained a lot of things I would never have understood. I don't know why so many people are so against the Bible and don't read it. It's like poison to them. And when they see me carrying one around, they avoid me. At least that is how it has been on this trip. I love to read it. It is full of wisdom and mystries, which is better than a novel.

But, please, all of you who read this, go to that site. It's great. Thanx again, Dave. Bonnie

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

That is how I have felt sometimes, Jim, that a lot of scripture is symbolism. But, then how do you know which is and which isn't. I believe there really was a tree and a garden and that they were destroyed during the flood. That is when God planted it in Paradise, where we will go when we are raptured. Exactly right, Jean, right on. You really should read that site Dave mentions. It's where I got the above idea.

 

[Jim1927]

The tree of life, the symbol of God's absolute morality, was accessable to humanity before the fall, but from thence on it was no longer accessable, except through the blood of Christ. The tree of good and evil was not an apple tree as many have said. The tree is not important. What is important is that God said do not eat from that tree...It was the command that was important and man (humanity) failed.

Certainly the tree of life will only be available in heaven. That is where we will live forever in Christ. God didn't have to transplant a tree; He is the tree of life.

Just a few more thoughts.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Jim1927]

Just another thought. The term adam did not refer to any one man in the first few chapters of Genesis. It was generic for all humankind. It didn't become a name....taking it from the Hebrew......until the 5th chapter of Genesis when God speaks specifically of one named Adam.

This only has significance i one's attempt to understand what Genesis is all about in Hebraic terms.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

Wow, you are so wise, Jim. I'll have to go back and read Gen again. Do you think Adam and Eve had kids before they were tossed out of the garden?

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

My past experience was with Mormonism. They believe that God intented for them to eat of the fruit of knowledge to that they could then have sex and bring the spirit children down from Heaven, and that before they ate, they would not have know to have sex. I just don't buy that anymore. But it would be interesting to ask Jesus if they had children while still in the garden. I know all these questions are unimportant. But it keeps me away from Soap Operas and know nothing novels. Hee, Hee

 

[Jim1927]

Adam and Even were driven from the garden in Chapter 3 and in the first verse of chapter four we have Adam and Eve having sexual intercourse and Even conceiving. The suggestion is that they didn't start a family until after the garden. "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." Gen 4:1

Cheers,

Jim

 

[davedajobauk]

Language has changed over the centuries
and obviously has since man first uttered "OW"

at First Hand I recognise accent / regional differences
in phraeology and localised abberrations/ adopted-slang

When at young age, I read Bible passages (?)
I was given understanding via my-interpretation
of, oft-times obscure text
that the words in the written text
'often' presented REPORTS by the writer
that used: another *matter (elsewhere)
(* referred-to 'event') to pass on a 'meaning'
and, that later visits to the same texts
could provide an amended view, sometimes
entirely different conception of the reason for writing/
inclusion and-also the order of presentation

Methodology... that creates poetry
as an example?

where, use of words
must substitute for
all the emotions and understandings of the mind
where an artist (painter)
can create rapport with the viewer (?)

Question:
why did the Chaise-Longue become popular
Answer:
the furniture-maker sought to appease
NATURAL POSTURE (reclining /recumbrance)
meaning:
any thing that FITS comfortably / is obviously 'practical'

then, gives immediate security of apparent truth
via:
comparison with an own 'past experience'
then gains credibility /belief /trust /faith /following

I believe the trees represent a way of describing
how all things begin with 'roots'
that they with practice/ experience/ shared direction
forms the trunk
where then 'choice'
allows BRANCHES
upon which can form variously the Fruit Of Life
and the kaleidoscopic variation possible
between that and the destruction possible
during departures from
"the tried and tested" best-possible-routes

as an amateur poet (?)
I find that words can be written
to convey messages
that are not mentioned in the text
that the... meaning of the words
depends upon the meaning interpreted by the reader
there, being so-many readers then, that
many-interpretations... are a mathematical certainty ?

What is being 'taught' ?
order, peace, loyalty, family, brotherhood, love
of all GOOD THINGS/ practises/ behaviours
being beneficial/ logical/ desirable/ favourable/ beloved

IDEAL

language can vary so much

VISION
is often shared to-advantage (mathematically)

we each have our-bit to add to testimony of
His wondrous achievements
each of us
is an individual miracle
a myriad of heavenly adventures and tourneys
with Satan's Army

We are shaped by the WAY we decided to go
we are rounded by the tumbles we have taken
and the knowledge we have learned
alters /amends 'ability' to see imagine/ understand

I have to say goodnight here
be well!

dave

 

[davedajobauk]

whoops

 

[gratefulgrace]

If they had had children before the fall they would then have been sinless. As we know from the Bible this was not the case. I agree with Jim it was after they were barred from the garden. Jan

 

[Under_His_Shadow]

I don't know why so many people are so against the Bible and don't read it. It's like poison to them. And when they see me carrying one around, they avoid me. At least that is how it has been on this trip. I love to read it. It is full of wisdom and mystries, which is better than a novel.
Bonnie

It's because it is Truth, and in our unregenerate prideful state, (unless or until the Holy Spirit is drawing us to Christ) we don't want to hear, believe or submit to the truth that we are lost sinners doing sinful acts that God condemns and will ultimately judge us for unless we receive the forgiveness and redemption that God has lovingly provided for us in Jesus Christ.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14). Only when the Holy Spirit - Who is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ [Eph. 1:17] - is opening and enabling someone's heart and mind to understand the truth, will that person desire to study God's Word.

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

GratefulGrace,
what do you mean, "if they would have children in the Garden," they would have been sinless?

 

[Rediscoveringgod]

Underhishadow,
I like that verse, 1Cor. 2:14. I'll read more in Corinthians. Right now I am stuck in Genesus. There is just so much to learn in the Bible!