Is the Original Garden of Eden Restored Or Is this a Better Version of Eden?
Bible Study Guide
Is John about to witness the original Garden of Eden restored? Or is this a new and better version of the original Eden?
Notice, Revelation 22 is not only the conclusion to the book of Revelation. It’s also the conclusion of the book that God has sent us through His people (Israel) in order for us to get to know who He is and His plans for us.
It’s the only book in the entire Bible that offers blessings from beginning to end. Yet, it’s the least taught book in the churches. So few churches teach it properly in the context it was meant to be taught. Literally and not allegorically.
Isaiah spoke from God and said these words.
“Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
In other words, God is saying remember the things I’ve done. At the same time, I don’t want you to be walking forward while looking backward. Remember them, but look forward, for He’s doing new things, even greater things.
All these things culminate into the book of Revelation. Thus the reason for so many blessings for those who read it, take time to understand it and share it with other’s. All of these things are converging today before our very eyes. This is all in preparation for God’s final judgment on mankind after taking up His church of believers.
Is This the Garden of Eden Restored?
(Verses 1-2) The same angel that showed John the new creation of earth and heaven has one last thing to show him. John sees the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. This river will flow down the middle of the city of the new Jerusalem.
Why is the title the “Lamb” used here in place of Jesus’ name?
Because this verse is directly connected to a verse in the book of John that speaks of Christ as the river of life.
“but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)
Christ came into the world as the sacrificial Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. So that those who believed in Him would have everlasting life. This eternal river of the water of life will not be hidden from anyone on the new earth. It’ll be available in abundance coming from the throne of God and the Lamb who sacrificed Himself so that we could drink from this river of the water of life.
The Water of Life and the Tree of Life
We first saw this river come out of the original Garden of Eden in Genesis 2. Along it also was the tree of life. Can you tell what’s missing in John’s vision in Revelation 22 that was present in the original Garden of Eden of Genesis 2?
That’s right. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because of this there will be no fear of a curse.
The tree of life will give it’s fruit every month consistently for eternity. If you could imagine your favorite fruit at the ripened peak of its perfection, it would likely not come close in comparison to the monthly fruit harvest of the tree of life on the new earth.
When people at that time say that the fruit of the tree of life is heavenly, they’ll for the first time be speaking the truth.
The thing to remember is that this is not the Garden of Eden restored. Because it’s a new earth and new heaven, all things upon it will be brand new and better than the original.
The Curse Will Be Lifted
(Verse 3) We often forget that mankind was cursed upon the sins of Adam and Eve. Therefore, we are not only sinful but descend from sinful ancestors. Thus the need for Christ and His saving power on the cross.
It was not only mankind that was cursed. God had cursed the earth as well. Just as mankind is in a downward spiral into death and decay, so also is creation.
We see it closely due to the groaning of creation and the weather anomalies that are growing in consistency and intensity. This is unfortunately going to continue until the Tribulation. Then it’s going to get much worse.
This is why, if we want to understand the reason and trajectory of the events of our world today, we must look at them through the lens of the Bible.
Isaiah gives us a glimpse of what life will be like when the curse is lifted in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. This is the reason why God will be with us. Because there is no curse and no sin. God can only abide in a place absent of sin.
Face to Face With God
(Verses 4-5) It’s almost to hard for the human mind to imagine being face to face with such a Holy God as the God of Israel. Scripture teaches us that no flesh could ever see the face of God and live.
But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20)
God is so powerful and almighty and that glory will be revealed to us when His greatness shines upon our face.
That day will come when we arrive upon the new earth and new heaven. If we thought that the 1000 year reign with Christ upon the old earth is something beyond imagining, seeing the face of God will be beyond any expectation we could ever conjure up in our small minds.
John is told in Revelation 21:23 that there will be no need for a sun or moon. Because the glory of God will give its light and the Lamb will be its lamp. And we shall walk among His light forever and ever, amen.
Just a few verses later, here in Revelation 22, the angel reminds John again that there will be no need for light to shine from a sun or a moon. God will be the light that will shine upon the city and us. This light will never fade or go out. It’ll be an everlasting light. And we will serve our God and minister to His kingdom. The heavenly pleasures that await the believers couldn’t even begin to be described here by John.
The Secrets and Mysteries of God
These first five verses of Revelation 22 no doubt raise many questions as to how life will be like. Remember, the mysteries spoken in ages before have been revealed. But the secrets belong to God. In due time, they’ll be revealed to those whose final destination is to be face to face with God.
Those who’ve chosen to oppose God will never learn the answers to God’s secrets.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)
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