GENESIS RELOADED

PART FOUR: THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL

If we desire to gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word, then it is critical that we a) study to show ourselves approved (II Timothy 2:15), and b) follow God’s commands (Psalm 111:10). One of God’s more important commands is to compare spiritual things with spiritual (I Corinthians 2:13). How do we do this? First of all, it is vital that we own a good concordance, such as a Strong’s, or a Young’s. I also highly recommend the two-volume Englishman’s Concordance set, not to mention an e-sword. For example, if you have an e-sword, and want to find out how the words “naked” and “nakedness” are used in the Scriptures, you simply log these words into the search engine and every single verse in the Bible that contains these words will come up. Then you just go down the list and find all of the passages that deal with this idea of man’s nakedness before God. This is how I was able to determine in the previous section that to be naked before God was not necessarily a good thing. By studying in this manner, God’s Word will really open up to you in a way that perhaps you never before thought possible. Try it and see!

Now when we think of this “tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” most of us have this image etched in our minds of a lush garden paradise, with a beautiful fruit-bearing tree planted in its midst. We also have this image of a serpent (or snake) coiled around one of its branches, tempting Eve to partake of its fruit. Many have been led to believe that this “fruit” was an apple, even though the Scriptures do not verify this. But this is the image that many of us have had since childhood. And it is quite natural to take the symbols literally: i.e. a literal garden, a literal tree, a literal snake, a literal piece of fruit, etc. After all, the Scriptures declare that first comes the natural, then the spiritual (I Corinthians 15:46). In other words, we will first come to understand the Bible in a literal (or natural) sense. But if our faith is grounded upon the sure Rock of Truth, which is Christ, then the Spirit will begin to reveal to us the deeper things. The problem with the church, not surprisingly, is that its members seldom mature beyond a superficial understanding of God’s Word (see I Corinthians 13:11; Hebrews 6:1-3). Why? Because nearly all organized religious institutions have their foundations built upon the sand, and not upon the Rock. And a having a sure foundation is essential before we can press on to maturity.

A few years ago, the Genesis story was retold in the science fiction movie classic The Matrix. In it, the main character Neo (Keanu Reeves) is offered a choice between two pills, a blue one and a red one. If he chooses to take the blue pill, then he will remain ignorant of truth (age of innocence). However, if he chooses to take the red pill, then his eyes will be opened to truth (tree of knowledge). Of course he chooses to take the red pill and has an awakening, a rebirth experience. He then notices that his eyes are burning, and asks why. The answer given by the character Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburn) is because he has never used them (his new spiritual eyes) before. So when his eyes finally are opened, and he sees the world as it really is, the truth is more than he can bear. He immediately goes into denial, and wants to go back to a time and place of ignorance (after all, ignorance is bliss). In other words, he tries cover up the truth by denying it, and wants to undo what has been done. Notice any similarities between this story and the Genesis account?

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” (Genesis 3:7)

Remember how growing up as a child used to be? Life was fun and carefree. We all lived in our own little fantasy worlds, filled with roadrunner cartoons, where the coyote character falls off cliffs and has 2 ton boulders smashing down on top of him. But the wily coyote never dies, never gets discouraged, and always returns with a greater resolve to succeed the next time. But then grandpa suddenly dies, and we attend our first funeral, where we experience the REALITY of death. And though grandpa smoked, drank, and cursed his entire life, never professed faith in Christ, and barely ever set foot in a church, our parents assure us that he is now in heaven with God. And why do they tell us this? Because they know that the mind of a child is not yet mature enough to bear the “truth” (Christianity’s truth), that he is now burning in hell. In fact, deep down inside, I seriously doubt that there are many Christians who really believe it:

“Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system.” – Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

So as we mature and gain knowledge, we become increasingly aware of our own mortality, and come to understand that this life really is but a vapor, and that we all have an inescapable appointment with death. And there is absolutely nothing that any of us can do to change it.

“For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draws nigh unto the grave (Psalm 88:3)

So we take refuge in various systems of religious belief, hiding from the truth. For the Hindu, life and death is a progression toward oneness with God through many cycles of reincarnation. John Edwards’ disciples believe they will “cross over” to the spirit world, while Christians are assured that their faith in Christ earns them instant access into heaven. In all three cases, it is only the body that dies; the soul does not. Satan does indeed assure us (through our own minds) that we “shall not surely die.” God’s Word, however, declares differently: “The soul that sins SHALL die” (Ezekiel 18:20).

So what have I just described for you? This is the fall of man story in a nutshell. And this story is much more than just a one-time event that occurred approximately 6,000 years ago. This story is continuously being played out in the daily lives of each and every one of us! For example, I just heard Dr. D. James Kennedy announce to the world during his Easter Sunday sermon that he would never die! And how does he verify this for his audience? By quoting a poorly translated verse of Scripture:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John 8:51)

If you do not have an e-sword program, then get one – it’s a free download. If you do have an e-sword, then please go to this verse. After the word “never” you will notice three little numbers: 3364, 1519, and 165. These are Strong’s Concordance Greek words. The first word (3364) denotes a negative: not, not at all, never, etc. The second one (1519) is a primary preposition showing motion towards: in, into. The third one (165) is that word aion, which properly translated, of course, means “pertaining to the age, or age-during.” So how should this verse read when properly translated?

“Verily, verily, I say to you, If any one may keep my word, death he may not see – to the age.” (Young’s Literal Translation)

“Verily, verily, I am saying to you, If ever anyone should be keeping My word, he should under no circumstances be beholding death for the eon.” (Concordant Literal New Testament)

When this verse is properly translated, an entirely different meaning becomes clear. It is true that Jesus came so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. But the abundant life Jesus speaks of is the narrow pathway, the first resurrection, which leads to life for the faithful follower during the coming earthly messianic kingdom AGE. This is consistent with the message of repentance that both Jesus and John the Baptist proclaimed while they were here. The “death” Jesus warns of is the “second death,” which takes place at the time of the second resurrection. Jesus did not teach His disciples that they would never die, for even Jesus had to DIE! Do you really believe that you are above your Master? But the multitudes always opt for messages that tickle their itching ears (Isaiah 30:10; II Timothy 4:3,4) rather than for truth:

“The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” –   Edith Sitwell (1887 – 1964) British poet, critic

“Truth is often hard to swallow, so we rest in comfortable lies and delusions.”

– Dorothy Anne Seese, Freelance political writer

Satan is alive and well on planet earth. The Genesis story lives on. The multitudes will always opt for the lie: “Ye shall NOT surely die!” And if you show them the Scriptural evidence to the contrary, they will more than likely still deny it. Why?

“Many people today don’t want honest answers insofar as honest means unpleasant or disturbing. They want a soft answer that turneth away anxiety.” – Louis Kronenberger, Author

“Any formal attack on ignorance is bound to fail because the masses are always ready to defend their most precious possession – their ignorance.” – Hendrick Van Loon, Author

“Men occasionally stumble over truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.” – Winston Churchill

On page 18 of his Concordant Commentary on the Book of Genesis, A. E. Knoch provides us with the following insightful tidbit:

“God’s revelation is on a higher spiritual plane than other literature. Especially in prophecy, both past and future, God sometimes speaks of things as if they are being enacted BEFORE OUR EYES.” [Emphasis added]

God’s Word (Jesus) truly IS a LIVING WORD! So what does this mean for us today, in regards to the Genesis account? Simply this: the Genesis “fall of man” story is nothing more than a PARABLE! It never literally took place any more than the story of Lazarus and the rich man did. It is symbolic of an everyday present reality. There was no literal tree, there was no literal piece of fruit, and there was no literal flesh-and-blood serpent. So if we are not speaking of a literal event that took place some 6,000 years ago, then what do the symbols represent?

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the WORLD, which is “in the midst of the garden of God,” the focal point of God’s creation. And all that this world has to offer (the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life) is its FRUIT! “Eden” is symbolic of our innocent, child-like condition. But as we mature and gain knowledge, we lose our innocence and are cast out of this garden paradise (our child-like fantasy world). Now we come to understand that we must learn to “till the ground” and earn our living “by the sweat of our brow,” because our parents aren’t always going to be there to provide for us. And later in life, when we come to understand our own mortality, we are seduced in our thinking (represented by the serpent) into believing the lie, that we shall not surely die. And this seducing spirit takes many forms, and continues to crawl upon its belly, feasting upon us, the DUST of the earth (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:20). And we continue to take refuge in these various forms of religious systems, or coverings (fig leaves), hiding from the truth. But the coverings that we attempt to provide for ourselves are but illusions, while God’s remedy is sure:

“Also for Adam and his wife [and for ALL of humanity as well] the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)

This verse is speaking of much more than God merely covering up physical, naked bodies. This verse is symbolic of much, much more – God’s plan of REDEMPTION! Although this passage doesn’t say what type of skin God used, I am quite certain that they were lamb skins: symbolic of the covering that our precious LAMB of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has provided for us all.

THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let [restrain], until he be taken out of the way.” (II Thessalonians 2:7)

Before continuing, please read II Thessalonians 2:1-12. Most Christian theologians and prophecy teachers are unanimous in their belief that this passage is speaking of end-time events. The “mystery of iniquity” is supposedly some sort of a satanic power that is to be unleashed during the Tribulation Period after the rapture of the church, which they say is the restraining force keeping the Antichrist (the wicked one, v. at bay. And perhaps, at some point in the future, all of these things (except the rapture of the church, which is but another Christian myth) will take place. But it is my contention that this passage is primarily speaking, once again, of the fall of man. The parallels are too obvious to ignore.

The mystery of iniquity [wickedness] is none other than that “man of sin,” which lies dormant while we are babes. The restraining power that keeps us from recognizing it [our sinful nature] is our innocence, which we lose as we mature and gain knowledge. Our adolescent years are our most rebellious, and we are naturally inclined to disobey our parents and “do our own thing.” It is now that we begin to “oppose and exalt ourselves above all that is called God, sitting in the temple of God [we are the temple of God – I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19], believing that we are indeed gods” (v.4). And because of our pride, we are seduced into believing a lie (v.11), that we have control over our own destiny. But the control we believe we possess is but an illusion. And one Day, this lawless one will be clearly revealed (v.8) for all to see.

If you think I am just giving these verses my own private interpretations; that they are not grounded by any Scriptural support, then allow me to draw your attention to the following verse:

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.” (Genesis 3:1)

I will let New Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies (p. 428) define the word subtil (subtle) as it is used here:

“To be naked; to be crafty, cunning… It is observable that our first parents, before they sinned, are called (Genesis 2:25) naked, and the serpent in the very next verse is called subtil, BY ONE AND THE SAME WORD (Emphasis in CAPS are mine).

This provides further confirmation of what was already stated in Part Three, namely, that Adam and Eve’s cunning, sinful nature was already within them from their inception, even BEFORE they had sinned.

“If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” (Revelation 13:9)

I pray that God is beginning to give you His spiritual ears to comprehend these spiritual truths. A chosen few WILL come to understand these things NOW; the vast majority will come to understand these things LATER, at the Great White Throne Judgment, where the “man of sin” is consumed (II Thessalonians 2:8), and the spirit of man is saved (I Corinthians 3:15).

“Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10)

Much more will be said on this subject (LORD willing) in Part Six of this series.

So, did a literal flesh-and-blood serpent seduce Adam and Eve into swallowing the equivalent of Hollywood’s “red pill” in the form of a literal piece of fruit, growing on a literal tree, in the midst of a literal lush garden paradise? Is this how they instantly gained a comprehensive understanding of good and evil? The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it becomes. This would not be consistent with what we see in the world today. And Scripture teaches us that God is consistent (Hebrews 13:8). Their understanding of good and evil, life and death, was knowledge they obtained as they matured, and came about as a result of their everyday life’s experiences. It was no different for them than it is for us today. So what were these experiences that opened their eyes to the truth of their own mortality? What do you think? Do you still believe the death of animals was something that was completely foreign to their experience?

Selah.

PART FIVE: DOES A “DAY” ALWAYS MEAN A LITERAL DAY?